Double hose questions

[Randy74]

My question is I bought a double hose try and there is a nipple on one side ,, is this for a secon stage or a pressure gauge,, new and would like to Persue diving with it ,, any help would be appreciated ,,,

[swimjim]

I believe your referring to the hooka port. This allows the regulator to be used with surface supplied air. With an adapter it can also be used as a low pressure port so you can run a BC/wing or a dry suit inflator hose.

Jim

[Herman]

Welcome to the board.
By "nipple" I assume you mean a threaded port to one side. That was originally for surface supplied air and it is called a hookah port. It can be used for any purpose that you need intermediate pressure for, be it an octo or for setup and testing of the regulator.
If you want to dive with the regulator I would suggest doing 2 things. First learn all you can about double hose regulators, how they should be worn, how they react to body placement and the like. They are not difficult to dive but just sticking them on any old BC and heading out will not likely be an experience you will like. Start by searching this board for the many previous discussions on the subject then ask what you don't understand. Next learn all you can about the reg itself. How it works and what all the parts do. Bryan has many service manuals and parts breakdowns for you to study. For your first reg, it's best if you have someone who really knows DH regs to service it. That way you know what a properly set up reg acts like. Unless someone who knows DH regs has gone through it recently, I can pretty much promise you it is dire need for restoration.

Not sure where you are located but if you can hook up with one of the board members for a few dives, it will be a big help in getting started

[Randy74]

My question today is , I have a da aqua master avenue and was wondering will it fit today's typ of tanks and pressure ? Can I find a tank like in antique scuba ,, small ,, usable with a double hose or do they need to be ordered

[Ron]

The short answer is that your double hose will work with almost all modern valves.

The long answer:

If you have a short yoke, then your regulator may not fit on some of the larger, more modern valves. The only valves that any of mine have any trouble fitting on are those newer convertible DIN valves that have the threaded insert to make them yoke. If your yoke is short, then simply buy a long yoke from the VDH store:

http://www.vintagedoublehose.com/index. ... d=23029471

Then you can use your regulator on even more tanks. I have never run into a problem with any rental tank ever. These are the types of valves that I am talking about being difficult to mount a doublehose on:

http://www.dansdiveshop.ca/dstore/index ... cts_id=646

Coincidentally, you can also convert your single stage regulator into a long yoke with that same part I listed above plus this one:

http://www.vintagedoublehose.com/index. ... d=34067245

Another plus with a long yoke is that you can instert a banjo fitting between the tank and the regulator, and dive a SPG should you desire. You can also get those here as well:

http://www.vintagedoublehose.com/index. ... id=8406968

These are very handy when using rental aluminum tanks on vacation, when you will probably not have access to J valves.

[Herman]

That is somewhat of broad question. The regs were designed for the 2250 psi tanks of the day but most of us use them on 3K tanks from time to time. The yokes are a little light but seem to hold up OK. Old steel 72 tanks are fairly common and if you look around locally odds are you will find some fairly inexpensive ones for sale. Many times they are orphined at dive shops. 3K can be a little hard on the HP seat but since Bryan now makes replacements that is not a big deal. I would limit the pressure to 3K at a maximum and you can always bleed down the tanks some if you prefer.
The major issue is, how are you going to monitor tank pressure? Many (Most?) old tanks will come with J valves and if you care to learn to use those the issue is solved. That is how the regs were intended to be dove. I don't know which yoke you have (there are 2)but if you have a long yoke (odds are you DO NOT) then you can use a banjo with a SPG to monitor air pressure, if you have the short yoke you are pretty much stuck with J valves or you can replace the yoke. Bryan usually has some of the long yokes for sale or he may still have some of the modified conshelf yokes that are rated for 3k.

Bottom line, 3Kpsi will not hurt the reg although I would not suggest a steady diet of it or anything higher. You need some way of monitoring air pressure which can be accomplished by using either a J valve or a banjo and SPG IF you reg has a long yoke. Replace the yoke with a modified HP yoke or go all out with a Phoenix and it can handle pretty much any tank.


I see Ron was typing while I was. If you compair the yoke he has listed with yours, it will be easy to tell which you have.

[Ron]

Great minds think alike Hermano