regulator question?

fizzer · 04-23-2007, 01:31 PM

Hi all,

Had a bit of a scare this weekend when my reg started free flowing. I'm a novice and have only done about 20 dives and this was the first time this has happened to me. Luckily I was only at about 5 metres at the time.

My reg is an Oceanic Delta 4. When I got out of the water and tested it I noticed that if I use the purge button with the "little switch" on the reg set to "+" it kept free flowing. My question is, is this how it is supposed to work? Is that what the "little switch" on the reg is supposed to do?

my equipment was bought brand new about 4 months ago. Thanks in advance.

MgicTwnger · 04-23-2007, 02:16 PM

What does the manual say it does?

fizzer · 04-23-2007, 02:36 PM

the manual is pretty useless. It doesn't mention it at all. It's just health and safety stuff. I think I might be missing an actual product manual.

MgicTwnger · 04-23-2007, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fizzer

the manual is pretty useless. It doesn't mention it at all. It's just health and safety stuff. I think I might be missing an actual product manual.

Yeah, I've seen that before. Your best bet might be contacting customer service at the manufacturer.

**glynneco** · 04-24-2007, 02:09 AM

+ switch might be a predive/dive switch. In any event when was the last time you had the unit seviced? If it's been more then a year run do not walk to the nearest bench monkey and get that puppy checked out. It probabl;y needs to be adjusted.

fizzer · 04-24-2007, 10:21 AM

Thanks for the replies.

My complete reg setup was bought 4 months ago brand new. I'll get it checked.

I went onto Oceanic's website. You're right it is a pre-dive switch. Still not sure what it is actually meant to do though.

Seems as if whenever it is set to "+" it free flows when the purge button is pressed. Take it this is not how it is supposed to work.

Thanks for everyones help.

MgicTwnger · 04-24-2007, 12:00 PM

It's to prevent freeflowing when you are out of the water. Lots of regs have them.

Scuba Mama · 04-24-2007, 07:19 PM

I have Oceanic's regs. I have not had this problem. It does sound if your unit is a little to sensitive. Take it back to the shop and ask them to run pressure test and make sure you are with in spec's. Explain the free flow problem and see it they can tighten down a bit. There is a small bit a play in any reg but free flows should be looked at. Another possibility is dirt my have work it's way in and the reg needs cleaning. You should not be having to worry every dive is my reg set + or -.

Scuba Mama

scubatoys · 05-10-2007, 07:22 PM

See here's the deal with those switches.. you'll see them on a lot of regs. The idea is when you inhale, you are pulling in a diaphragm that moves a lever against some spring pressure, and that opens the valve to deliver air. To keep the air flowing, you have to keep sucking on it... And how much effort it takes to inhale and exhale is basically known as the WOB (work of breathing).

Now to make it less effort for inhalation, they set up a venturi effect. When the air starts to flow, it does so in such a way that the air flowing out of the reg causes the diaphragm to stay depressed so the air flows without you really having to "tug" on it.

This is great, except if at the surface, if you put the reg into the water mouthpiece up - diaphragm down - it will start a massive free flow. The same thing will happen if you take it out of your mouth at depth with the mouthpiece up.

So they put in the little switch. It should not free flow if it is in your mouth... if it does, then the reg is adjusted a bit to easy - but if that is the case, you should be able to just back it off a bit with the adjustment knob (not the +/- switch, the turning knob).

So depending on what, where, when this happened, it is either normal - or goofed up. So maybe I've made it clear... or added nothing!

Larry
http://www.scubatoys.com