wet reg??

[scubafanatic]

....I've dove/own Mares....Atomic...Poseidon....Apeks....Aqualung regs, and have never had any of them breathe-wet.....however' I've read many a dive gear mag review where some regs do have the problem......some regs have inherent design flaws/weaknesses, so if it's that sort of problem, then you're stuck with it unless you replace regs...however, one rather common source of 'wet' regs are torn/aged/warped 2nd-stage exhaust valves and torn/aged/warped 2nd-stage diaphragms...so I'd suggest you replace both those items and see how it goes.

 

[fnfalman]

I can definitely say that my Atomic B2 doesn't breath wet unless I let water in. I've purposely swam upside down, right side up, sideway, et al, trying to see if it would breath wet and it didn't.

 

[halocline]

Your reg should work fine in any position. On some regs, a little water can leak in the exhaust valve, but it should never get to the point where you turn upside down and get a mouthful of water. I don't have a G250V, but I have a couple of old G250s and G200Bs (same case and exhaust valve) and none of them breathe wet.

Try this test. Put your reg on a tank but leave the air off, or if you are sure that your dustcap has a good seal, just put it on and make sure it's reasonably tight. Put the second stage in your mouth and try to inhale, give it a good effort. If you can draw any air, there's a leak someplace. I bet you will find a little leak. If you want to make sure it's in the G250V and not anywhere else, take the 2nd stage off the 1st, and try it again, covering up the end of the hose with your thumb.

Once you've determined there's a leak, take it back to the tech (or find a better one, shouldn't be too difficult) and tell him to find it. It's either in the mouthpiece, diaphragm, or exhaust valve, usually the latter. Every once in a while there's a crack in the case that causes it, but that's pretty rare unless you like to sit on your regs.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

my SP G250V breathes wet when I'm inverted, and a guy who claimed to be a 20+yr tech barked at me "... all regs will breathe wet when inverted ..." ...

My guess was that all the regs that particular tech had worked on breathed wet when inverted: After he worked on them

Unless you got a rare "lemon", that reg should not breathe wet unless there is a problem with it. Perform the tests that mattboy recommended, and see if you can find a leak.

Oh, one other very unlikey, but possible cause: Rarely, the culprit can be the tank. If you are getting "wet" fills, and the tank has collected a little water in the bottom, when you invert the water runs to the top and into the dip tube, and you can get a wet breath. I doubt this is happening if you have a good LDS with a well maintained compressor, but it is just a thought.

Best wishes.

 

[scuba.dude]

all: I mentioned this to a former SP tech & all around smart guy, whose first ques when he looked at my reg was "Did it leak before you added the SeaCure?" and sure enuf, the mouthpiece wiggled a bit - DOOHH!!! I didn't even consider this since I inferred that a mouthpiece would leak in any position, plus the wiggle was imperceptible. (Keep the flaming PG so kiddies can learn the educational value of stupidity ...). I re-molded the mouthpiece via a 'modified molding process' & will post if it worked.

mattboy: I pulled the 2nd stage off the hose & performed basic disassembly to troubleshoot per your post. I visually inspected all the easy-to-get-to parts (didn't play w/ the purge mechanism, VIVA cylinder, etc) - all good. I reassembled her, covered the hose connector hole & got good seal. btw - the 'sit on your reg' thing is really funny

turn_sd: don't know about cylinder internals, so great info! In a parking lot, I inverted my cylinders, cracked the valves and felt no moisture (fills @ 3000psi & 300psi) - any reason this isn't a sufficient test to rule out cylinders?

I will do a check dive tomorrow. If the first dive is wet, I'll put the original SP mouthpiece on for the second dive. Will post results.

Thx again for all the info.
-s.d

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

.....turn_sd: don't know about cylinder internals, so great info! In a parking lot, I inverted my cylinders, cracked the valves and felt no moisture (fills @ 3000psi & 300psi) - any reason this isn't a sufficient test to rule out cylinders?

I will do a check dive tomorrow. If the first dive is wet, I'll put the original SP mouthpiece on for the second dive. Will post results.

Thx again for all the info.
-s.d

That was just wild speculation on my part. The real chances of water in the bottom of properly inspected tanks getting air from a well-maintained compressor and competent fill operator is nil I'd say.

But if you REALLY want to be sure, you have to do the "Wet Willie" test : Invert the tank, place your ear next to the valve, and crack the valve slightly; if you get an ear full of water, you have a problem

THAT WAS A JOKE, PLEASE DON'T DO THAT.

Good luck solving the problem, it sounds like you are on the right track.

Best wishes.

 

[scuba.dude]

That was just wild speculation on my part. The real chances of water in the bottom of properly inspected tanks getting air from a well-maintained compressor and competent fill operator is nil I'd say.

I understood you, but all it took was a little effort to rule that out. Besides, ya just never know ... the 1st helicopter wouldn't fly on paper, but if you've ever needed close air support you're reeeaaally glad someone slapped blades on a pod & fired it up

But if you REALLY want to be sure, you have to do the "Wet Willie" test : Invert the tank, place your ear next to the valve, and crack the valve slightly; if you get an ear full of water, you have a problem

Funny.

THAT WAS A JOKE, PLEASE DON'T DO THAT.

I didn't think I come across as THAT naive

-s.d

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Poseidon Regs are never "inverted"... they work in any position.

The only real difference is that a poseiden reg will have the exhaust diaphragm above the body of the reg (where gravity may then cause any water slipping past the exhuast valve to enter the reg) when the diver is rolled on his right ride rather than inverted.

Same issue, same potential problem.

The devil is in the details. Some water will slip past any exhaust valve as the air is exiting. Normally this small amount of water runs or falls to a low point in the reg near or on top of the exhaust valve at the bottom side of the reg where it is once again expelled on the next exhalation.

However if you are inverted with a standard reg (insert rolled to the right with a poseidn), and you get in exactly the right orientation water can fall into an area in the reg where it is picked up by the air being inhaled and the reg breathes wet.

Those who have not had a reg breathe wet, have just never managed to get it oriented in exactly the right position or are using a double hose reg where the exhaust and inhaltion functions occur in separate areas and where two separate valves prevent water from entering the mouthpiece.

So unless soemone is diving a double hose, we can all stop with the "my reg is better than your reg" BS.

 

[scuba.dude]

So unless soemone is diving a double hose, we can all stop with the "my reg is better than your reg" BS.

I just wanted to stop drinking my air ...

-s.d

 

[diversteve]

I've read reviews that claim a particular reg 'works flawlessly in any position'

Although I think that more refers to WOB than whether it stays dry, actually mine does. Being a skeptic I spent part of a dive trying mine (T2) in every conceivable position I could, head down, doing slow 360 rolls inverted, swimming on my back, laid flat out on my back , left side, right side, quick jerks of my head, slowly rotating my head/neck around (like doing a Valsalva) and I never had any water enter my mouth - little vertigo on the rolls however.

I did it when my mouth was dry so would've noticed it - plus I was trying to make it leak so would've been aware if it had. But it didn't.