Doing It Wrong

Air II

The primary regulator (long hose) and backup regulator must necessarily be on different posts. In DIR, with the long hose on the right, the backup must be on the left. The wing inflator must be run from the right post, since the left is the one which rolls off (and can break off) , and you don't want to discover a non-functioning inflator during a descent or any sort of emergency when you try to inflate. When on the right, you know the wing is getting gas since you are breathing from the same post. This contraindicates using any sort of combination inflator/backup regulator. Although the inflator can be used as a tertiary backup, it should be by manual addition only, by simultaneous operation of the inflate and deflate buttons (keep it simple). You would only ever need to do this if you were on the backup because you were sharing gas, and then you lost the left post. The backup regulator should be a proper non-pneumatically balanced second stage anyway, attached finger tight to the hose to enable interchangeability with any other second stage on your rig. Regarding the Air II 1. Assuming a redundant dual outlet manifold, if the Air II begins to free flow, what exactly would your management procedure be? a. How would you make subsequent buoyancy adjustments? b. Do you sacrifice your breathing devise if the auto inflator malfunctions? 2. Is the Air II second interchangeable at the LP hose connection with the long hose primary 2nd of your rig and your other team member's rigs? 3. Most modern high performance first stages have multiple LP ports usually split equally between i.e. 2 for high volume second stage delivery, and 2 for lower volume accessory inflation devices. a. Recognizing such, which port would you choose to connect the Air II/BC inflator to? b. The HV ports, which are usually about 2400 liters per minute flow rate, resulting in possible too rapid an inflation rate? c. The LV ports, which are usually about 1700 liters per minute resulting in diminished flow rate to the backup Air II? 5. What exactly would be your choice of hose configurations at the first stages [note, plural] if you employed the Air II? 6. How well does your Air II breathe at say 200+fsw as compared to a conventional 2nd stage choice and higher gas densities? 7.Where would you recommend parking the Air II to minimize entanglement and impact hazards while providing efficient streamlining? >3. Most modern high performance first stages have multiple LP ports usually split equally between i.e. 2 for high volume second >stage delivery, and 2 for lower volume accessory inflation devices. (A good example of this is the Apex and Poseidon 1st stages. In the case of the Poseidon (and I expect the Apex) it is academic as ALL the LP ports have a flow rate far in excess of the flow capabilities of the second stage anyway. The flowrates they give you in the brochures are performed under test conditions using a test unit, not while attached to a SCUBA tank.)