Where's my power inflator?

[astrofunk]

Hi all -

I need some advice. About a year ago, I bought a Scubapro Knighthawk with AIR2 from my LDS. Recently I decided to go with a bungeed octopus for my back-up, which means I want to swap the AIR2 for the original power inflator. No doubt I'll sell the AIR2 to offset the cost of my new second stage.

The question is: where is that power inflator? Do I need to buy one? Should my LDS have given me the power inflator that was originally replaced by the AIR2 back at the time of purchase?

I've been happy with my LDS in all respects. But part of me thinks that when I originally bought the Knighthawk, I was paying for the Knighthawk WITH the power inflator, and that the AIR2 was an additional cost. On this interpration, there's an unloved power inflator lying around the shop that rightfully belongs to me.

But I could be totally wrong about this, so I'm really interested in your feedback.

thanks in advance!
steve

 

[Walter]

You bought the Air II as your power inflator. It's like buying a new car with an AM radio, but upgrade to an AM/FM with CD player. You never bought the AM radio, you traded up.

 

[Chris H]

Scubapro sells their BCs without an inflator. You bought the Air-2 instead of the inflator. I think any inflator will work, the Scubapro one is quite expensive.

 

[astrofunk]

Ah ha! Thanks for the responses; that's exactly what I wanted to know.

So now I'm on the market for an inflator...

gracias,
steve

 

[scywin]

Why not just leave the Air2 in place and do some diving first. You can give us all some useful feedback in the "will an Air2 kill you?" debate going on in the Tech forums.

Meanwhile, I have a Dive Rite BC and when I bought an Air2 for it, I saved the inflator just in case I ever wanted to switch back. I actually think the Air2 makes a better inflator than the original inflator because the buttons are much bigger and easier to handle.

 

[astrofunk]

scywin - good point. Is there any reason why I couldn't have a bungeed octo AND an AIR2, in which case the AIR2 would serve just as my power inflator?

Some background may help answer this question:

1) I dive almost exclusively in California. My current rig includes a Knighthawk with AIR2, an SP s550/MK16, and a 7mm wetsuit.

2) I'm moving piece-by-piece over to a long hose configuration for the regs, and ultimately I'm going to swap the Knighthawk for a backplate and wings. This process is slow because (a) I am poor, and (b) I like the idea of changing one piece of gear, diving it until I'm comfortable, and then changing the next piece, etc.

So the point is that I would only have the octo + AIR2 combination as a temporary measure. When I get rid of the Knighthawk, the next BC will have a power inflator, and I won't have shelled out for ANOTHER power inflator in the meantime. Can anyone think of problems with this plan?

 

[paulwlee]

It's your choice.

The only problems I can see are:

1. Risk of free-flow from the Air2
-> easily fixed by disconnecting the LP hose

2. Bulky inflator

If you can live with this, (and you have, up till now, right?) I see no reason why it would be a problem. It's just trading off cost with a small degree of extra convenience/safety, as in many other gear decisions.

 

[astrofunk]

Thanks, paulwlee. Since I'm conceiving of this as a temporary salve, I imagine I'll be willing to live with the bulkiness and the possibility of free-flowing...

 

[JDostal]

I went the same route you did astrofunk - first had a single reg setup w/ an air2, eventually I upgraded to H-Valves and dual regulators...no longer needed the air2 anymore.

I thought about keeping it, but then I had the hassle of having this one proprietary LP hose that I couldn't use on anything else. So, I sold the Air2 on ebay for like $65 and used that money to buy a regular power inflator...and a few other little toys.

 

[astrofunk]

Hey Omicron -

I'll probably leave the Air2 on my current BC, if only to enhance its resale value. I'll be testing backplates and wings in the middle of November, and I'm suspicisous that the Knighthawk is gonna go in favor of a BP+wings setup.

So far, so good with my long hose configuration!


best,
steve