Using "vertical" valve on suit inflate on a Revo

[Wibble]

Contemplating a new 3 litre suit inflate cylinder on the Revo, to be attached to the side of the unit.
Wondering about using a vertical valve instead of the normal 90 degree valve such that it's very different from the diluent when reaching back for shutting down.

Is it too much of a pain to turn the vertical valve? I've memories of the small 1 litre suit inflate from backmount days in DIR mode. It was a pig to manipulate the valve.

Has anyone any experience of manipulating a vertical valve mounted closer to your backside than beside your rib cage as per the small bottle?

 

[Mobulai]

Can’t speak for usage in water or in suit inflation setting, but I gather it all comes to how you’d strap it on to the unit; the „tighter“ the strap/cinch the better torque you can achieve turning it, and the better your chances at using it

I only use a vertical valve on a 10l tank at home dedicated to testing regs (ok it’s the only tank I have besides my 1.5l tank), so no real useful experience here

 

[mr_v]

Well, @Wibble, you're in luck. Call me if you want more info.

I use a Nautec vertical valve for that purpose. The valve is super smooth and I can turn it without applying too much pressure, which helps a lot when diving with multiple bailouts on the left side. The valve sits "just" right and turned out to be a good investment given Nautec prices in the States.

I understand your comment about valves that are hard to turn. That's why I coughed up $210 for this valve. Hasn't failed me. Before someone says, "why do you turn this valve on/off while diving?" You typically don't touch that valve throughout the dive. However, my usual procedure is to turn everything off and then on, including this valve.

 

[Mobulai]

That's why I coughed up $210 for this valve.

nautec are the smoothest valves I ever touched in my life I gotta say (tried them on the „deluxe“ revo at boot)
Someday Ill get myself a couple, that 2 finger action is quite tempting

 

[broncobowsher]

I do it. But just the 6cuft bottle. Valve up, puts the weight up higher to help balance the rEvo. In warm water I will use this for wing gas to save Helium (Truk, Bikini). My valve has a DUI label on it, even though I didn't get it from them. I want to say I got it from Europe someplace. The 6cuft is a bit small. Never an issue in Bikini. But in Truk I did run it empty a couple of times and switched to DIL or bailout (little deeper, little more up and down profiles). Not saying the 3L is wrong. But would be way oversized for what I could use. But I do see the one size of tank approach. And it is bigger than the 6cuft that is too small.

I'll try and get a pic in the next day or two.

 

[mr_v]

@broncobowsher - the pic above is on a 13cf. The smallest I'll use for inflation given my dive profiles. It sits as high as possible with the valve down. I tried the valve up approach and did not like it - could not access the valve.

@Mobulai - I tried multiple approaches with rEvo and that inflation tank. The vertical valve ended up being the best. I would say that "two finger" approach is a bit optimistic, but the valve is certainly easy to operate when you cannot get a full grip on it.

 

[macado]

I am using the OMS/DUI Comptec DIN Mono Valves on my some of my inflation bottles. I did not have any issues manipulating the valves on the rEvo.

 

[Wibble]

Just to clarify, my ‘standard’ Revo configuration has two 3 litre steel cylinders for dil & O2, plus a two litre steel suit inflate on the side of the unit with the clips (as per @mr_v’s pic above) but with a normal right-angled valve sticking out sideways.

This config works well and the suit inflate has the valve knob higher than the other two, so reaching all three valves is easy.

I want to replace the suit inflate with a larger 3 litre cylinder so I can run both drysuit and wing off the one drysuit inflate. I intend to have a the existing BCD connector hanging loose on the elephant’s trunk for the risk that the suit inflate is empty and loosing primary buoyancy (although could connect any of the bailout BCD tails) to reduce (rich trimix) diluent consumption with the wing.

My issue with using the small steel suit inflate on a twinset/doubles is that it is hard to reach and the vertical knob is difficult to turn due to the angle. With the longer 3 litre steel cylinders, I’m hoping it’ll be easier to reach, but again I’m concerned that it’ll be hard to manipulate with thick gloves on.


The Nautec valve is extremely expensive, more than the cost of the cylinder, but it is the finest valve action I’ve ever seen. You gets what you pays for.

 

[mr_v]

@Wibble, I've seen pics of the configuration you're describing but can't find them again. My concern is a negative tail end. For dives demanding a lot of suit gas, dilout is a good config.

 

[broncobowsher]

I run valve up. left side. I've been ably to reach the valve with my right hand. Lift my chin a little and the elbow goes under my chin like I am trying to put myself into a choke hold. Not putting my palm in the knob, but fingers reach fine.