Access to on-board O2

alexasigno

alexasigno

Member
Hi I was wondering if/how you have setup access to your on-board O2?

It seems that a 2nd reg and flow stop connected directly to the O2 first stage is the best idea.

But was wondering about the pros and cons of a whip and flow stop which could be connected directly to the existing BOV with some additional QDs.

It'd be great to hear your thoughts on both ways.

Cheers
Alex
 
tecdiverdude said:
It here ate a few threads on here abou this.. I use a cheater.. It's a second stage with a power inflator adapter.. Made by omniswivel
Look on Dive Gear Express | Equipment for Experienced Divers
I keep it in my pocket
Click to expand...


More or less what I do, I always carried a second stage with a CEJN quick disconnect attached (Ocean Reef full face mask fitting to be exact). Now wit the Meg, I have an 02 power inflator hose to the manual add valve anyhow, so using a power inflator adapter on a second stage makes sense as long as it's only going to be used shallow and for low workload. Depth and higher workloads will cause them to be unbreathable for flow reasons pretty quickly. One of these shared in the buddy team is a good tool. Jitka carries it, and I carry a six foot "male-female" extension hose that either of us can connect to our 02 or offboard gas lines and then pass to the other diver for 02 sharing. Between the two tools we are pretty confident that we can solve most problems with ease.


Dave

.
 
Thanks for the replies. Hmm decisions, it hadn't entered my head about having just a reg which attached directly to the manual add hose. I didn't think the flow would be enough to breath from. Do you change the connector at the manual add too? Or is it enough to breath from at 6m? I understand that it's only a last case resort and not too bothered if it's not a great breathe.
 
Alex,

I simply added a l.p. hose to the o2 side. A flow stopper and a reg.

It's simple and works.

With the cheater you'll need to remember to put it in a pocket and will need to add a lanyard or it may become useless as it sinks.

I like the cheater as you could plug it to the dry suit if required but you'll have to replace all the connectors with high flow versions.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
 
I've also got a simple hose and second stage plumbed in from the O2 reg. On my KISS it used to be bungied around my neck, now it lies alongside the O2 HP hose on the wing: grab and pull, the reg is ready for use once the flow valve is opened.

I like this setup, mainly due to it being deployable without having to put too much focus into the task. Either way, a cheater or a dedicated reg, it's far better to have than not!

cheers

Andy
 
Just a note: For 02 access, you do NOT need a high flow quick disconnect. You can use the standard low pressure inflator hose connection. This is adequate for low workload, shallow open circuit use. 6 meters on deco is the starting place for 02 use... keep things simple.

Years ago I did something different on my CIS Lunar Mk-5P that also worked well: I plumbed my 02 to a combination low pressure inflator and breathing regulator (a Zeagle that was made my Apeks), and it worked fine. I NEVER inflate my wings with a rebreather, it's just an emergency drysuit backup, so it did not impact my normal 02 use, and it left a very clean way to get open circuit access to the 02 in a bailout.



Dave


.
 
I have tested the low flow connector to 30m ( not on o2) and it breathes fine .. Don't be fooled..the holes where the gas comes from in your second stage isn't that big
 
I've been thinking about a simple cheater (just plugging into the simple LP hose) but what are people using for the male end of the hose

(I've also been tempted by trying to breath from an air gun - I can breathe from a naked tank valve ok).

Janos
 
tecdiverdude said:
It here ate a few threads on here abou this.. I use a cheater.. It's a second stage with a power inflator adapter.. Made by omniswivel
Look on Dive Gear Express | Equipment for Experienced Divers
I keep it in my pocket
Click to expand...

Rob, is it the Adapter, LP 2nd Stage: 9/16-Inch FI = BC Inflator QD Post as shown here: OmniSwivel Brand Adapters and Special Fittings - Dive Gear Express

If so, wouldn't the water get into the insides of the reg where breathing gas is only supposed to go when it is sitting in your pocket? This would mean that it would breathe a little wet for the first couple of breaths. Or am I understanding this wrong.
 
divingtactics said:
Rob, is it the Adapter, LP 2nd Stage: 9/16-Inch FI = BC Inflator QD Post as shown here: OmniSwivel Brand Adapters and Special Fittings - Dive Gear Express

If so, wouldn't the water get into the insides of the reg where breathing gas is only supposed to go when it is sitting in your pocket? This would mean that it would breathe a little wet for the first couple of breaths. Or am I understanding this wrong.
Click to expand...

It's fairly standard for the first breath to be wet when changing a reg, you just need to be prepared to breath through it carefully until all the moisture is cleared. There should be no stress or panic, about using this kit, it doesn't need to perform perfectly from the first breath.

