Regulator question

[Big Jim Slade]

I'm looking into buying a new regulator and have a question I hope some of you could help with. If it isn't described as environmentally sealed does it mean its not capable of functioning in cold water? Any help would be appreciated. By the way the reg I'm looking at right now is the Mares Ranger 12.

 

[hypertech]

Its not that it isn't capable, it means that there is a greater risk of free flow. You also need to define cold water. While 50/60 might feel cold, most regs are just fine. I don't consider water "cold" until about 40 degrees or below.

I don't know anything abut that reg. I use Apeks myself.

 

[jonnythan]

No, it actually means it's better in cold water. In an environmentally sealed first stage, there's no water in contact with any of the moving or valve parts as in a reg without an environmental seal. Means that it's less likely to ice internally and freeze up.

I've never heard of that reg, but my searching doesn't indicate that it's a sealed design.

Also note that the idea of environmental seals only applies to first stages. Since water can get into the body of a second stage, you can't have an environmentally sealed second stage.


Edit: Totally misread your post. Non-sealed regulators can be fine in cold water, depending on the design. Note that cold is a pretty relative term. What's cold to you?

 

[a22shady]

as the others have said if it's not a sealed reg it's best to keep them in waters above 40F and out of any possibly contaminated waters. Diagphram regs are sealed regs. Piston style regs can have an enviro kit installed them which makes them a type of sealed reg.

Scubapro mk17 is a true sealed reg "Diagphram"

Atomic M1 1st stage comes with an enviro kit. you can get it without. this is a sealed piton, The way it is sealed is they fill the chamber with tribo/christo lube which acts like an antifreeze protecting it from frezzing and water entry. But there is still a slight chance of water getting into these styles but slim chance.

If your diving in cold or contaminated waters or just want a reg that can dive any water go with a diagphram 1st stage.

I dive both reg sets Scubapro MK17/G250V and Atomic M1 Both are great regs realiable and easy breathing.

MK17 - SCUBAPRO-UWATEC

Features of All Atomic Aquatics First Stages

 

[keithdiver]

I'm looking into buying a new regulator and have a question I hope some of you could help with. If it isn't described as environmentally sealed does it mean its not capable of functioning in cold water? Any help would be appreciated. By the way the reg I'm looking at right now is the Mares Ranger 12.

Take a look at 2regs 1. Zeagle = they breath at 20 feet in the cold water , like they do at 120 feet. 2. Take a look at the Apex 200 system, great regs. i have apeks tek3 for doubles.Have not dove them on doubles,but dove them on my single set up. loved them.

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

If you are going to be diving in cold water, I would look at a Mares Abyss or Proton metal. I dive an Abyss 22 that isn't enviromentally sealed in water as cold as 38F, and have never had a free flow or any issues.

www.mares.com/product_detail.php?=389&region=USA


I didn't see the Ranger 12 on the Mares website, so it can't be a current model. I did find it on an online store though and it isn't a cold water reg.

 

[Kern]

as the others have said if it's not a sealed reg it's best to keep them in waters above 40F and out of any possibly contaminated waters. Diagphram regs are sealed regs. Piston style regs can have an enviro kit installed them which makes them a type of sealed reg.

Scubapro mk17 is a true sealed reg "Diagphram"

Atomic M1 1st stage comes with an enviro kit. you can get it without. this is a sealed piton, The way it is sealed is they fill the chamber with tribo/christo lube which acts like an antifreeze protecting it from frezzing and water entry. But there is still a slight chance of water getting into these styles but slim chance.

If your diving in cold or contaminated waters or just want a reg that can dive any water go with a diagphram 1st stage.

I dive both reg sets Scubapro MK17/G250V and Atomic M1 Both are great regs realiable and easy breathing.

MK17 - SCUBAPRO-UWATEC

Features of All Atomic Aquatics First Stages

There are many diaphragm 1st stages that are not environmentally sealed.

1 eg.

Apeks Products

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

I'm looking into buying a new regulator and have a question I hope some of you could help with. If it isn't described as environmentally sealed does it mean its not capable of functioning in cold water? Any help would be appreciated. By the way the reg I'm looking at right now is the Mares Ranger 12.

The Mares MR-12 Ranger is a balanced diaphragm 1st, and the Ranger is an unbalanced classic downstream 2nd I believe.

The MR-12 1st stage is a proven "workhorse" design, and performs really well (I have 4 of them). I believe the Ranger replaced the Rebel(?).... it would be Mares' entry level 2nd stage I think... it should be fine for normal recreational diving, but I'd get one of the Metal Mares 2nd stages (Proton or Abyss)....

The MR-12 will function in cold water, but for actual ice diving you'd want the cold water kit.

Best wishes.

 

[orm]

Also, when gas expands, it cools... so a lot of gas flowing through 1st stage can lower ambient temps even further.

 

[fnfalman]

I suppose that in theories, piston first stages that are equipped with christolube/tribolube still aren't as good as diaphram first stages. Funnily how in real life, these environmentally kitted piston first stages work just fine. I do believe that Atomic Aquatics recently went up to the Arctic with a few of their regulators, and I have yet to hear a report of any of these regs had failed. And I doubt that there are bodies of water in the world that are much colder than the Arctic Ocean.