What type of gauge for doubles and pony?

[jsmith89]

I just got a set of doubles (Al 80's) and a pony bottle (30cf) I have 2 regulators to run with this set up. When diving a single tank I plan on taking the pony for redundancy and with doubles just using the 2 regs with the manifold. I know on the pony I want a gauge but when using the doubles I don't want to have to deal with 2 gauges. What is the best set up to avoid having to switch a gauge on and off my pony reg every time I switch between doubles and a single tank?

 

[Wildcard]

Most people use doubles as just that, some run independant doubles which I think is what your talking about? If your running doubles, you will have one SPG. If your running a pony you will have a SPG for that. If your running Ind doubles, you will still have two SPGs. Can you clairify what it is you are planing to do? Im thinking your way ahead of your game here.

 

[jsmith89]

I am planning on utilizing a single regualtor for a pony bottle when diving a single tank with a pony and then that same reg when diving doubles. Now my new question also is how much harder would it be to dive independent doubles?

 

[Wildcard]

Exactly the same as diving with a pony but it's a 80 CF pony.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I just got a set of doubles (Al 80's) and a pony bottle (30cf) I have 2 regulators to run with this set up. When diving a single tank I plan on taking the pony for redundancy and with doubles just using the 2 regs with the manifold. I know on the pony I want a gauge but when using the doubles I don't want to have to deal with 2 gauges. What is the best set up to avoid having to switch a gauge on and off my pony reg every time I switch between doubles and a single tank?

Ideally what you would seem to be doing is to be able to take your back up reg from the doubles set up and use it on the pony. problem is really not so much guages as hoses. To me it would be a problem since I dive long hose. on the right is primary, inflator for dry suit if not using argon bottle. on the left is back up reg, bc inflator, and spg. You could conceiveably use your primary if diving with standard length hoses but you would still need to ad an spg to it for the pony. This way you could use the backup for your main reg when diving singles. I'm not trying to be mean or nasty but perhaps you need to rethink if you are ready to dive doubles with the gear you have? I say this because with your setup you are still going to end up switching hoses around more than would be necessary. the best solution is to just go out and buy another dedicated pony reg. Also with your setup you really need to decide how often are you going to be switching out between doubles and singles. If you plan on doing this every time you go out better invest in a few replacement orings, good set of wrenches and be ready to get looks from your dive buddies while you are reconfiguring your gear. I am putting together two sets of steel doubles, have 4 more single tanks and 2 argon bottles as well as a 19 and 40 cu ft pony's. trying to do something with like this can be a nightmare with two or three regs. That's why I have 6! plus a dedicated argon bottle reg. My doubles will be setup with their own regs. I have conventional reg setup for teaching duties that will also be used for single tank diving when I start with the doubles. I have a cold water setup for single tanks, and two other pony set ups. I use a button guage on the 19 and a standard guage with a hose on the 40. Bottomline is you may be moving too fast and trying to do too much with the resources you now have.

 

[MSilvia]

My suggestion is that you dive the doubles with the isolator open and a SPG on the right post (the first stage that will be behind your left shoulder). If you're diving the pony for redundancy, and you've checked the pressure (using the first stage that has an SPG) before starting the dive, IMHO you can get by without having a guage on it. Since you knew it was full, and since switching to your pony means aborting the dive, all you have to worry about is getting back to the surface without emptying it. If you've picked a reasonably sized cylinder, and have done some very basic gas planning, you shouldn't ever run out of gas in your pony backup cylinder. If you do, having a guage likely wouldn't have helped anyhow.

Still, a dedicated pony reg with a SPG on a very short hose would be a lot closer to ideal.

 

[rjack321]

Set up the doubles regs properly with a long hose and BC inflator on the right
SPG and necklaced backup reg on the left

As needed, put the necklace and SPG onto the right post reg and you have a single tank setup.

Regardless of the SPG question, you don't have enough second stages for the pony.

 

[ianr33]

Get another regulator for the pony. You could also use it as a stage/deco reg. Can't have enough regs !!

 

[Allison Finch]

ian33,
nice chondropython viridis!

 

[S. starfish]

One thing you'll find with diving is that you really can't cut corners with equipment adn that switchign gear around really doesn't work that well. My advice adn what seems to be the general consensus is that you get two regs for your doubles, one with a 7ft hose/bc hose and one with backup reg/spg/dry whip if you're diving dry, another reg for your pony with one second stage and an spg on a short (talkin'a few inches here) hose and another reg setup yet complete w/ primary/backup regs, spg and necesary hoses for diving singles. The more hose switcing you're doing the more likely you are to have an o-ring failure at an inoportune moment.
I think the best course of action would be to go out and find someone who is experienced in diving with doubles and is willing to give you some pointers/lessons before embarking on any adventures.