My current 1st stage regs are Hollis DC3s. I have 2 of them. They have at least 4 LP ports (can't remember if there's more, but I think not) and 2 HP ports. No rotating turret. No bottom port.
I am going to doubles. Right now, I'm planning to use these same 2 1st stage regs for my doubles and maybe buy a new 1st stage to have as a dedicated singles reg set.
As I contemplate how to configure my DC3s for doubles and also whether I will get another 1st stage and what I would get, I keep seeing comments about rotating turrets and how great they are.
The simple question is what is so great about a swivel turret?
I've been using 1 DC3 for singles and I can't see where having anything able to rotate would have made any hose routing better or easier when using it that way. 2 LP ports on the right accommodate my primary and secondary 2nd stage regs. 1 HP port on the right holds my wireless AI transmitter. 2 LP ports on the left accommodate my LPI and my dry suit inflator. 1 HP port on the left has my backup SPG/computer console.
What would be nice is if it had a LP port on the bottom, for the longer 2nd stage hose that goes under my right arm. A HP port on the bottom, for the SPG that goes under my left arm would be nice, too. But I digress...
Now that I'm planning to repurpose for doubles, I still can't see where a swivel turret would help me. What seems like it would help is if each DC3 had a LP port on the bottom. For a doubles setup, it seems like I would want each 1st stage to have 2 LP ports that are at right angles to each other.
On the left post, the bottom of the reg would point to the right and my secondary 2nd stage would come out of that and go around my neck. And a LP port pointing straight down would let my dry suit inflator point straight down and route under my left arm. a HP port pointing straight down would have my SPG hose coming out and also routing under my left arm.
On the right post, the bottom of the reg would point to the left and my LPI hose would come out of that and go behind my neck and over my left shoulder to plug into my wing inflator. And a LP port pointing straight down would have my long hose for my primary 2nd stage coming out and routing under my right arm.
So, what would a swivel turret actually do for me? It seems like, compared to the fixed turret regs I've looked at, the swivel just allows for very minor (dare I say inconsequential?) changes to the hose angle.
It seems like the only thing my DC3s lack that would make them better for doubles is having a LP port on the bottom - which might also make them nicer for singles, too. But, I can't see how a swivel would matter to anything. Is a swivel turret really just a marketing gimmick?
On the other hand, having a LP port on the bottom (at right angles to at least one LP port on the side) makes a BIG difference in helping route hoses without the hose having to make a 90 degree turn (even if it's a gentle 90 degree turn).
A 1st stage that has 5 LP ports, where 1 is on the bottom, and 2 HP ports, where one is on each side, seems like a reg that would work fine, with good hose routing, no matter whether you are using it for singles or doubles. But, I don't see where a rotating turret really matters in either case (singles or doubles).
What am I not getting?
I am going to doubles. Right now, I'm planning to use these same 2 1st stage regs for my doubles and maybe buy a new 1st stage to have as a dedicated singles reg set.
As I contemplate how to configure my DC3s for doubles and also whether I will get another 1st stage and what I would get, I keep seeing comments about rotating turrets and how great they are.
The simple question is what is so great about a swivel turret?
I've been using 1 DC3 for singles and I can't see where having anything able to rotate would have made any hose routing better or easier when using it that way. 2 LP ports on the right accommodate my primary and secondary 2nd stage regs. 1 HP port on the right holds my wireless AI transmitter. 2 LP ports on the left accommodate my LPI and my dry suit inflator. 1 HP port on the left has my backup SPG/computer console.
What would be nice is if it had a LP port on the bottom, for the longer 2nd stage hose that goes under my right arm. A HP port on the bottom, for the SPG that goes under my left arm would be nice, too. But I digress...
Now that I'm planning to repurpose for doubles, I still can't see where a swivel turret would help me. What seems like it would help is if each DC3 had a LP port on the bottom. For a doubles setup, it seems like I would want each 1st stage to have 2 LP ports that are at right angles to each other.
On the left post, the bottom of the reg would point to the right and my secondary 2nd stage would come out of that and go around my neck. And a LP port pointing straight down would let my dry suit inflator point straight down and route under my left arm. a HP port pointing straight down would have my SPG hose coming out and also routing under my left arm.
On the right post, the bottom of the reg would point to the left and my LPI hose would come out of that and go behind my neck and over my left shoulder to plug into my wing inflator. And a LP port pointing straight down would have my long hose for my primary 2nd stage coming out and routing under my right arm.
So, what would a swivel turret actually do for me? It seems like, compared to the fixed turret regs I've looked at, the swivel just allows for very minor (dare I say inconsequential?) changes to the hose angle.
It seems like the only thing my DC3s lack that would make them better for doubles is having a LP port on the bottom - which might also make them nicer for singles, too. But, I can't see how a swivel would matter to anything. Is a swivel turret really just a marketing gimmick?
On the other hand, having a LP port on the bottom (at right angles to at least one LP port on the side) makes a BIG difference in helping route hoses without the hose having to make a 90 degree turn (even if it's a gentle 90 degree turn).
A 1st stage that has 5 LP ports, where 1 is on the bottom, and 2 HP ports, where one is on each side, seems like a reg that would work fine, with good hose routing, no matter whether you are using it for singles or doubles. But, I don't see where a rotating turret really matters in either case (singles or doubles).
What am I not getting?
