HI , Alec!!!! You hit it again...... thats what im talking about!!! Thank you so much

I always have mis conception about the 2nd stage is dependent on first stage for easy breathing. Thank you Alec.

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

Жыл бұрын

You're most welcome! That's why I do these to educate and hopefully entertain divers everywhere. A

Hi Alec, just wanted to thank you for all the effort you put into these videos. I'm fairly new into the sport and the majority of what I've learned tech-wise has come from your videos. Hope to see many more.

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks Matthew. If I've helped you enjoy diving a bit or given you tips to make your diving easier, I'm a happy guy. Take care. Alec

You are the best Mr. Peirce. Thanks so much. Chuck

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks Gibson. Alec

Thank you, Alec, for these excellent and informative videos.

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

Жыл бұрын

Glad you like them! A

Another great one Alec! thanks so much

Amazing video, thank you!

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

Жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it! A

Today I went diving and the regulator I used was set at a very low resistance and it was so easy to breathe from and I liked it.

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

4 жыл бұрын

I've had regs that were really easy to breathe from and some that I had to drag the air through. Given a choice, I'd go for the easy one too. Alec

Hi Alec hope you are well, Im new to diving, (150 dives) and wanted to learn about my regulator. you are very informative and thorough. thank you.

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

Жыл бұрын

Glad to help and welcome to the diving world. A

Alec, Amazing informative & educative videos as always. Thanks a million for sharing years of experience with fellows like me. I have a special request if you could please explain how you setup and use your desktop air supply as well as how you test the inhalation effort using the differential pressure or on a Magnehelic gauge. Thanking you and Kevin in advance for all the efforts you put in to produce such great videos! Cheers Issam

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

5 жыл бұрын

Yep. I can do that. Checking and setting the inhalation effort is actually easy but the process can be hard to grasp. Maybe I can make it easy to understand. Alec

DACOR Pacer's: Hold my beers so I can use my hands to turn my giant Orifice 🍻 😎

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

19 күн бұрын

I want one too. A

For Michael Clarke I think that since air pressure is pressing against the two seats (separating them) there is less risk of damaging the soft seat. *** I’m just guessing and Alec should confirm if what I say makes sense !

Great info ... Thanks !

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

4 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Thank you

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

11 ай бұрын

You're welcome. A

love this video - more DIY please! I got the IP gauge ($10 online shipped!) from your last video and getting 125psi IP (Aeris AT600 first stage) but not finding easily what it's supposed to be...now I'll be looking at that tool (or screw driver, not like I will adjust them frequently anyway... :)

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

6 жыл бұрын

It's hard to get any information about US Divers (Aeris) service details. They like to be secretive. Ask your LDS. There's no reason why they wouldn't tell you.I I'll try to find out. Alec

@alaind831

5 жыл бұрын

LDS sends in for service and local service center won't give info as they want you to send it in of course... Oceanic (Aeris) is US diver as well ? didn't know that. thanks.

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

5 жыл бұрын

Sorry. Stupid me. I read Apeks which is USD. Aeris, now discontinued is Oceanic (coincidentally just purchased by USD but still separate). Aeris IP is supposed to be 135+-. 125 is OK but you could increase it a bit and the readjust the 2nd. No real need to but if you have nothing to do one evening, what the heck. Now you have the tools and knowledge. Every Aeris regulator is also an Oceanic reg. I think the At600 1st is the Oceanic CDX. Take care Alain. Alec

Hi Alec, thanks for sharing your priceless experience with us. I'm in the process of buying a regulator and the more I read about them the more confused I am. My requirements are: 1. reliability 2. low total cost of ownership (low and cheap maintenance) 3. light/small to travel with it It seems that some brands (Aqualung, Apex, Scuba Pro) give you lifetime warranty but only if you get your regs serviced every year by an official dealer (expensive). Other brands (like Atomic) say that you can go 2 years without servicing their regulators but it's harder to find authorised centres for this brands and they tend to be more expensive to service. And then apparently some types of regulators (diaphragm, environmentally sealed) are more expensive than others to service. I live in Australia and I plan to travel to Indonesia and Phillipines to do my divemasters and I don't know if how easy/hard it will be to service my regulators over there. Can you share your thoughts about this? Thanks!

