divetrippers
06-28-2008, 10:42 AM
A nice article from our friends at www.DiveAndKayak.com: (http://www.DiveAndKayak.com:)
What’s the difference between a primary regulator and an alternate air source coming off the first stage of the regulator?
Generally speaking, the alt air source is an unbalanced second stage and is tuned slightly tighter to avoid free-flow, meaning it usually takes a bit more force to suck in air. Some primary second stages are balanced, meaning they breathe more easily at depth than non-balanced second stages, non-technically speaking. Also, alt air sources are generally brightly colored so they can be seen quickly in an unlikely out-of-air event.
What are the advantages/disadvantages of an alternate air source integrated in the BCD’s inflator?
The obvious advantage, and it's a big one, would be the elimination of a hose off of the regulator’s first stage. That means there is one less hose to get rapped up in kelp, scraped along the reef, etc.
Also, the correct way to accomplish an out of air situation with this configuration would be for the out of air buddy to take the primary out of the mouth of the donor (a more realistic heat of the moment instinct) and for the donor to put the inflator’s alt air source in his/her mouth. Having an alternate air source as part of the inflator makes it easy to find quickly since the diver is constantly fiddling with the inflator throughout the dive and is usually aware of where it is.
A disadvantage would be that when it is time to service the alt air source, the BCD will also be out of commission but keeping a spare inflator around can remedy this. Also, the inflator hose coming off the first stage to the integrated alt air source is a different standard so keep that in mind when using your own regulator with a rental BCD if yours is being serviced.
Why are alternate air sources sometimes called octos?
Octo is short for octopus but why alternate air sources are sometimes called octos is a mystery (to us). It seems that the entire regulator setup looks like an octopus so it might stem from that. If anybody knows the true answer or if somebody has something clever to say on the subject, email info@diveandkayak.com and we’ll pass along the info, especially if it’s clever.
Some octos to check out:
http://www.diveandkayak.com/servlet/the-Octos/Categories
What’s the difference between a primary regulator and an alternate air source coming off the first stage of the regulator?
Generally speaking, the alt air source is an unbalanced second stage and is tuned slightly tighter to avoid free-flow, meaning it usually takes a bit more force to suck in air. Some primary second stages are balanced, meaning they breathe more easily at depth than non-balanced second stages, non-technically speaking. Also, alt air sources are generally brightly colored so they can be seen quickly in an unlikely out-of-air event.
What are the advantages/disadvantages of an alternate air source integrated in the BCD’s inflator?
The obvious advantage, and it's a big one, would be the elimination of a hose off of the regulator’s first stage. That means there is one less hose to get rapped up in kelp, scraped along the reef, etc.
Also, the correct way to accomplish an out of air situation with this configuration would be for the out of air buddy to take the primary out of the mouth of the donor (a more realistic heat of the moment instinct) and for the donor to put the inflator’s alt air source in his/her mouth. Having an alternate air source as part of the inflator makes it easy to find quickly since the diver is constantly fiddling with the inflator throughout the dive and is usually aware of where it is.
A disadvantage would be that when it is time to service the alt air source, the BCD will also be out of commission but keeping a spare inflator around can remedy this. Also, the inflator hose coming off the first stage to the integrated alt air source is a different standard so keep that in mind when using your own regulator with a rental BCD if yours is being serviced.
Why are alternate air sources sometimes called octos?
Octo is short for octopus but why alternate air sources are sometimes called octos is a mystery (to us). It seems that the entire regulator setup looks like an octopus so it might stem from that. If anybody knows the true answer or if somebody has something clever to say on the subject, email info@diveandkayak.com and we’ll pass along the info, especially if it’s clever.
Some octos to check out:
http://www.diveandkayak.com/servlet/the-Octos/Categories