What regulator Kills the most divers?

[tiburon72157]

the ones that aren't serviced annually!

 

[Hank49]

First, thanks for understanding my point. I was hoping that someone could point out a U.S. equivalant. At least the EEC seems to have applied some control standards in this area.

COQ is most frequently used in manufacturing, but the concepts are equally valid in any maintenance operation. I'm involved in equipment maintenance scheduling for coal mining equipment, where people die if you get things wrong. Our COQ program is central to what we do. My particular interest here is the rework costs.

Undoubtable, there are a lot of good dive equipment people out there. I don't see reports of regulator failures killing divers. My experience is that on the two occasions that I have had my equipment serviced, it came out of the dive shop in a condition where it should not have been used. On one occasion this was discovered before leaving for the trip (Second stage not properly assembled). On the other, the regulator wouldn't stop free flowing, costing a dive on Palancar and service at a dive shop in San Miguel. ScubaPro equipment serviced by a ScubaPro authorized technician. This lead me to sell my equipment and just use rental gear, rented at the site..

So now I'm considering buying gear again. However, I'm considering the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) before just plunking down the bucks. It still looks like it is more cost effective to rent (2 weeks tropical diving per year) than to own unless I can get a better deal than $90 per year for service (even with free parts).

My only reg failure was due to exactly what you described. I didn't have my tools with me so I left it a shop where a guy said he could do it. He didn't tighten the swivel bolt on my first stage and on the 2nd dive of the day, it started leaking badly and I had to surface and get a shop reg changed onto my tank.
This is what you risk if you don't take the time and learn to do your own maintenance. Same with your car or motorcycle. But regs are much simpler to work on. At least piston regs. But you're also right in that it's a guess more or less as to when to do it. But as a rule, I open mine every year. I replace the high pressure seat even if it's still working. O rings and filters screens too. But, I do this to my fishing reels too I like to tinker.

 

[Snowbear]

I actually enjoy servicing my own regs. That way I know that no shortcuts were taken and everything really is working the way it's supposed to. Knowing enough about them to do field repairs and adjustments is way cool... no having to use the boat or rental gear 'cause of a minor problem.

The best part of being able to service my regs is getting to know how they work.

 

[FFMDiver]

Just recieved my new Apex DS4/ATX50 along with 2 sets of service kits after a major freeflow on my recently serviced Mk25. Anyone selling a pin spanner?

My only reg failure was due to exactly what you described. I didn't have my tools with me so I left it a shop where a guy said he could do it. He didn't tighten the swivel bolt on my first stage and on the 2nd dive of the day, it started leaking badly and I had to surface and get a shop reg changed onto my tank.
This is what you risk if you don't take the time and learn to do your own maintenance. Same with your car or motorcycle. But regs are much simpler to work on. At least piston regs. But you're also right in that it's a guess more or less as to when to do it. But as a rule, I open mine every year. I replace the high pressure seat even if it's still working. O rings and filters screens too. But, I do this to my fishing reels too I like to tinker.

 

[ZzzKing]

My guess is that the reg that kills the most divers is probably also the reg that gets used the most and thus has a higher number of incidents. Probably a US Divers or ScubaPro or Aqualung (something tht has been used by a LOT of divers for a LOT of years). A more telling stat would be which has the highest # of kills per hour of use or some such thing. Can't imagine anyone having compiled such a stat.

 

[Hank49]

I actually enjoy servicing my own regs. That way I know that no shortcuts were taken and everything really is working the way it's supposed to. Knowing enough about them to do field repairs and adjustments is way cool... no having to use the boat or rental gear 'cause of a minor problem.

The best part of being able to service my regs is getting to know how they work.

Riiiiiiiight....girls working on regs.....and changing oil in cars..... (just kidding)

 

[divermatt]

The regulator that kills the most divers? The grey one you keep between your ears.

 

[webjr]

Someone mentioned mouth piece failures earlier ?
The only potentialy dangerous reg failures i've ever actualy seen myself were
1 second stage diaghram split and (tech probably pinched on assembly)
2 mouthpiece split
They both yield the same result . Breathing water instead of air .
Both are also easily dealt with . We teach OW students to breath
on freeflowing regs . It wouldn't hurt to let the students know the same technique works for torn mouthpieces and second stage diaghrams .
Mash button
Breath
(or switch to alt.)
Surface slowly and
End dive

 

[MSilvia]

Bullets kill people. Guns are just hunks of metal and plastic. Kind of like a regulator.

Bullets are just hunks of metal too. It's the holes in people that kill people. Holes should be banned. Think of the children!

 

[abitton]

- Begin hijack...

Bullets are just hunks of metal too. It's the holes in people that kill people. Holes should be banned. Think of the children!

Speed doesn't kill. Sudden and brutal stops do.

...End hijack -