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

5 жыл бұрын

OK. Good questions and your dilemma is not uncommon. Here are my thoughts: 1. forget about any warrantees. They only apply in the event of a defect in materials or workmanship (how it was assembled). Neither is even remotely likely to be a problem. And being forced to have service every year makes them silly expensive. You can just buy a new one every 5 years for the same money. 2. get something that can be serviced easily, affordably and locally. Don't worry about service on a trip since you will service it before you go, right? If it still fails on a trip, it's not your fault, there's little you can do so rent for the remainder of your dives. 3. don't get the cheapest but also realize that the most expensive is a waste of money. You pay for features that are of no benefit. Every regulator above the most basic has all you need - balanced, adjustable breathing and venturi. That's it. 4. lightweight is good. look for no chrome on the 2nd and flex hoses to make travel easy. 5. and of course a well-recognized brand name is good. It's not encouraging when a divemaster looks at your regulator and says, "What's that?". Between the brands you've mentioned, I'd suggest Scubapro. It's world-wide and very reliable. Look at the MK25/S620 or the MK17/G260. the only real difference is that the MK25 has a swivel - nice but not necessary. These are available in either yoke or DIN, your choice. Again that choice depends on your local diving and what you are familiar and comfortable with. Contrary to popular belief, DIN offers no benefit over yoke for recreational divers. I have dived the world over using yoke and never had an issue. Scubapro is still holding out on flex hoses. Most others include them now. They will only save a pound or so but are much easier to pack. They can be added by your LDS if you like. Good luck. Alec

@frangalarza

5 жыл бұрын

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Very helpful as usual. Thank you Alec. Have a nice day!

I really like your videos Alec and I am a proponent for knowing as much as a diver can but I do watch the regulator service videos with a bellyache. There is so much misinformation out there about how to setup a regulator correctly that I do like the idea of you debunking myths. And of all the videos I watched of you and comments I read from you I haven't found a single major mistake (can't even recall a minor one to be honest). But there is so much information missing in this video that I am seriously worried people might harm themselves by screwing (literally and figuratively) around there. E.g. even in the comment section of this video there is misinformation about the diver adjustable knob. You tried to clarify it which I commend you for but I am still not convinced this person won't put themselves in danger. Although I do have some issues with the technician seminars if somebody lives or dives in remote locations and really needs to service their own regulator, attend a technicians seminar of the regulator that you are using. There is a reason we have to attend those ourselves to become certified. And there are reasons why not every screw-able knob is easily accessible. Alec, I get what you want do with these videos and I do want you to continue since I myself enjoy them very much. But a disclaimer at the beginning or just a fair warning might be a good way to go. Cheers

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks very much for your input Notty. I always appreciate comments from scuba professionals. Well, almost always. Some store owners think I'm ruining their business. There's only one person who can ruin a dive store business - the owner. But I do like to hear from divers who have good experience and want to share it. It's tough for me to cover all the details about any single topic. I know that I miss lots but I've rationalized that by saying that these are tips - not seminars or courses. I want to get people thinking about what they are doing. Divers who are into technical details will find them anyway so it will sort out for them. Divers who are NOT into this stuff will ignore it. It seems to work. And I have no intention of replacing proper technical service or even suggesting it's not necessary. I always tell divers to take their reg to their LDS. But many divers like to tinker, many are mechanically inclined and lots are simply into doing things themselves. These divers will do so regardless. I'm hoping my videos will give them some good direction and dispel some myths or misunderstandings. It's easy to say "take a factory technical seminar" but it's not so easy to do. Generally factory seminars are offered only to dive store staff so you'd need to find an LDS that will let you join their staff seminar. Some store owners don't want their customers to do so for obvious reasons. Plus they usually cost anywhere from $100 to $300 for the 1-2 day course. There's no question a proper course is the best way but it's not all that easy. Then the diver still needs to invest in the proper tools and get parts. We used to sponsor lots of divers, usually leadership level, but very few actually did their own service. Re the warning about servicing your own gear, It's a good idea but I don't get hung up as some do on all that liability stuff. First, it won't save you from a potential lawsuit; second, all the warnings in the world won't stop divers from doing stupid things and; third, I'm in Canada so the likelihood of a lawsuit is even slimmer than the possibility of its success. If I lived in New York or California, I probably wouldn't even share this stuff on KZread. It just takes one irritated diver ro ruin your life. My intent, to help divers, is clear and the vast majority of my viewers understand that and support our efforts. Thanks for watching and please don't ever hesitate to add your input. Alec

GReat Tutorial...many greeting from Sicily....BlueDaloo Diving Padi Scubapro Sea Center Palermo

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Elvio and hello to you in Sicily.

Alec, Great video again! May I know is there any difference using the adjustment knob on the 2nd stage and the method you introduced in this video? I mean, if there is an adjustment knob on my 2nd stage, there should be no need to do the adjustment in this way, right? Thank you very much!

