Which bailout regulatorto use?

paintedfrogfish · 28th March 2008, 11:34

Hi all, I just got certified on a Megalodon and want to buy a 1st and 2nd stage for my air bailout bottle. Does anyone have any suggestions for any regulator? Does it have to be DIN valve for example? What length hose for the 2nd stage and for the pressure gauge? Thanks.

Mark Chase · 28th March 2008, 11:53

Apex DST make for nice house routing on stages. DS4s are cheaper. Both work well. Apex regs from the TX40 and up are great. They have a +/- setting which can prevent free flow but at a flip of a leaver give low breathing resistance.

Hose length is normal for normal diving (just like OC) but if your doing wreck penetration or cave a 2m hose is preferred.

If you put a stage on the left you will need the hose to be long enough to go round your neck and into your mouth. If not you will need a reg that can be used form either side like a Poseidon

DIN is less likely to have an 0 ring failure than A clamp, so preferred but not essential

6" 150mm hoses for the SPG are nice and tidy

ATB

Mark

Meng_Tze · 28th March 2008, 12:08

Any decent regulator will work. I carry two tanks. The right hand side secondstage is bungeed around my neck. The left hand side has 40" hose.

Marc · 28th March 2008, 12:09

Well, anything that breaths really I would say (I thought Meg's didn't break down anyway

). You could put an inline flow stopper on there to prevent freeflow.
I like the short (6-inch) HP hoses. I've got a standard reg hose on it. Cheers, Marc

Craig69 · 28th March 2008, 12:20

I use an Apexs TX40 on the right side and an XTX40 on my left. Both on standard length hoses and they seem to work well.

I have switched back from 6" HP hoses to normal size as it makes the gauges easier to read for me, but prefer the 6" length from a streamlining point of view (juries still out on that until I do some more diving).

By coincidence the TX40 is A clamp and the XTX is din. I've never had an A clamp failure but I will switch it to DIN as soon as the pillar valve size for nitrox cylinders sorts itself out.

Hope this helps,

paintedfrogfish · 28th March 2008, 12:40

Thanks for the quick replies, guys. Basically I have, in excellent condition, Scubapro MK25/S600 and Scubapro MK2/R390 left over from my (and my wife's) open circuit days. I considered using either of them as my bailout 1st stage/regulators but the MK2 doesn't have a swivelling turret and thus is not the best routing solution as the 6 inch pressure gauge sticks out. On a friend's rationale that you want the best when you are bailing out, I considered converting my Scubapro MK25/S600 to DIN and using that for bailout but was advised by the technician in the shop that it was a waste to use such an expensive rig for bailout.

What should I do? I'm considering buying a Diverite RG1208/2015 setup for bailout which I am being offered new for about US$340. That would entail further expenditure. Or should I use my Scubapro MK25/S600?

Thanks,

RAL · 28th March 2008, 12:47

Quote: (Originally Posted by paintedfrogfish)

Thanks for the quick replies, guys. Basically I have, in excellent condition, Scubapro MK25/S600 and Scubapro MK2/R390 left over from my (and my wife's) open circuit days. I considered using either of them as my bailout 1st stage/regulators but the MK2 doesn't have a swivelling turret and thus is not the best routing solution as the 6 inch pressure gauge sticks out. On a friend's rationale that you want the best when you are bailing out, I considered converting my Scubapro MK25/S600 to DIN and using that for bailout but was advised by the technician in the shop that it was a waste to use such an expensive rig for bailout.

What should I do? I'm considering buying a Diverite RG1208/2015 setup for bailout which I am being offered new for about US$340. That would entail further expenditure. Or should I use my Scubapro MK25/S600?

Thanks,

Myself I think the tech is all wet, I want a first class setup for bailout. Use the SP setup you have. The Diverite stuff is good gear but you already have a good setup.

RAl

Drmike · 28th March 2008, 12:52

Quote: (Originally Posted by paintedfrogfish)

was advised by the technician in the shop that it was a waste to use such an expensive rig for bailout.

What should I do? ,

not listen to shop technicians would be a good start!

If or when you bail trust me the difference between a good breathing reg set and a reasonable breathing one could be your life.

You want the very best regs you can for bailout, not any old crap

when you bail you will likely be breathing very heavily - not the time to be using crap regs!

My advice is convert your SP to DIN or just use them with yokes

My pressure gauges all stick out as you describe as thats the way I like them.

Bare in mind if you do convert to DIN you may want to take along the yoke adapter when travelling to places like Tioman or on some local boats as not everyone rents DIN tanks or has enough DIN fitted tanks for all customers.

**sfldiver** · 28th March 2008, 13:20

I agree with the previous advice, if you already have a quality regulator you can convert to a dedicated bailout/deco, definitely go with that.

