"nitrox upgrade"

[jgscuba]

I have been told that if I want to dive with nitrox I need to upgrade my regulator, the upgrade cost $150. This seems kinda expensive and wierd. I just bought a new sherwood maximus regulator (a $500 dollar reg), and it doesnt make sense that I have to spend another $150 on an upgrade.

is the upgrade necessary? what is it (they told me they change the gaskets and such)? after the "upgrade" can i use both enriched and non-enriched gas?

thanks!

 

[japan-diver]

There is absolutely no reason to upgrade a Maximus to dive with Nitrox and $150 dollars to do so is an absolute ripoff. If you plan on using mixes above 40% then a O2 cleaning may be necessary but then $150 for that is a bit much.

By the way- use to be a tech rep for Sherwood and am still a dealer and technician so know a little about the regs.

 

[coglesby]

The regulator is Nitrox compatible, right out of the box, for mixes up to 40%. Any mix higher than that will require modifcation to be 02 compatible.

If you are diving standard Nitrox mixes of 40% or less, then I'd question the shop and their practices. sounds like they may just be trying to upsell????

 

[iztok]

Did it come with the manual? Check the manual.

In most cases you are just fine in 21-40% range it might or might not be rated for 100% O2.

 

[fdog]

I can't think of a single regulator that doesn't come ready for recreational nitrox straight out of the box.

Depending on the shop's motivation and knowledge level, they may be anywhere from deliberately taking advantage of you, to a misunderstanding of the regulations and nitrox, to making a narrow ultra-conservative interpretation of the US Navy regulations.

If it was my regulator, I'd ignore them.


...This of course assumes you're not using this as a deco regulator, where it would need to be oxygen cleaned...


All the best, James

 

[Tortuga68]

...that would depend what deco mix you were using

 

[jgscuba]

Thanks everyone for the fast responses. That is pretty annoying that they would do that.

 

[muddiver]

Only the cylinder valve that you will be using needs to be oxygen cleaned and oxygen compatable. This is because a lot of dive shops use teh partial pressure method of mixing nitrox in which 100% oxygen is first shot into the cylinder.

After the mix is done your regulator will not be exposed to any thing over the maximum percentage of oxygen that you are certified to.

As fdog stated that could be different if you are training to use high oxygen mixes for decompression, but most Nitrox courses do not go into that. Once you go over 40% or 50% Nitrox the first stage of your regulator now is being exposed to criticle pressure levels and content levels of oxygen so it must be cleaned of all oxygen contaminates and built with oxygen compatable parts to prevent fire or explosion during use.

 

[jgscuba]

Only the cylinder valve that you will be using needs to be oxygen cleaned and oxygen compatable. This is because a lot of dive shops use teh partial pressure method of mixing nitrox in which 100% oxygen is first shot into the cylinder.
.

that would just apply to the tank correct? not the reg.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Correct.
They are liars and I'd call them that to their face.