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

6 жыл бұрын

The diver adjustable knob is exactly that - for the diver to make small personal adjustments. But after service the regulator must be adjusted to work properly according the newly set 1st stage IP. That's what I'm showing. It's not likely the diver adjustment, which is intentionally limited, could be used to set the 2nd to a newly serviced 1st. Alec

Hi Alec, I’ve been following up your Tech Tips videos and I’m really enjoying those. In some videos you use an alternative air supply for testing 2nd stage, other than the tank. What exactly you use? Can you give more details on that? Thanks

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

5 жыл бұрын

It's just a tank valve mounted on a machined base with a high-pressure hose running to it. Pretty standard test bench setup. Alec

Ayem Zaharim I have understanded something different: you unscrew the knob (counter clockwise) to the maximum and then proceed to the adjustment so that the minimum adjustment you can make is near free flow. Over time (between maintenance) the spring resistance decrease and seat wear off so that you will normally screw in the adjustment to avoid free flow But Alec will confirm that: it is what as I’m just guessing...

@ayemzaharim504

6 жыл бұрын

Pascal Bourbonnais it makes sense. Since adjusting it is a fairly easy process using a wrench and hex, i would try your technique. Thanks.

@ayemzaharim504

6 жыл бұрын

Pascal Bourbonnais it makes sense. Since adjusting it is a fairly easy process using a wrench and hex, i would try your technique. Thanks.

Hi, Do you have a book/ manual or guidlines about all of this in youtube? It will be a BIG HELP ..

Mr. Perice, This was a very informative video. It was difficult for me to know if you were pressing the purge while adjusting with the specialized tools. If you were not, did the specialized tools somehow prevent the soft seat from being cut as you turned the hard seat? Thank you

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

Жыл бұрын

Sorry I wasn't more clear in this video. This specific process has been explained several times in past videos. YES!! - you MUST lightly press the purge button while turning the adjusting nut to prevent the sharp edge of the adjuster from cutting into the new soft seat. Unfortunately this is NOT well explained even in factory service manuals. Many a scuba serviceman has been frustrated by a regulator that simply won't stop free-flowing no matter how many times he turns the adjuster - and you've hit on the very reason for that. Thanks. Alec

Do all scuba pro second stage regulators work at the same pressure or do you have to adjust them

Hi Alec, I've watched so many of your videos... learn so much every time, with a few laughs in there. However I have a regulator 101 question, just bought my very own reg for the first time.... YAY! But on the boat, I see the dive guides unscrewing a cap on their regs and brushing it with a toothbrush... what's going on there? They tell me somthing about accumulation from breathing, but my question is should I be packing a toothbrush in my dive gear?

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

5 жыл бұрын

I have opened many 2nd stages and seen some pretty gross things in there. In use a diver breathes into the 2nd stage; he coughs and spits too. In a warm tropical environment with plenty of water, the 2nd becomes a petri dish perfect for growing nasty stuff. Generally a good rinse after EVERY dive will do the job but maybe these guys smoke or or dive with a hangover. Either will make it even worse. I've had 2nd stages that were so bad they were garbage. Brushing with a toothbrush is not a bad idea but unusual. Must be a local thing. Rinse well. Maybe use a bit of Javex to soak the 2nd once in a while. Alec

@anne-marielamontagne7797

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for the reply. Makes me question a bit the cleanliness of the regs that I've rented over the years, but now that I have my own, I'll keep an eye on that for hygiene. Since I dive for 2-3 weeks straight, but only every 6 months or so, I'll rinse well after every dive, and soak with bleach at the end of each trip to keep it clean for next time. Thanks again! :)

Hi Alec You state that you should press the purge button before using the screwdriver. Ok - you explain why this should be done. However, you seem NOT to press the purge button when making the adjustment using the adjuster with the in-built intermediate pressure gauge. When the adjustment is "complete" there still seems to be hissing. Surely, this is still a mild freeflow?

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

6 жыл бұрын

Please forgive apparent discrepancies in the video. I'm showing the method, not the procedure. Yes, you must hold the purge down when making this adjustment. When complete there should be no free flow. Alec

hi alec, just need confirmation that is it when using adjuster with the in-built intermediate pressure gauge u also need to press the purge button like the one u did with screwdriver? thanks

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

5 жыл бұрын

Yes. If I neglected to mention that again, it's because I do it automatically. Whenever you are turning the hard seat on which the poppet valve sits, as when adjusting it, you should press the purge to relieve the pressure. Otherwise, you may cut into the soft seat. Alec

Just so I am understanding this, even with the specialized tools you have to depress the diaphragm or is that only when you use the screwdriver method. Thanks Alec

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

5 жыл бұрын

The hard orifice, with a sharp edge of metal or plastic, is always pressing on the soft seat except when the purge button is depressed. You should always press the purge when turning the hard seat. Alec

@martialgerolami2192

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Alec

Alex I didn't notice you depressing the diaphragm when tuning it with the special tool. Even if you did, wouldn't that let gas out as it's free flowing? How would you know when to stop tuning?

