O2 cleaned deco regs?

[bridgenet]

Thank you all for the input. I will use my spare TX40 for my first deco bottle which is typcially <= 50% and am looking for something still for 80-100% O2. LUBOLD mentioned the OMS DROS regulator. Ironically I can buy that with first stage for less than the DS4 first stage for the TX40. OMS 100% first/second stage is $170, DiveINN has the DS4 for $182. Any feelings on the OMS DROS regulator and the R-1 first stage? Could get the R-1 for $99 and use it also with the TX40 (typically 30-70ft depth). In researching the board read both bad and good things but nothing conclusive?

Thanks,

Kev

 

[LUBOLD8431]

Explosions or O2 flashes can, will, and have happened with anything over 50% .

DO a search on scubaboard and you will find some interesting stories about people that have used a unclean reg with high ppo2 O2 and had interesting results. ***BOOM***

It does happen... Its not safe. You can do whatever you like. Just dont go on my boat.

ANyways, back to the OMS Dros regulator. I have had service kits for them on order from OMS for the past three years, and still havent seen them. I dont know if they really exist. Now, they have some kind of overhaul program where you have to send it in to OMS every year. I dont know what they actually do, or how long it takes, but it sounds a little sketchy to me. If i own a reg, I want to be able to get parts for it and service it myself. I have been unable to do that with a DROS reg. My pick for an O2 reg would either be a OCEANIC sp-4 (unbalanced piston) with an Alpha 7 second stage, or the new POSEIDON Xtreme.

 

[Braunbehrens]

LUBOLD8431 once bubbled...
Explosions or O2 flashes can, will, and have happened with anything over 50% .

Over 50% basically acts the same as pure O2. However, under 40% does not. We were talking about regulatore being "approved" for under 40% not over 50%.

As far as O2 cleaning goes. I don't think it makes sense to go overboard. Are you sure the inside of the baggies you use to store O2 clean stuff are O2 clean? How about the inside of the regulator hoses? Do you know what the cornstarch coating on your latex gloves does to the "O2 clean" nature of the reg? How about the latex itself? Have you checked inside the SPG to make sure it is put together with only O2 safe materials?

No one is advocating using chicken grease in the back of a pickup, but you can go too far in the other direction. You don't need a clean room to clean a reg.

As for not diving on your boat...thanks, I have my own boat, and I don't like to shoot or kill, so there's really no danger.

 

[bridgenet]

Lubold,

Noticed you manage a local dive shop. Was wondering what the approximate cost is to 02 clean an Apex TX40/DS4/SPG setup and does your shop do it? Only two shops I know in the Natick area is one on Rt 135 and another out on Rt 9, are you either of them. Can drop me a private note if you don't want to advertise it. Possibly can drop by and give you some business.

With regards to cleaning, definitely plan on O2 cleaning my reg setup for > 50%, not even considering not doing that, other reg setup < 50% may just clean myself, depending on cost but definitely need one setup cleaned for at least 80% usage.

Thanks,

Kev

 

[john_a]

It's cheap, it's O2 clean, and it's not high performance, which means that it won't free-flow away your precious (and expensive) deco gas.