However, sometimes by the time you purchase the DIN adaptor and have the regulator O2 serviced, you've already spent a fair amount of $. Furthermore, if you get in the deeper end of things, you'll need a few regulators to ensure you have one for each bottle. I've often found it much easier to go with a simple regulator that already comes with DIN fittings and O2 clean. I personally like the OMS Workhorse Regulator - It's cheap, it's DIN, it's O2 clean and it comes with three different color face plates, which includes the green (O2) and Yellow (Nitrox). I know it's not a performance regulator, but I've always used unbalanced regulators as deco regulators, even for stops in the 100ft - 200ft range and never had an issue or felt like it was not supplying me enough gas, because you're really not working at that point. Plus, it's cheap! I can get it online here in the states for well under $200.00, actually ($178.20).

OMS SCUBA Regulators http://www.OMSdive.com

OMS Din Regulator from LeisurePro.com

Good luck and congratulations on the the recent certification!

colinicky · 28th March 2008, 14:14

Personally I would use what you have & convert it to din as has been said Arguably you actually want a better reg when you bailout as the **** has already hit the fan .
I would use your Scubapro MK25/S600 on your deep bailout & use your Scubapro MK2/R390 on your rich deco cylinder & if you don't like the routing how about a button gauge ? .

28th March 2008, 11:34	#1 (permalink)
paintedfrogfish New Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 11	Which bailout regulatorto use? Hi all, I just got certified on a Megalodon and want to buy a 1st and 2nd stage for my air bailout bottle. Does anyone have any suggestions for any regulator? Does it have to be DIN valve for example? What length hose for the 2nd stage and for the pressure gauge? Thanks.
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28th March 2008, 11:53	#2 (permalink)
Mark Chase I go down for ages Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kent Posts: 2,470	Re: Which bailout regulatorto use? Apex DST make for nice house routing on stages. DS4s are cheaper. Both work well. Apex regs from the TX40 and up are great. They have a +/- setting which can prevent free flow but at a flip of a leaver give low breathing resistance. Hose length is normal for normal diving (just like OC) but if your doing wreck penetration or cave a 2m hose is preferred. If you put a stage on the left you will need the hose to be long enough to go round your neck and into your mouth. If not you will need a reg that can be used form either side like a Poseidon DIN is less likely to have an 0 ring failure than A clamp, so preferred but not essential 6" 150mm hoses for the SPG are nice and tidy ATB Mark __________________ Is it supposed to make that noise ? I took my unit to the dive shop and demanded they bolt on every thing that would fit. Join my elite diving teem and get a Tshirt "Doing It Chasey"Hammerhead Eccr Advanced Diving System Last edited by Mark Chase : 28th March 2008 at 11:55.
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28th March 2008, 12:08	#3 (permalink)
Meng_Tze 246 Bubbleless Cove Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: FL, USA Posts: 105	Re: Which bailout regulatorto use? Any decent regulator will work. I carry two tanks. The right hand side secondstage is bungeed around my neck. The left hand side has 40" hose. __________________ Homo Bonae Voluntatis
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28th March 2008, 12:09	#4 (permalink)
Marc New Member Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Perth Posts: 90	Re: Which bailout regulatorto use? Well, anything that breaths really I would say (I thought Meg's didn't break down anyway ). You could put an inline flow stopper on there to prevent freeflow. I like the short (6-inch) HP hoses. I've got a standard reg hose on it. Cheers, Marc __________________ Classic KISS #271
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28th March 2008, 12:20	#5 (permalink)
Craig69 Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire (Gods Own County), England. Posts: 122	Re: Which bailout regulatorto use? I use an Apexs TX40 on the right side and an XTX40 on my left. Both on standard length hoses and they seem to work well. I have switched back from 6" HP hoses to normal size as it makes the gauges easier to read for me, but prefer the 6" length from a streamlining point of view (juries still out on that until I do some more diving). By coincidence the TX40 is A clamp and the XTX is din. I've never had an A clamp failure but I will switch it to DIN as soon as the pillar valve size for nitrox cylinders sorts itself out. Hope this helps, __________________ Craig. www.thornebsac.co.uk
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28th March 2008, 12:40	#6 (permalink)
paintedfrogfish New Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 11	Re: Which bailout regulatorto use? Thanks for the quick replies, guys. Basically I have, in excellent condition, Scubapro MK25/S600 and Scubapro MK2/R390 left over from my (and my wife's) open circuit days. I considered using either of them as my bailout 1st stage/regulators but the MK2 doesn't have a swivelling turret and thus is not the best routing solution as the 6 inch pressure gauge sticks out. On a friend's rationale that you want the best when you are bailing out, I considered converting my Scubapro MK25/S600 to DIN and using that for bailout but was advised by the technician in the shop that it was a waste to use such an expensive rig for bailout. What should I do? I'm considering buying a Diverite RG1208/2015 setup for bailout which I am being offered new for about US$340. That would entail further expenditure. Or should I use my Scubapro MK25/S600? Thanks,