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

3 жыл бұрын

When using an in-line adjusting tool, it pushes in on the seat until you start hearing a slow hissss which gets louder the more it's turned. To get the 2nd stage balanced the service tech adjusts it in & out until its just prior to starting a hiss. That's the easiest breathing it can be. Some divers request it slights less easy if diving medium to strong currents as they don't want it to free flow into a current. It takes practice to find the "edge" of free flow. Hope this helps.

Hi Alec! I would like to understand better: there is no need to press the purge button when tuning a second stage with an in-line tool but you need to do it when tuning it the 'hard' way (with a screwdriver)? You talked about the risk to damage the soft seat because of the hard seat rotating against it when tuning the second stage. That's clear to me :) I am not understanding why you don't need to press the purge button when using an in-line adjustment tool. Can't the soft seat be damaged? Cheers from Italy. A fan

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

2 жыл бұрын

Tech manuals recommend slight pressing of the purge when adjusting the 2nd stage breathing effort to as not to cut into/damage the seat inside the 2nd stage. When tightening the breathing effort you are pushing a rod into a soft plastic seat which can be easily cut. IF tuned outwards, it leaves a depression on the seat which leaks, meaning free flow, and would need to be replaced. Cheers again and thanks for watching.

@mattiaconti8885

2 жыл бұрын

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Hi Alec and thank you for the precious info! What you said is all clear to me but... I'm still having a last doubt. I'll try to explain it :) As you said, we use an in-line adjuster tool to adjust the breathing effort of the second stage so that it is the easiest possibile (generally). That makes completely sense to me. When you screw the hard seat in, you increase the effort and when you unscrew it, you lower it. Here comes my doubt: In order to get the easiest breathing possible, we have to get near the edge of freeflow without actually having freeflow (and I see the logic here too). But how can I feel if the reg is freeflowing (or not) while unscrewing/screwing the hard seat if at the same time I am pressing the purge button? Because the reg would always freeflow! I hope I have been able to express my doubt! I hope to understand this process completely, love maintenance! Mattia

Hi Alec, thank you for excellent channel and tips. I've got 1 question regarding the screwdriver vs the tool. When you use the screw driver, you're pushing the purge button to avoid cutting the inner parts while screwdriving. But this doesn't happen with the tool. Why? I understand that the tool wouldn't work with purge button pressed :) So is it wrose for the the inner parts or those parts are not in contact due to the pressure in the system? Thanks a lot!

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

5 ай бұрын

Good question. It is a dilemma. Using the adjusting tool turns the adjustable seat exactly as a screwdriver would & could cause the seat to be cut. Hopefully the use of the tool requires only very slight movement to reach that 'perfect' spot. When making your initial adjustments you should always depress the purge to relieve the pressure on the soft seat. However, once you are close, turning the tool very slightly to reach final adjustment is unlikely to cause harm. I hope this helps.

@petergramantik

5 ай бұрын

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter makes sense. Thanks for your reply and all the best!

Hi Alec, i was told that before we adjust, we need to set the adjustable knob at the 2nd stage (mine has an adjustable knob, near the venturi) to mid/half way, so that when we get the right adjustment, we can further adjust it during the dive. Is that true?

@alaind831

6 жыл бұрын

good point on the adjustment breathing knob. makes sense to center it...

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

6 жыл бұрын

Service manuals say to have it set to minimum pressure, that's lowest breathing effort, or all the way out. Then you can adjust it a bit harder if it starts to free flow later. If you set it anywhere else, it will start to free flow when opened. A couple of manufacturers are different but most want it full open to adjust and then set it to your personal comfort. Alec

is it true that your head positioning while scuba diving influences the smoothness of breathing from your modern unbalanced piston regulator? is it the same like what you did when you tested the old double-hose regulator?

