Regulator setup for doubles...

[NorCalDawg]

Right so I know that you obviously have two 1st stages, and two 2nd stage primary regs, but do you also have 2 octos? Or do you even have an octo at all? Also, do you have a SPG on both sides of the manifold? Sorry if this could have been answered by a search.

 

[jtivat]

No octo's, with two regs you have one to donate also one SPG is fine most put it on the left post which is also where most put the non primary reg. So if you have to shut down your primary reg your SPG will still work, not that it is needed at that point as you should be headed up. I think redundancy is preached to the point that people think they need two and three of everything when some things will just add clutter and more failure points.

 

[loosebits]

Ok, here's how many people rig it.

On the left post (when you're wearing your rig, the post behind your left shoulder), you will have your backup 2nd stage which goes behing you neck and sits on a necklace, a SPG (only 1 needed), and your drysuit inflation if applicable.

On the right post you will have your 7' hose which will route under your can light/knife/Dive rite pocket thingy on your waist belt then up across your chest, around the back of your neck, over your shoulder and to your mouth and finally your wing inflator hose which runs behind your neck to you LP inflator.

Here's why it's typically done this way:

Obviously you want both 2nd stages on their own first stages or what's the point of doubles? You want the necklaced backup reg on your left post as this is your reg when you donate your 7' hose and if you have roll off (the left post rolls off when it contacts the ceiling) you will know it (if it was the other way around, the only way you'd know it is when the guy you're donating to starts to die). You put the LP inflator on the right post so if you do have rolloff while donating and you can't get to the valve for whatever reason, you can breath off the LP inflator. You want the drysuit inflator on the other post from the LP inflator in case you have to shut down the right post, you can still use your drysuit for buoyancy.

 

[MSilvia]

The right post has primary 2nd stage on a long hose, and a BC inflator.
The left post has secondary 2nd stage on a bungied necklace, drysuit inflator, and SPG.

That's all you need for most circumstances.

 

[daniel f aleman]

Ok, here's how many people rig it.

Depends on the dive profile. There are several ways that doubles should be rigged depending on what you're doing, cave, wreck, open water sightseeing, etc.

To the OP, talk to an instructor in your area about your specific dive needs... really.

 

[loosebits]

Btw, for some reason nomenclature in scuba seems to change when you start diving doubles or doing more advanced diving.

What you used to call a valve becomes a post.. unless its on a single cylinder or deco bottle then its still a valve.

A tank is only a tank when its worn on the back or sidemounted. Otherwise it's a bottle.

Your gear is now called your kit or your rig.

The generic word for the stuff you put in your tank is "gas" or depending on context "mix". Under no circumstances should it ever be called "air".

I'm sure there are others but I can't think of them at the moment.

 

[NorCalDawg]

\
Obviously you want both 2nd stages on their own first stages or what's the point of doubles? You want the necklaced backup reg on your left post as this is your reg when you donate your 7' hose and if you have roll off (the left post rolls off when it contacts the ceiling) you will know it (if it was the other way around, the only way you'd know it is when the guy you're donating to starts to die). You put the LP inflator on the right post so if you do have rolloff while donating and you can't get to the valve for whatever reason, you can breath off the LP inflator. You want the drysuit inflator on the other post from the LP inflator in case you have to shut down the right post, you can still use your drysuit for buoyancy.

Okay, this part confused me a little. What do you mean by "roll-off"?

Also, how would one breathe off the LP inflator? Just breathing in the air from the wing I'm guessing?

 

[loosebits]

Roll off/on is where your valves come in contact with the ceiling (cave, wreck, whatever). The left post will want to turn off (roll off), the right post will want to turn on (roll on).

As far as breathing from the LP inflator, it's a skill that takes practice but the idea is that you press the inflate button and the dump button at the same time. If practicing it, I would make sure my wing was recently sterilized as some very nasty little critters may be living in there.

 

[daniel f aleman]

Dawg, you're asking elementary questions - call an instructor, sign up for a Intro to Tec class.

 

[The Kraken]

"Roll off" if a diver comes into contact with the ceiling of an overhead structure and is moving forward, it is possible that the friction from the valve knob's forward movement can effectively close the valve.

If push comes to shove, one can access air through a method of using the B/C inflator and dump. Perhaps someone, a DIR diver hopefully, will come along and explain this skill in detail.

the K