Dive Alert

James Appel

Is there a Dive Alert that will work with the Inspiration Auto Air inflator? It looks like a Scuba Pro inflator connection (even when held up
next to each other), but the Scuba Pro version of the Dive Alert will NOT
work on the Inspitation Auto Air BC inflator.



Thank you Je M'Applle "Jim Appel"

camerone

You have a few choices. If you're set on using that horrible AutoAir thing that comes with the rebreater, you can order the Buddy Blast (http://www.apvalves.com/blast.html). I haven't seen them here in the US, but you can get them shipped from the UK if you really want them.

As a better alternative, consider what most folks I know with these units do - that's removing the AutoAir that comes with it and adding a more reliable inflator or reg/inflator combo, such as the Scubapro Air2, or the Atomic SS1, which is a really nice unit. Either unit is far more compact, has better placement of the inflate/deflate buttons, and, from my experience, is significantly less tempremental and less likely to free-flow. There are Dive Alerts that fit both of these units...

You can also consider just using a standard inflator model Dive Alert, which is what I do. I either run one on my drysuit hose (I clip it in when needed), or you can plumb a standard LP hose into the manifold on the rebreather - there's an extra port on the dil...this lets you use it as a backup to your drysuit hose (if you needed it), or gives you a convenient standard fitting to put an air hose nozzle on, which can be useful for blowing moisture out of small parts when cleaning up the rig. I've also just plumbed a Dive Alert into a stage bottle and left it bungeed down to the bottle...

James Appel

When I first received my Inspiration I concidered replacing the Auto Air with a standard inflator, but AP insists in there manuel that this is not safe as the Auto Air acts as an over pressure valve incase the first stage malfunctions.
Do others who replace it with a standard inflator also add in a presure relief valve?
Being very new to this, I hesitate to replace items....

PeteS

My Inspiration came with a diluent over pressure valve fitted. APD sell them.

__________________
Pete S.

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Genesis

BTW however you rig it make sure you can get your head UNDERWATER before you blast it.

You will only set that thing off once anywhere in close proximity to your ears.......

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camerone

Mine, too. They're a $15 or less part if you shop around. I know Salvo Diving here, stateside, has them pretty cheap...I got one for an argon reg from them, and the service was outstanding.

I think theoretically, if you have an ADV on your unit, too, you shouldn't need one, as the ADV is essentially just a repackaged second stage... not having disassembled it, I can't say whether it's upstream or downstream, though, which means that I could be wrong...someone who's dissected the piece could correct me on this point (or confirm!)

On the other hand, I use a flow stop on my ADV, so some kind of OPV fitting is necessary, regardless of what type of reg it is, as if the flow stop is shut down, then you've definitely got nowhere to relieve the pressure. Plus, relieving the pressure _into_ the loop doesn't exactly strike me as the best choice option...

I swapped my AutoAir for an AIR2, just 'cause I just happened to have a couple lying around on the shelf in my garage. If I'd have had to go out and purchase a unit, I'd likely have gone for the SS1. I like having access to my diluent as a bailout option, if I need it, which a standard inflator doesn't really allow for, and the idea of plumbing yet another reg into the system with all the stuff I've got clipped to me just isn't appealing. Sure, integrated reg/inflators, as a whole, aren't great pieces of kit, but it's a convient way to have a way to get access to the dil, as long as you maintain them properly.

Mark Wan

APD website says the ADV is an upstream 2nd stage, so won't operate as an overpressure valve, which makes sense because you don't want excess pressure venting into the loop! From what I've read, if you change the auto-air to a standard inflator, you either need a normal 2nd stage (without flowstop) connected to the dil 1st stage OR you need an OPV on the 1st stage.

I think all new Inspirations come with an OPV on each 1st stage now, according to the manual. My Vision Inspo (4 weeks old) did at least.

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newbie inspo vision diver