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

2 ай бұрын

On a modern two stage reg, not very much. On the old double hose with the 1st and 2nd stages on the back, a big difference. I have a video on that same subject coming out in June sometime. A

Hallo Alce, when i measure the cracking pressure or inhalation effort of a second-stage scuba regulator. at which Position should be the Inhalation sesistance Control knob (effort knob ) ? should be close or open ? also the V.I.V.A fflow vane admustment . other Quastion. I deal with the mbar Adjesment more than Inches. so for Scubapro the cracking pressure is about 1.2-1.6 inches, is equal to 2.5 -3.5 mbar? Thanks for your efffort. Best Regardes Sherif

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

11 ай бұрын

Hi Sherif. Good questions. The regulator manufacturer indicates in the service manual how the breathing effort knob should be set when adjusting the inhalation effort. It can vary from one brand to another. Generally I've found they recommend the knob should be set to the greatest effort - turned in as far as possible (NOT TOO HARD!). If you cannot access the service manual, I suggest that you set the knob 1/2 way between open & closed. That way, once the breathing effort is set, while diving you can either lessen the effort (leading to a potential free flow) or increase the effort (stopping a free flow). The VIVA or Venturi Vane setting has no affect on the breathing effort so the setting of that feature is of no importance during regulator adjustment. Again I suggest that you should always make any settings with the Venturi at its closed setting, that is, with no venturi assist or in the "hard breathing" position. The Venturi is there to give you an extra blast of air when needed, so the reg ought to be adjusted with it closed or inactive, as if it isn't there. Pressure related conversions are confusing - PSI or BAR or KPA? How about ATM (atmospheres), N/m2 (Newton/Square Meter), TORR, ksi (Kilopascals per square inch), MSW or FSW (meters of sea water/feet of sea water) and probably more? PSI (pounds per square inch) is most common in the US while BAR is very common throughout Europe. The most accurate is kPa (kilopascals) simply because there is no confusion in technical circles. Your use of mbar (millibar) is a bit unusual but is also very accurate since the units are very small. 1 millibar is equal to 1000th BAR. That is, one thousandths of a BAR. Simple math illustrates therefore that 1 millibar is equal to 0.401463076 inches. If the cracking pressure of the regulator is 1.5 inches, that is equal to 3.736 mbar. Whew!! I hope that is clear & complete & helps. Take care. Alec

@alshreaf

11 ай бұрын

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter thanks Alec you did well! Keep going I have lernt a lot from you 👌🏼

Was there ever an attempt to have a self tuning hard seat in the second stage?

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

6 жыл бұрын

Interesting idea but never done that I know of. Ways to reduce the cost of service or parts are not popular ideas with gear manufacturers. Alec

Do you have a video of regulator attached directly with compressor??? Is the same regulator?? Which is the PSI that should have the 2nd stage??? Is the same for all reg?

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

5 жыл бұрын

I'm not sure what you mean by attaching a reg directly to a compressor unless you're referring to a hookah system wherein there is no 1st stage but the air comes from a tank, or compressor, straight to the 2nd stage. If that's the case, the 2nd stage is the same although it still needs to be adjusted. Generally the pressure from the 1st stage leading to the 2nd stage is between 125 and 160psi. It will vary depending on the make, model and a bit on the adjustment of the 1st. Alec

@elrockero30

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks!!!

When using the in-line tool to make the adjustment, do you still need to push the purge valve?

@alaind831

6 жыл бұрын

yeah I was gonna say you didn't purge... wouldn't it be the same ?

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

6 жыл бұрын

Yes! The in-line tool turns the hard seat and if it's sitting against the soft seat it will damage it. Hold the purge down when turning. Alec

@alaind831

5 жыл бұрын

wouldn't you also need to purge while turning the user adjustable effort knob as well ? doubt users would know this...

@Blubpaule

5 жыл бұрын

Alain Dumesny, No you don't, there is a free rotating spring in between that won't transfer the rotation to the other side

A Screw Diver you say? Never came across that kind of diver! haha

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

6 жыл бұрын

LOL. My mind is faster than my mouth sometimes. And my mouth is pretty fast!! Got me. Alec

Do you set all of the rental gear like that

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

5 жыл бұрын

There are two settings for regulator - factory and diver preference. In theory, they should be the same but in practice, some divers like their reg to breathe a bit harder. Rental gear is subject to a lot of abuse so we would often set it slightly harder so it's not so likely to freeflow. Alec

Hi Alec my second stage is very easy to breathe from but whenever I turn my face straight down looking at the sea bed I get free flow. Should I adjust the second stage like you have just shown or should I adjust the IP of the first stage (diaphragm type) ?

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter

13 күн бұрын

If the 1st stage IP is within makers limits, don't touch it. Free flows come from the 2nd stage. It sounds like an adjustment to the 2nd stage seat which can be done by a LDS with the right tool in minutes. Let them do the adjustment so If it's not right you can come back to get is adjusted. A

@khalidalaudin616

13 күн бұрын

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Thank you Alec.