Took my "Spawn's" regs in for periodic service, and she had me request, the tech leave the 1st stage inverted. A discussion ensued, with the tech saying the reg engineers say they are not desigened to work in an inverted postion, but their reasons were technical, and beyond his level of comprehension. He also stated, the first stage wouldn't work as intended, and therfore would take more effort to breathe. With today's regs [specifically the Legend LX, which I dive], there are adjustments to affect the effort necessary to breathe. I also pointed out, if you dived in the normal horizontal postion, why would it make a difference? Wouldn't you know it, when I picked up her reg's today, the first stage was not in the requested 'inverted' setup. I know there can be many reasons for inverting a first stage, but what is a more definitive explanation for NOT inverting it.
Bill
Inverted First Stage
Started by
ScubaTex
, Aug 23 2011 03:24 PM
4 replies to this topic
#1
ScubaTex
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Posted 23 August 2011 - 03:24 PM
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#2
Jerrymxz
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Posted 23 August 2011 - 04:23 PM
I have a problem with them telling you that. They test regs sitting on a bench with the valve facing out. When you dive it you're horizontal with the valve facing down. I think that about kills the “this side up” theory. This only applies to first stages. Second stages are a whole different cat. First stages take tank pressure and reduce it to about 125-145 psi above ambient pressure. There is a big spring that holds open the high pressure seat. It does hold it open until the pressure in the regulator hose rises above the 125-145 intermediate pressure. Once the intermediate pressure gets above the preset level the air pressure overcomes the spring which closes the high pressure seat stopping the flow. When you breathe in from the second stage it lowers the intermediate pressure allowing the first stage to open again. I’m not a regulator designer but everyone of my regs work no matter how I hold them and I own and dive some of the most Basic designs. They are basic designs but rugged. My 2psi
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#3
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Posted 23 August 2011 - 04:44 PM
I used to dive my old reg first stage inverted because it took up less space that way. I NEVER had any problems. I see many people dive their first stages inverted.
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Posted 23 August 2011 - 04:45 PM
It is beyond his level of comprehension because he is wrong.
Jerry is exactly right. It doesn't matter if they are inverted, the pressure is acting against a spring and the intermediate pressure is way higher than the delta pressure from top to bottom of that first stage. Therefore, orientation is irrelevant. My shop installed mine inverted without me asking. They said it was better that way. That was several years ago and the service quality has gone down dramatically since then though. This economy is hitting everybody. Service isn't what it used to be anywhere. I say don't use that guy again, if he doesn't know that then what else is he doing wrong.
Jerry is exactly right. It doesn't matter if they are inverted, the pressure is acting against a spring and the intermediate pressure is way higher than the delta pressure from top to bottom of that first stage. Therefore, orientation is irrelevant. My shop installed mine inverted without me asking. They said it was better that way. That was several years ago and the service quality has gone down dramatically since then though. This economy is hitting everybody. Service isn't what it used to be anywhere. I say don't use that guy again, if he doesn't know that then what else is he doing wrong.
#5
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Posted 23 August 2011 - 08:51 PM
I turned mine over years ago - it kept hitting me in the back of the head when I had the tank where I could reach the valve. When the tech that sold it to me and was servicing it asked me why I told him and he had no problem with it.
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