nitrox compatible

[Randy43068]

what is the difference in a regulator that is nitrox compatible & one that is not??
what potential problems could arise if i used my non nitrox compatible regulator with nitrox ??

NITROX compatible regulator advertisement is a marketing gimmick. If you use NITROX under 40% then all regulators are compatible with it.

Some of the older regs may have parts that will degrade in higher O2 environments, but I can't think of any real issues there.

I had the same questions when I started diving, and you're not the first, nor the last to bring up the question.

 

[Randy43068]

As long as you stay under a 40% mix it's a mute MOOT point, all regs are "nitrox compatible", contrary to what the sales people will have you believe. Sure the orings will degrade at a slightly accelerated rate but if you are doing the yearly maintance on your reg it does not matter. The life of an oring in scuba service is a lot longer than a year or 2 so it matters little that you reduce the life of the oring, it's going to be changed out way before it's degraded to the point of failure anyway. Spontaneous combustion of lubes and orings is not an issue until you get into high concentrations and pressures of O2.

fixed it

 

[Couv]

Oxygen cleaning and Nitrox compatibility:
The "40 % rule" has different view points: I like this one.
http://www.gasdiving.co.uk/pages/misc/Nitrox.htm#21
But read up on the issue a bit to make up your own mind. Here is a link for an opposing view:
http://www.luxfercylinders.com/support/faq/aluminumoxygen.shtml

c