Regular reg/ Nitrox reg?

[BanditDJB]

I am not nitrox certified but I'm thinking about it. I was looking at regulators and some are nitrox compatible. Well I didn't know that some regs can't be used with nitrox. What makes some regs safe for nitrox and some are not? What could happen to a reg if you use nitrox and the reg is not compatable with it? I know it would probably fail some kind of way but what on the reg would fail?

I would probably know the answers to these questions if I was nitrox certified but I cant afford that right now. I am very curious about this topic. Would anyone like to talk about this?

 

[DandyDon]

Some regs are not safe to use with Oxygen levels over 40%, some are if kept O2 clean - but that has nothing to do with Nitrox diving. All regs are safe and compatible with Nitrox at recreations levels under 40% O2. The most commonly used Nx is 32% altho some Operators will custom blend to whatever level you request under 40%. The Maxium Operating Depth for 40% @ suggested 1.4 PPO would be pretty shallow diving.

Edit: See Peter's correction of my statement below in post #11

 

[herman]

This is more of a legal CYA and marketing on the companies part than anything else. The added O2 in nitrox does deteriorate the Orings of a reg faster BUT it takes time under pressure to do so and unless you dive the dickens out of your regs and never get them serviced the extra deteriation on the Orings is negligible. If you are diving high O2 concentrations, 40% and higher, then things change a lot. If your really concerned, most all regs have "nitrox" kits for them that can be installed at your next service. These kits contain Orings made of a different material that is less affected by O2 than the standard Orings, otherwise they are the same.

 

[spectrum]

BanditDJB

Pretty much what the others have said. Nitrox mixed up tp 40% will be fine with any current regulator. The creepy part is that brands are inconsistent in stating so. I would suggest coming to a decision on which regulator you want irrespective of this. When you decide contact the manufacturer if it is not clearly stated. Other board members have done so and compatibility was confirmed.

Kudos for thinking ahead on ths!

Pete

 

[fisherdvm]

From my understanding, if you expose your nitrox reg to "dirty" compressed air, it nullify your "nitrox clean" status. Or if you had it serviced, and they put the wrong O wring or grease in it, it is no longer "nitrox" clean.

What you buy that is nitrox clean on day 1 might not be so after a while. I guess, unless you dove with nitrox greater than 40%, the nitrox clean label might not be a big deal.

I think the main concern is that a fire can be ignited if high oxygen level is in contact with a flammable substance, whether it is o ring grease, contaminated grease in the tank, or a wrong o ring.

 

[spectrum]

From my understanding, if you expose your nitrox reg to "dirty" compressed air, it nullify your "nitrox clean" status. Or if you had it serviced, and they put the wrong O wring or grease in it, it is no longer "nitrox" clean.

What you buy that is nitrox clean on day 1 might not be so after a while. I guess, unless you dove with nitrox greater than 40%, the nitrox clean label might not be a big deal.

I think the main concern is that a fire can be ignited if high oxygen level is in contact with a flammable substance, whether it is o ring grease, contaminated grease in the tank, or a wrong o ring.

That is the scoop for tanks, not regulators in recreational nitrox use. Since the cylinder and valve can be exposed to 100% oxygen in partial pressure blending they must be oxygen clean. the hazard is not present when a regulator is used on blends up to 40%.

Blends beyond 40% are beyond the scope of recreational nitrox and would probably be more of a deco application and would require a 100% O2 clean delivery system. It is then that the use of only O2 clean gases and lubricants kicks in.

Pete

 

[fisherdvm]

So, Pete, are you saying that a nitrox ready regulator can not be used for pure O2? Please clarify.

 

[spectrum]

So, Pete, are you saying that a nitrox ready regulator can not be used for pure O2? Please clarify.

The way the term nitrox is used I would not count on a regulator branded as "nitrox ready" being O2 ready. When you pass 40% you are going into a whole other realm. IMO there is way too much ambiguity in the information provided in most marketing literature, hence the OPs confusion.

If you look at this page as an example you will see:
1. The Nitrox limit is clearly capped at 40%
2. If you follow the Calypso O2 link you can read see the extra considerations for over 40% to 100%

Pete

 

[ucfdiver]

Nitrox Ready = OK up to 40% oxygen content.
Oxygen service rated = OK up to 100% oxygen content.

If you put air in a tank or regs that are oxygen service rated, and that air isn't filtered to nitrox specs, you've made those regs now Nitrox ready only.

No reason you need anything in your system to be service rated, except the tanks if youre getting partial pressure fills.

Just curious, was this not covered in everyone's nitrox class?

 

[DandyDon]

It's been a few yeas since I had the Nx class, and I haven't actually used the terms since other than in discussions here, and like fisherdvm - I don't service my own regs and tanks.