Question re: strong air pressure from regulator

[sytech]

I have an Atomic Z2 Regulator.

I was in Curacao recently and always dive with an 80 cu. ft tank. Because I tend to be an "air hog" and also because we were diving a wreck at about 100 ft. I decided to try a 100 cu. ft. tank.

Years ago I was taught to open the tank valve all the way and not give it a 1/2 turn back.

Anyway as I was descending with the 100 tank the air pressure into my mouth was quite forceful and sure enough I had to surface pretty quickly as I was running out of air.

My reg. is fine and wonder if anyone has any idea why this occurred.

Thanks,

Sy

 

[miketsp]

When you were not actually inhaling was the reg free-flowing or bubbling at all?

Did you try breathing off your alternate to compare?

 

[tfsails]

Sounds to me like you had a regulator malfunction. The reason I say this is because the first stage of a properly working reg isn't real picky about the input pressure from the tank (as long as it isn't above about 4500 psi). It is designed to reduce that pressure to ~ 140 psi above ambient pressure. If the second stage wants to free-flow, that indicates that the first stage is putting out too much intermediate pressure.

Get your reg checked out with an IP gauge before you do much more diving.