Hey Eric,
It looks like you're starting to have some fun.......Expect to buy around $500 to $600 of fittings and other parts you will eventually pull off and wish you never had. How do I know
I have been messing around with the BOV and FFM for a while now and if I can save you some time, money and effort....read on as I have most likely done everything you are about to do or haven't thought of yet and are about to do so!! Just ask Matt....he has seen a few of my combinations but by all means not all.
Remember the KISS principle..."Keep It Simple Stupid" now this not only goes for the set up but also for the "Functionality" and ease of use. Try not to make the hoses look like a spaghetti factory and keep it as simple as possible.
I think you're on the right track with the plumbing......I can't see the benefit on changing the BOV inlet and the HUD but if it works for you......
This is where my nice manifold comes into it's own.....It's mounted behind your left shoulder behind the XH CL and sits horizontal with the dil inlet coming up into a single port at the rear. There are 4 ports pointing down in the direction of the CL and are used to supply gas to the ADV, BOV second stage, Wing inflation and the last one is for your offboard gas inlet. (more on this one in a minute)
There is 1 port in each end of the manifold. The one nearest the center of the unit now supplies gas around behind your head to the APEKS second stage which is in the side P'Port. The other port is plugged or used for something else.
You can hose them up in any configuration you like. I have a hose for suit inflation on it for when I am diving with air dil.
It should be starting to look a bit like this.
Manifold Hoses 003.jpg
I think it's quite neat and works very well.
With the offboard gas I take the same bailout as my dil this way you're not going to get any nasty surprises!!! I have an M&J quick disconnect female fitted to a short hose on the stage tanks first stage. The reason for this is I can disconnect it and it will not free flow as the fitting has a flowstop built into it. Now I can pass it off or ditch it or whatever without loosing any gas whilst the tank is still turned on. Handy if you have to donate gas to someone. I have a din hose and a second stage with a bite mouthpiece. The din can be fitted to any fitting on the unit and can also be used for suit or DSMB inflation. The second stage can now be used by anyone, including you, easily and without the P'Port which is just simply a pain in the ass!!!!
I think this is nice to have the bite mouthpiece in case you have to ditch the FFM and use a 1/2 mask for whatever reason and now that you have a BOV and can access your bailout gas why bother with another P'Port on the stage tank....You simply don't need it!!!
The hose from the manifold which will connect with the other half of the M&J QD (which is the male end) is fitted with a M&J check valve (one way valve) and will not allow dil to flow back to the stage tank in the event of gas loss or having donated you second stage to a buddy. It's other function is as a flow stop and will automatically act to eliminate any gas flow/loss when it's disconnected.
I have left both hoses long enough to be able to pull them out in front of you so you can easily see the connectors when you want to either disconnect or connect them.
It should look something like this...
Manifold Hoses 012.jpg Manifold Hoses 007.jpg
I tried a few different ways to mount the HUD (ISC are presently working on a longer one for use with the FFM for us) and came up with a solution that seems to work well. I fitted the HUD stem in the usual position and got a spare stem and sawed the mounting base off it leaving just the vertical stem. I then drilled a small hole on the centre line and up around 3/8" up from the bottom and put a small SS screw with a large diameter flat washer on it.
Now all you do is slip the cut off stem over the top of the existing stem and centre the screw in the opening the HUD would have normally gone in. The flat washer is on the outside and you do up the screw and it's ready to mount your HUD.
I love it....You can tilt the top part of the stem anywhere you like and it's easy to get out of the way when packing it away. And best of all if you decide to ditch the FFM and use a 1/2 mask you undo the screw and put the extension in your tool kit and use the original stem......
Cool Eh??
20080214_089s.jpg
Let me know if you'd like more info or pics...That should have you thinking for a while
Regards,
Lance