Pony Bottle setup

[rvojr]

A redundant supply is needed to dive in most places in NJ and doubles are way off in the future. Not to start another discussion about sizing the pony, what is a streamlined recommended setup? I currently have a 40cf (bought off a fellow SB member) with dive right stage bottle setup. I'm looking to get a second Deep6 reg setup so it matches my main and can be used in the future for growth into SM or Doubles.

SPG: My choices are button, brass with glass 2.5" or 1.5" plastic.
I was leaning towards the plastic 1.5" with 6" hose since my main is a B&G 2.5".

Hose length on the 2nd stage reg. 22" to 40". I'm really not sure.

Are there people who put an inflator hoses on it to inflate a lift bag or SMB? Maybe to much of a failure point? How to you keep out the water and dirt?

Is it left closed until needed or opened on the surface and tested similar to the primary to ensure it is working properly?

Any advice from your experience would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[tbone1004]

@rvojr I don't believe in pony bottles, but if I were to use one, it would be setup exactly like a deco bottle.

SPG-you either have enough gas or you don't, use a button gauge. You aren't going to ever actually check it during the dive, so why add the extra failure points for something that isn't going to be used? It doesn't matter if it's 2700 or 2900 or 3100, it should be oversized anyway, so you just need to know if it's "full ish"

Reg hose-typically I would say 40", but since you're going on a swivel turret you can get away with a shorter hose. I use a 30" hose in sidemount, and that would be my recommendation. May be a few inches longer or shorter depending on your size, but 22" is too short. 40" is fine, it will just go down then back up. 0 issues there.

Inflator-I would have an inflator on there. If you lose your primary bottle for whatever reason, you're going to want some way to inflate your suit and/or wing. All of my regulators have inflators on them.

Left open. If diving with a pony, there is no need for a short hose on the necklace since the pony is your backup. Leave it on and around your neck.

How to keep it streamlined with regular rigging. Do this on your backplate on the left side. It is literally a life-changer when it comes to stages

 

[RyanT]

I like the button gauges on my deco bottles, they are small an unobtrusive. For a pony it really is no different. A 40 cf bottle will be plenty of gas to get you to the surface from recreational depths. So the button gauge just allows you to confirm that the bottle has been filled or that it's roughly 1/2 full, etc. If you have an emergency situation and are unable to get to the surface on your pony, then having a nice big gauge there to tell you that you're about to be out of gas still isn't helpful...you've got the gas you've got. This is where gas planning comes in, and with a 40 cf bottle, you've got plenty for recreational depths.

Put a 40" hose on it. It easily allows you to bring the hose behind your head and get it to your mouth in a natural position.

It should remain closed until you need it. Opening the valve takes a few more seconds, but it's no big deal. Just practice deploying it. The important caveat here though is to "charge" your regulator before you splash. Just turn it on, then back off. During the dive it's a good idea to occasionally reach down and charge it again (in case you have a little leak and your reg loses pressure). Keeping the regulator pressurized will keep water out of the first stage.

 

[W W Meixner]

RV...

I have three of these...DGX version D6...work great...inexpensive by comparison...hose length and colour of your preference...

DGX also has small tank harness assemblies...with covered hose clamps...or if you prefer you can DIY your own harness assembly in a few minutes...

Best...

Warren

 

[rvojr]

@tbone1004 I understand and would go to doubles or SM but this is a stopgap until I'm more comfortable in the water. Plus I could use this as a stage at some point in the future. Thanks for the detailed comments. With the inflator hose, do you have a recommended length and should I do something to the end to keep gunk out? I'm looking at the 1" DGX mini-spg with black face.

 

[Bob DBF]

Are there people who put an inflator hoses on it to inflate a lift bag or SMB?

The only time I put an inflators hose on is when I'm using my doublehose, as there is no LP or HP ports. This is for emergency use as I normally orally inflate on DH.

Since my pony is only 19 cuft, I reserve all the gas for emergency use.


Bob

 

[broncobowsher]

I think you are doing it right. Sling it like a stage bottle or sidemount. It sounds like you are looking at eventually going doubles, even as you say "way off in the future". Eventually this rig will evolve into a deco bottle. Go ahead and treat it like one even if it is just filled with air. The general consensus about having valves open or closed; open everything and have it pressurized to keep water out of the inner workings. If the gas is breathable at the depth you are at, the valve is open. If the gas isn't safe to breath, the valve is off (but lines kept pressurized). In your current case, it will be open.

I do have inflator whips on mine but they are a different for me. They are bail outs with a rebreather. I can plug them in and inject gas into the rebreather. Not that you are going to need that. For your current purpose, don't need any. Use the regulator to inflate lift bags or SMBs.

As far as hose length, depends on how you want to hang the tank. Are you going to necklace the reg and hang it around your neck? Are you going to bungee it to the tank? The necklace is nice as it is right there but it does make gearing up a little more involved, this is more of a sidemount arrangement. The tuck it under a bungee is nice as it is a complete self contained package that just needs to be clipped on and you are done. 2 clips and you can hand it off to someone else if need be. 22" is too short. You want enough to fully stretch your arm. Weather that is to hand it to someone else, but still keep them at arms length to keep yourself safe or to fill a lift bag. This is where a necklace approach doesn't work so well. Best I can say is to mock stuff up. If need be, use something like an extension cord to mock up hose lengths. If the hose doesn't store good, it is too long. If it doesn't reach where you might need it, it is too short. There is likely to be a range of acceptable lengths.

 

[tbone1004]

@rvojr I use drysuit length hoses, but since it's on a bottle like that, just use what you have. I prefer longer ones than shorter.
The DGX gauges are fine, I have them on my deco and CCR bottles.

I would HIGHLY recommend making a bungee like the one that I linked though, it makes everything so much nicer. If you leave it "loose" with the normal DIR style rigging the bottles swing when you kick and it's quite annoying.

@Bob DBF no downside to having them on there though and I believe that the potential benefits are worth the cost of the hose.

 

[rvojr]

Thank you everyone for the great advice. As of now, I think I am going to just make it self contained, but as I learn it will evolve. I definitely will bungee it. Glad I got a roll of 1/4" shock cord.

 

[Coztick]

If you're considering sm in the future, why not set your pony up as your left side sm bottle? Whether it's a full size bottle on my left or just my 13cuft pony, the reg set stays the same.
You can adjust your weighting to compensate as it will stay consistent if you don't use the gas in the pony.
Necklace the pony reg with the hose routed behind your neck.(common to sm)
I use a full size spg on a 9" hose but you don't have to.
You could certainly use your pony for inflation. It should only take the equivalent of 4 or 5 breaths of gas to complete a dive. I moved my inflator to the right side but I'm a lefty so I actually prefer it.
Which BCD are you using? Some are better than others for attachment points.
See if there are any shops nearby that will let you try a sm rig before buying. You may decide to jump sooner than later. It's not for some but I'm happy I switched after about 25 dives. Definitely try before you buy. If you're not hooked in the first couple tries, no harm done.

Just my Canadian 2 cents...