Will

I was aware of these and they are the best comforter available (IMNSHO)   
they are sold by Oceanic but they spoil my argument :).

Dave

 ----------
From:  William M. Smithers[SMTP:will@tr*.co*]
Sent:  27 January 1998 10:42
To:  David Shimell (shimell)
Cc:  Chris Hellas; 'Jim Cobb'; Tech Diver
Subject:  RE: Deco bottles W/O SPGs (was Pony Bottles)


I've been using these tiny SPG's that are built
into a 1/2" nut package that's like 3/4" high.  They screw directly into
the HP port, are low-profile, with a tiny (but fairly accurate) guage
inside, that clearly shows red at 500PSI, yellow at 1000,
and green above.  I rig the deco bottle so that the SPG "nut"
is pointing up, and it's fairly easy to read.

And the things are indestructible - I've dropped an AL80
deco bottle rigged this way where it fell directly on the
SPG from several feet, and it keeps on going.

For deco bottles, they're perfect, because all I really want is
a ball-park estimate of how much gas is available - I've
already planned for consumption and reserves, so who cares
if I know whether I've got 1500 or 1625 PSI.

They run about $30 apiece at my local high-markup dive shop.

 -Will

On Tue, 27 Jan 1998, David Shimell (shimell) wrote:

>
> Chris
>
> Thanks for taking the time to reply.
>
> >Firstly, deco cylinders without gauges will bite your ass one of these
> >days (ask Martin Smith about that one). The arguament of an extra
> >failure point usually rears it's ugly head in discussions like this.
> >From most folks experience, a proper stage regulator set up (gauge not
> >flapping in the wind) is about as reliable as the rest of your stuff.
>
> I'm not aware of that particular Martin Smith incident.  The procedure   
I
> apply works but if I became complacent it would fail, just as if I get   
    

> complacent about gas planning or any other aspect of my diving.  You   
will
> be glad to hear that it is not in my nature to be complacent!  I agree   
    

> with your point that the likelihood of a short, tidy HP hose failing is   
    

> low, but my point is that it is avoidable.  HP hoses do fail.  I have   
had
> a standard length HP hose blow on the boat as I was about to kit up.
>  This hose was about 12 months old and on inspection in apparently good   
    

> condition.  Being anal, I check my hoses every few dives.  I have seen   
a
> HP hose go one other time but this was in poor condition and should   
never
> have been near the water.  I do not fret about using a HP hose since I   
    

> use one on my backup regulator on my twinset and I will use a 7" hose   
on
> a stage bottle when I need to dive thirds.  I do not use them on my   
deco
> bottles as I do not need them therefore I do not take them in the   
water.
>
> >If the justification for not having a gauge is substantiated by having   
a
> >buddy to run to if 'shit happens' (incidentaly, after 20 years of   
diving
> >and servicing dive gear the only times I have seen a neck O ring fail   
is
> >down to poor maintenance) then I cannot see any application for a twin
> >set and a 3l 'stage bottle'.
>
> You are being slightly emotive WRT "buddy to run to", but I agree with   
    

> your point.  Here we have shifted (I started it!!) from the original
> discussion of single with pony to twinset with 3l stage.  The   
application
> is simply one of using the 3 l cylinder to carry deco gas.  The   
twinset's
> redundancy allows more adventurous diving whilst the pony carries the   
    

> deco gas.  In this instance my gas planning would be such that I can
> ensure that I can meet my deco obligations with *either* my back gas   
*or*
> my 3l deco bottle thus maintaining a redundant configuration and   
supply.
>  Since I quite rightly got grief about apparently mis-representing BSAC   
    

> training - which I hope was due to lack of clarity in my writing rather   
    

> than my understanding, I will emphasise that the 3l cylinders are being   
    

> used for entirely different purposes here.  With a single it is used as   
a
> bailout from depth and so the contents must be breathable from the
> maximum planned depth. In the twinset and small deco cylinder scenario,   
    

> it is just another deco bottle and the "standard" rules of gas planning   
    

> and management of deco bottles apply.
>
> I'm starting to get bored with this discussion how about you?
>
> Dave
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