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28th March 2008, 12:47	#7 (permalink)
RAL Longbottom Time Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: North Florida Posts: 374	Re: Which bailout regulatorto use? Quote: (Originally Posted by paintedfrogfish) Thanks for the quick replies, guys. Basically I have, in excellent condition, Scubapro MK25/S600 and Scubapro MK2/R390 left over from my (and my wife's) open circuit days. I considered using either of them as my bailout 1st stage/regulators but the MK2 doesn't have a swivelling turret and thus is not the best routing solution as the 6 inch pressure gauge sticks out. On a friend's rationale that you want the best when you are bailing out, I considered converting my Scubapro MK25/S600 to DIN and using that for bailout but was advised by the technician in the shop that it was a waste to use such an expensive rig for bailout. What should I do? I'm considering buying a Diverite RG1208/2015 setup for bailout which I am being offered new for about US$340. That would entail further expenditure. Or should I use my Scubapro MK25/S600? Thanks, Myself I think the tech is all wet, I want a first class setup for bailout. Use the SP setup you have. The Diverite stuff is good gear but you already have a good setup. RAl __________________ The sea does not care about you.
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28th March 2008, 12:52	#8 (permalink)
Drmike Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Ouroboros Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Home Build Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,128	Re: Which bailout regulatorto use? Quote: (Originally Posted by paintedfrogfish) was advised by the technician in the shop that it was a waste to use such an expensive rig for bailout. What should I do? , not listen to shop technicians would be a good start! If or when you bail trust me the difference between a good breathing reg set and a reasonable breathing one could be your life. You want the very best regs you can for bailout, not any old crap when you bail you will likely be breathing very heavily - not the time to be using crap regs! My advice is convert your SP to DIN or just use them with yokes My pressure gauges all stick out as you describe as thats the way I like them. Bare in mind if you do convert to DIN you may want to take along the yoke adapter when travelling to places like Tioman or on some local boats as not everyone rents DIN tanks or has enough DIN fitted tanks for all customers. __________________ Get a girlfriend you sad twat - a Rebreather is an unfaithful mistress - dont blind yourself to her faults just because she goes down on you Last edited by Drmike : 28th March 2008 at 13:02.
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28th March 2008, 13:20	#9 (permalink)
sfldiver Team Optima Diver Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pompano Beach, FL Posts: 663	Re: Which bailout regulatorto use? I agree with the previous advice, if you already have a quality regulator you can convert to a dedicated bailout/deco, definitely go with that. However, sometimes by the time you purchase the DIN adaptor and have the regulator O2 serviced, you've already spent a fair amount of $. Furthermore, if you get in the deeper end of things, you'll need a few regulators to ensure you have one for each bottle. I've often found it much easier to go with a simple regulator that already comes with DIN fittings and O2 clean. I personally like the OMS Workhorse Regulator - It's cheap, it's DIN, it's O2 clean and it comes with three different color face plates, which includes the green (O2) and Yellow (Nitrox). I know it's not a performance regulator, but I've always used unbalanced regulators as deco regulators, even for stops in the 100ft - 200ft range and never had an issue or felt like it was not supplying me enough gas, because you're really not working at that point. Plus, it's cheap! I can get it online here in the states for well under $200.00, actually ($178.20). OMS SCUBA Regulators http://www.OMSdive.com OMS Din Regulator from LeisurePro.com Good luck and congratulations on the the recent certification! __________________ *Currently piloting & shooting...* Dive Rite O2ptima FX Rigged w/ a Dsix Custom Aluminum Frame, Nomad Wing, Transpac Harness and VR3 Computer w/ VPM-B/E & a 4th Cell Sensor Link.* Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera Rigged in a Patima-PDCH 2008 G9 Aluminum Housing w/ an Inon UWL-100 Achromat Wide Conversion Lens, 2 Inon UCL-165M67 Close-Up Lenses and 2 Inon Z-240 Strobes. Last edited by sfldiver : 28th March 2008 at 13:56.*
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28th March 2008, 14:14	#10 (permalink)
colinicky Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: uk Posts: 661	Re: Which bailout regulatorto use? Personally I would use what you have & convert it to din as has been said Arguably you actually want a better reg when you bailout as the **** has already hit the fan . I would use your Scubapro MK25/S600 on your deep bailout & use your Scubapro MK2/R390 on your rich deco cylinder & if you don't like the routing how about a button gauge ? . __________________ Colin I trust my rebreather completely , I just don't trust the user onwards & downwards
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