I put a reg with a flowstop on mine and used a 'suicide' clip to clip it to my backplate, pretty fiddly to get at, but easy if you take the time to do it properly and not just grab at it. My logic was I don't ever want to be grabbing for this in a panic so I won't make it too easy to get. If I need gas quick I use BOV or side slung bail-out. If I go to O2 I am at 6m and relatively stable and now thinking about my options to reduce my deco obligation and get out of the water as quickly and safetly as possible.

PS, that setup was on my 7s, I am thinking of using a cheater for when I dive with 3s for backgas.
 
That's it jase.. The wet breathe is bugger all and I use a chap second stage like the Sherwood minnimus because it's nearly entirely plastic...
 
o2 supply

i have looked at this in various modes and settled on some advice from mike ferguson.

i dive a vision with the air two still attached the advice i got was attach a new hose from the manifold (or o2 first stage) along with the qc so that you can if needed disconnect your dill hose then attach the new 02 hose

i have only just fitted this so i have not tried it out yet, but last week while on deco i took the dil lead off and tried to get it back on virtually impossible to get back on, i had to turn off my dill and purge before i could get it back on.

now the way i am thinking is, i will already have bailed out onto oc before i need this so turning off the dil and o2 before swapping will not be a problem i hope.

as i said i have not tried it yet will let you know how it pans out
 
Hello,

Solution 1: Use a small second stage (E.g. Apeks Egress) with a standard inflator connector. When needed unplug the O2 adding valve and connect the second stage. The hose is a bit short -- makes it not so comfortable -- but it works.

Solution 2: Use a small second stage (E.g. Apeks Egress with flow stop or a Poseidon Xstream (no flow stop required) and connect it with a 100 cm LP hose directly to the first stage. Route LP hose the same way as the O2 HP hose. At the end the second stage is close to the O2 SPG -- Very easy to reach it and not disturbing at all when not in use.

DIN
 
I used to carry a Dacor Viper Octopus with a QD in my dry suit pocket, but now have these QDs on my bailout regs:

AC990.jpg


Available here

So I can now use any of my bailout second stages to access my on-board O2.
 
Thanks for all the feedback. I think I'm going to go the straight forward route at least for now, and just add an extra hose with a flow stop and one of my old regs. I still like the idea of just having an extra O2 hose which just uses a QD to connect to the BOV though. Hmm.
 
This is how mine sits on my rig if it helps.

It's a standard 102 cm stage hose.

D

sa9e7eze.jpg


Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
 
Alby R said:
i have looked at this in various modes and settled on some advice from mike ferguson.

i dive a vision with the air two still attached the advice i got was attach a new hose from the manifold (or o2 first stage) along with the qc so that you can if needed disconnect your dill hose then attach the new 02 hose

i have only just fitted this so i have not tried it out yet, but last week while on deco i took the dil lead off and tried to get it back on virtually impossible to get back on, i had to turn off my dill and purge before i could get it back on.

now the way i am thinking is, i will already have bailed out onto oc before i need this so turning off the dil and o2 before swapping will not be a problem i hope.

as i said i have not tried it yet will let you know how it pans out
Click to expand...

I use a scubapro Air2 on my wing rather than the autoair or a cheater . I find the air 2 connection is easier to connect under pressure than the AP one. However if you struggle turn off the O2 and purge the hose pressure into the counterlung with the MAV. It makes it easier if the wing hose is long enough that you can see what you are doing and have enough to comfortably route the hose to your mouth.

Mike
 
O2 is your least valuable bailout gas and easiest for your surface support to get to you.

If "really" 300L (1/2 3L cylinder) / 15min of Open circuit O2 is valuable you probably don't have enough other bailout of a good enough support team for your dive.

Then balance this against the additional failure points (that onboard O2 is pretty valuable for running the loop), entanglement hassel and configuration hassle. Then for me access to onboard O2 is not worth it. If I really need O2 then a 40cuft/5.5L is a better option.
 
Bobjr said:
O2 is your least valuable bailout gas and easiest for your surface support to get to you.

If "really" 300L (1/2 3L cylinder) / 15min of Open circuit O2 is valuable you probably don't have enough other bailout of a good enough support team for your dive.

Then balance this against the additional failure points (that onboard O2 is pretty valuable for running the loop), entanglement hassel and configuration hassle. Then for me access to onboard O2 is not worth it. If I really need O2 then a 40cuft/5.5L is a better option.
Click to expand...

well said mate!
 
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