Not enough lp ports on my 1st stage!

[labrador-frog]

Hi all

I was given a Sherwood Brut reg set, spent the money to get it all serviced, got ready to dive, but there was not enough lp ports to run my BCD and my Dry suit! I ended up buying an lp splitter that turns one lp into three.

Is it ok to dive this long term or is there a danger from diving this set up? Should I be shopping for a new 1st stage?

Lab-frog

 

[H2O 70]

I just looked up the Brut. It has 4 LP ports. 1 BCD, 1 DS, 1 Primary and 1 Secondary. You should have enough?

Is there port on the 'bottom' of it?

 

[AquaNSun]

That's interesting. You should have enough ports. Do they also make HP splitters?

 

[SteveAD]

If it is an old brut (20+ years) they only had 1 high and 3 lp ports. There is no safety issue in having a splitter on long term, however, I would consider which hoses are on the split. I would make sure second stages go straight in and split the BC and drysuit.

 

[herman]

I don't really care for them but you could use one of the inflator/octo combos like an Air2.

 

[scubafanatic]

That's interesting. You should have enough ports. Do they also make HP splitters?

Yes, there are both LP and HP 'port' splitters:

Regulators - Regulator Adapters - HP Hose Adapters - Northeast Scuba Supply

Regulators - Regulator Adapters - Low Pressure Hose Adapters - LP Adapters @ First Stage - Northeast Scuba Supply

Regulators - Regulator Adapters - Low Pressure Hose Adapters - LP Adapters @ Second Stage - Northeast Scuba Supply

 

[labrador-frog]

Thanks for the info,
Yeah it is an older Brut, I would have ditched it once I found that I did not have enough ports, but I had just spent too much money getting it all serviced new mouth pieces etc. Right now I have an Air 2 on my bcd running on an independent port, my primary on an independent and I am running my drysuit and safe second on the splitter. Gonna try it out tomorrow at whytecliff park in vancouver if anyone else is around?

 

[Fishpie]

That's a bit "belt and braces".
I would either use a splitter and a regular 2nd stage as the alternate or just use the Air2....not both.

 

[Graeme Tolton]

Fishpie is absolutely right. there is no need for 3 second stages on 1 first stage. However, in my experience a combination octo/inflator can be a major PITA. looks good on paper, but when you go to use it, no fun!.. LOL the combination of a sherwood shadow (same idea as air2) and a quickdump valve on my bcd was interesting, when i had the shadow in my mouth and turned my head to the right, it would pull on the inflator hose and cause the quickdump to dump the air from my BCD. My advice would be to use the brut 1st stage (they are bulletproof) with 2 normal second stages. Some of the more compact, lightweight octos don't breath very well. When you do need to use it, that's when you want it to breath well! Try airsharing on a DIR type of setup, with long hose and bungeed secondary. It will be much easier and safer. Another option to get around all of this is to have an independent inflation bottle for your drysuit.

Now, with all of that being said, if i were to be using your 3 lp port brut, i would... use 2 of the ports for the second stages, one hose per port. The 3rd port with the splitter, going to the bcd and drysuit. One of the ports may be marked pri, as some sherwoods do, use this for the 2nd stage you will be breathing out of the most.

Hope this helps!

 

[Bob DBF]

the combination of a sherwood shadow (same idea as air2) and a quickdump valve on my bcd was interesting, when i had the shadow in my mouth and turned my head to the right, it would pull on the inflator hose and cause the quickdump to dump the air from my BCD. QUOTE]

I had an Oceanic version of an Air II put on my BC and had a similar intermittant problem, I took it apart and lengthened the cable inside the hose a little and it's been fine. Also been doing more of my own maintainance since.

Sorry for the hijack.

I dove a Sherwood Magnum from 1980 to last year when I picked up another Sherwood. I now use it on my pony bottle 'cause it still runs great.

Bob