Thinking of doubling up my HP80s

[JohnnyC]

Make sure you have the right length hoses.

Long hose: 5' or 7'
Short hose: 22" (out of 5th port)
SPG: 24"
Inflators: whatever length you need to fit your wing (out of 5th port) and drysuit.

SPG and short hose come from your left post, long hose and inflator from your right post. Drysuit inflator from your left.

SPG needs a bolt snap to clip to left waist. Long hose needs a bolt snap to clip off when not in your mouth.

 

[Marie13]

Well, I did say it was a stupid question! Answered, thanks!

 

[Marie13]

Make sure you have the right length hoses.

Long hose: 5' or 7'
Short hose: 22" (out of 5th port)
SPG: 24"
Inflators: whatever length you need to fit your wing (out of 5th port) and drysuit.

SPG and short hose come from your left post, long hose and inflator from your right post. Drysuit inflator from your left.

SPG needs a bolt snap to clip to left waist. Long hose needs a bolt snap to clip off when not in your mouth.

I've been running a long hose setup on my single tank regs, so between being used to that and SM, it won't be too different. I've had a SPG clipped off from day one on single tank reg.

I don't have 5th port, and I'm not sure I'm going to do it for now. Doubles regs are going to be a combo of my SM regs and single tank set. I"ll be borrowing SPG/hose from single tank reg for the pool. It's already on a 22" or 24" hose. Inflator hoses will be cannibalized from single tank set as well. I'll try everything out at home and get new hoses if necessary.

 

[JohnnyC]

It will work for throwing it together, but what you'll find is that the new valve position, and the subsequent change in distance, may mean you'll be grabbing new hoses to optimize your lengths. For example, a 22" LP hose off the left port is WAY too long for me on a single tank rig for my bungee'd secon, but an 18" LP hose from a singles setup is too short on a set of doubles to use comfortably. Long hose doesn't matter, 4 inches over 7 feet is marginal, but when it comes to inflators and SPG's and stuff, it's really worth optimizing their length since hoses inevitably like to bow out exactly where they're most annoying.

In the case of inflators, it can really screw with the inflator position if it's too long or too short. Same for drysuit, although if it's too long it's less of an issue as you can generally just swivel your inflator down a bit and take out the slack. Too short though and it'll pull your inflator, ride up in to your armpit, etc.

Just be prepared to do some futzing about to get everything right. You typically don't imagine that a couple inches here or there will make a difference, but once you start adding deco gas and stages, etc., it can become burdensome.

You should be able to get the 5th port kit for your Apeks regs, and it's definitely worth it, both for backmount AND sidemount if you decide to go back. It may be worth heading in to DRIS once you've got everything put together and with your drysuit, undergarments, etc., see if they will help you tweak harness and hose lengths.

 

[Marie13]

It will work for throwing it together, but what you'll find is that the new valve position, and the subsequent change in distance, may mean you'll be grabbing new hoses to optimize your lengths. For example, a 22" LP hose off the left port is WAY too long for me on a single tank rig for my bungee'd secon, but an 18" LP hose from a singles setup is too short on a set of doubles to use comfortably. Long hose doesn't matter, 4 inches over 7 feet is marginal, but when it comes to inflators and SPG's and stuff, it's really worth optimizing their length since hoses inevitably like to bow out exactly where they're most annoying.

In the case of inflators, it can really screw with the inflator position if it's too long or too short. Same for drysuit, although if it's too long it's less of an issue as you can generally just swivel your inflator down a bit and take out the slack. Too short though and it'll pull your inflator, ride up in to your armpit, etc.

Just be prepared to do some futzing about to get everything right. You typically don't imagine that a couple inches here or there will make a difference, but once you start adding deco gas and stages, etc., it can become burdensome.

You should be able to get the 5th port kit for your Apeks regs, and it's definitely worth it, both for backmount AND sidemount if you decide to go back. It may be worth heading in to DRIS once you've got everything put together and with your drysuit, undergarments, etc., see if they will help you tweak harness and hose lengths.

I’m still deciding on the 5th port, but probably will. Taking everything into the shop for help with tweaking is definitely an option. That’s how I got my SM stuff originally set up last winter. One of the tech instructors has agreed to do a doubles pool session with me over the winter.

 

[RyanT]

The 5th port will make a big difference.

 

[Marie13]

Dropped SM regs off at the shop tonight to get 5th port installed.

 

[Sam Miller III]

@Marie 13
Dropped SM regs off at the shop tonight to get 5th port installed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is your "reg" a single hose regulator or a five hose regulator ?

sdm

 

[Marie13]

Apeks has a backorder on the 5th port, might be a month. So I set up my regs for doubles without 5th port for time being.

These also just got assembled and are getting filled at this very moment.

 

[rongoodman]

Those bolts look really long.