Should a second stage always be attached to air before even light rinsing?

[Kim]

I disagree with the above....never rinse a regulator unless pressurized. This is the only way to guarantee water will not enter your first stage. Dust caps *can* work but pressurized *always* works.

I used to rinse my regs with just the dust cap. When my reg had an annual service one year the tech said "you rinse with a dust cap, don't you?" To which I replied yes of course...alwasy have. He said water poured out of my first stage.

The degredation of breathing performance is gradual as is the water penetration when rinsing with the dust cap. After my reg was serviced (this was year 4 on this reg btw) the breathing performance was of course dramatically improved. When breathing off just one reg you may not notice the gradual change.

--Matt

So how do you rinse your first stage? Throw the whole tank into the rinse tank?

 

[Kevrumbo]

Yes of course: doubles & deco bottles with Regs, together with the full kit & Scooter into the rinse tank. . .

 

[SkuaSeptember]

My understanding if that that is not true for all regulators.

I own an Atomic B2 regulator which is designed to only put pressure on the high pressure seats when the first stage is pressurized.

As such there is the possibility to have water enter the first stage through the second stage if it is put under water (i.e. dunk tank etc.) when the regulator is not pressurized.

This would also be true for the SP S600 and some others. The second stage is "open" when not under pressure.
All in all, I'm with Matt. My gear stays together and under light pressure from the last dive untill rinsed and dry.

 

[Wildcard]

I disagree with the above....never rinse a regulator unless pressurized. This is the only way to guarantee water will not enter your first stage. Dust caps *can* work but pressurized *always* works.

I used to rinse my regs with just the dust cap. When my reg had an annual service one year the tech said "you rinse with a dust cap, don't you?" To which I replied yes of course...alwasy have. He said water poured out of my first stage.

The degredation of breathing performance is gradual as is the water penetration when rinsing with the dust cap. After my reg was serviced (this was year 4 on this reg btw) the breathing performance was of course dramatically improved. When breathing off just one reg you may not notice the gradual change.

--Matt

Matt is right and every LDS in the whole world is wrong! Realy now,have you ever seen a LDS reattach a reg to a tank to wash it? Of course you have to take into accouant that he thinks bayliners are a quality boat
Kevin, can you respond to anything without bragging about diving doubles?:shakehead
It aint that tough.

 

[Kim]

Yes of course: doubles & deco bottles with Regs, together with the full kit & Scooter into the rinse tank. . .

Well....that's OK if you have the facilities to do it but I'd have to guess that many don't. Not everyone is diving from a well equipped home base.

 

[Kevrumbo]

Matt is right and every LDS in the whole world is wrong! Realy now,have you ever seen a LDS reattach a reg to a tank to wash it? Of course you have to take into accouant that he thinks bayliners are a quality boat
Kevin, can you respond to anything without bragging about diving doubles?:shakehead
It aint that tough.

You take it for granted as bragging WC . . .my intent is to impart it as meticulous, careful maintenance of obviously vital Life Support Equipment, especially at the depths I'm interested in and regularly dive at. And I personally make sure the same pressurized rinsing routine is performed on vacation, at whatever particular overseas Dive Ops I happen to be using . . .No lazy half-arsed "dunk & rinse":no

Learn something for once: maybe you should be as disciplined as well. . .

 

[EvaL]

I used to dunk my regs (with dust cap firmly screwed shut) in a bathtub/bucket after each dive. After I bought an Atomic reg I'm more careful as instructions say water can get into the 2nd stage if it is not pressurized. I have a pony tank, so I leave the reg attached and pressurized and soak the 2nd stage in the bucket. Once done, I remove the 1st stage, shut the dust cap and quickly hose it down. If I'm without a tank, I'd probably only hose it down with water, with the 1st stage high above the 2nd (so little water gets in it). For my peace of mind, I'd attach the reg to a tank afterward and purge any water that got in.
Post script: Yes, definitely service the regs at recommended intervals.

 

[Diver Dennis]

I can count the number of times I have rinsed while pressurized. I dive deep too and have never had a problem. I just rinse carefully and if the rinse tank has been used a lot, take the time to rinse under a tap. Not rocket science.

Oh, and get the things serviced regularly. To many people don't want to spend a few dollars getting essential equipment checked. Just because it worked fine a year and a half ago on the last trip doesn't mean it is good to go now necessarily.

 

[spectrum]

So how do you rinse your first stage? Throw the whole tank into the rinse tank?

Personally yes, or it gets hosed down with the cylinder while the rest is soaking pressurized in a pail.

The bottom line by my thinking is that positive pressure is the only sure fire way to clean your air delivery system.

Not pressing purges, dust caps and all that stuff works for most people on most regulators most of the time but positive pressure is indisputable.

Pete

 

[rawls]

My first choice is to rinse them pressurized. When I rinse my regs unattached I just make sure I keep the first stage above the seconds while rinsing the seconds, then I shake them out well, then place them the same way with the first stage on a table and the seconds on a mat. I don't particularly like hanging the first stages on a hook because of the pull on the hose connections.