Preventing water intrusion into first stage

[k374]

When rinsing regulators with the dust cap on I realize it is possible that water could enter the 1st stage since the dust cap is not a watertight seal. For regulators without some sort of automatic closure device (Oceanic DVT, Aqualung ACD etc.) is there some device that can be screwed on the 1st stage inlet filter to prevent water from entering?

 

[Bubbletrubble]

Some "dust caps" do make a water-tight seal. If yours doesn't and you insist on rinsing your regs while not being pressurized, then I'd recommend getting a new/better dust cap.

With a modicum of care, you can easily avoid water intrusion into the first stage. In theory, the DVT and ACD technology sounds nice, but it's probably unnecessary. The DVT/ACD introduces more parts that can fail and more parts to monkey around with during reg servicing.

 

[Fishpie]

Ball type and caps with an o ring seal work well to keep water out.

 

[Marek K]

If the cap is a soft rubber, it'll seal fine as long as the clamp is screwed down snugly (not over-tight, which might distort the cap).

That assumes a yoke fitting. If DIN, then you should get a screw-on dust cap -- delrin is fine -- that has a clearance "pit" in the bottom of it so that the DIN fitting's o-ring can seal against it.

In either case, if you don't have the proper dust cap yet, then an interim measure would be to put your thumb tightly over the orifice while swishing the first stage it in the water.

 

[halocline]

When rinsing regulators with the dust cap on I realize it is possible that water could enter the 1st stage since the dust cap is not a watertight seal.

There's something wrong with your dust cap if it does not seal watertight.

 

[Marek K]

is there some device that can be screwed on the 1st stage inlet filter

There's something wrong with your dust cap if it does not seal watertight.

You know, re-reading the original post makes me think that k374 indeed has a DIN first stage. So if he has one of those rubber dust caps that just slips onto the fitting, it wouldn't be watertight around the threads.

He needs one of the delrin screw-on caps, but he has to make sure it's designed to seat the inlet's o-ring.

 

[NC Wreck Diver]

You know, re-reading the original post makes me think that k374 indeed has a DIN first stage. So if he has one of those rubber dust caps that just slips onto the fitting, it wouldn't be watertight around the threads.

He needs one of the delrin screw-on caps, but he has to make sure it's designed to seat the inlet's o-ring.

I agree with you Marek K...........this sounds like a DIN application. As all have mentioned, I screw my DIN dust caps down and rinse/soak my regs after every dive day. No water ever past the o-ring.

IF it is a yoke, the rubber cap should seal it with just average pressure on the yoke knob/screw assembly. Before I switched my three regs to DIN, I would soak the yoke assembly the same way. Never any rinse water would enter. I've always checked with each rinse for years.

 

[Kunundrum]

With a modicum of care, you can easily avoid water intrusion into the first stage. In theory, the DVT and ACD technology sounds nice, but it's probably unnecessary. The DVT/ACD introduces more parts that can fail and more parts to monkey around with during reg servicing.

I would agree with you on the DVT however the ADC is a very simple and effective design that is next to impossible to fail.

Is it needed, no not really, it a nice feature, and our Rental Regs are primarily Titans LX Supreme with ACD, and the students have dunked them, dropped them in the pool without the cap on without a single drop of water entering the first stage. The ATX200 that got dunked by a student, I had to service it because it was full of water

my .02$

 

[Soggy_Diver]

If there is a worry about water getting past the dustcap, would it work to just soak the regs while they are still connected to the tank and pressurized?

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

If there is a worry about water getting past the dustcap, would it work to just soak the regs while they are still connected to the tank and pressurized?

Yes. That will prevent water entering the first stage.

However, a tank may not always available, so it is a good idea to have a good quality dustcap so that you can soak your first stage without it being attached to a tank.

Best wishes.