Inflator hose compatibility?

[torrey]

I just posted an ad to buy a used inflator in the classifieds section of the site, but wanted to pose my question here also.

Way back when, I bought a new Scubapro Accent with an Air2 inflator. Apparently this required a special fitting on the inflator hose. Recently, I bought a used Scubapro Seahawk with a standard Scubapro inflator, but I had to buy an adapter to be able to make my special inflator hose compatible with the standard inflator. I have since switched the inflators so I can use the Seahawk with Air2, but I want to have the other one in working order as a backup. It turns out the standard inflator leaks, so I'm looking for a used one.

My question is, do I specifically have to find another Scubapro inflator, or would brand matter? I'm guessing my special inflator hose is designed only for the Air2, so would my adapter be usable on other brands?

[CompuDude]

Two things.

First, when you bought your used BC it should have come with an inflator hose. When you buy them new, they come with a hose... so whoever sold you the BC stole your hose! Fortunately, new and standard hoses don't cost much.

Second, you should be able to replace the special ScubaPro inflator with a standard one that works just as well (or I suppose, better, since the one you have is leaking). Most wings used by tech divers have generic, universal inflators, and they obviously need tip top gear. So if it works for tech divers, it should work just fine on your ScubaPro BC.

Another option, however, is simply to take your BC into a shop and have it serviced. They can take care of all of the details for you.

[awap]

Scubapros balanced power inflator is an excellent inflator. But other brands of inflators with a 1" coorrugated hose connector will work in it place Most use the std LPI connection. But the design of the SP inflator is superior to most if not all others. Your leaky SP inflator should be readily repairable. And as long as it does not require a replacement case, it should not be too expensive. I have been sucessful glueing a cracked case but you have to be careful not to damage any seating surfaces. Can you tell where/why it is leaking?

[torrey]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

First, when you bought your used BC it should have come with an inflator hose. When you buy them new, they come with a hose... so whoever sold you the BC stole your hose! Fortunately, new and standard hoses don't cost much.

Are you talking about the corrugated hose, or the hose which attaches to the 1st stage? I've never seen BC's for sale in shops with the 1st stage hoses. I've never bought a new BC by itself before though...when I got mine, I bought the reg at the same time and didn't have a clue at the time, so I'm not sure if the hose came with it or if they charged me extra for it.

Originally Posted by awap

Scubapros balanced power inflator is an excellent inflator. But other brands of inflators with a 1" coorrugated hose connector will work in it place Most use the std LPI connection. But the design of the SP inflator is superior to most if not all others. Your leaky SP inflator should be readily repairable. And as long as it does not require a replacement case, it should not be too expensive. I have been sucessful glueing a cracked case but you have to be careful not to damage any seating surfaces. Can you tell where/why it is leaking?

I haven't gotten it back in the pool since I originally noticed the leak, and I didn't look very hard for the leak at the time as I was planning on switching the Air2 out anyway. I wasn't sure how easy they could be fixed, but if JB Weld or something similar will do the trick, then I'm all over it...I just need to find out where it's leaking.

Thanks for the input guys!

[awap]

Yes, the LP hose usually come with the BC; but then it usually ends up staying with the regulator when sold used.

JB weld will do fine IF the problem is a crack in the case that can be glued. Leaks may also come from the LPI hose connector, the LP seat, the dump valve or any of about 3 o-rings in there.

[torrey]

Interesting, I didn't know that about the LP hose. I always thought it was part of the regulator setup. Learn something new every day. I guess it's off to my friends pool with the thing, then.

[ScubaToys Larry]

Ok... I'm a bit confused on exactly when part... so let me break it all down for you.

All BC's include the LP inflator hose with them. From the cheapest to the most expensive. It comes with it. Now if you bought something used and didn't get one, that hose new is $19.95.

There is a standard fitting that fits all standard inflator ends. However, with an octo inflator, it's different. That one is a larger diameter and has higher air flow so you can inflate and breathe off it at the same time.

Then with the octo inflators, there are basically a few different ones. There is the ScubaPro, which actually is not a scubapro at all... it's made for them by Tusa - so the Tusa and Scubapro hoses and ends are interchangeable. Then there is the Zeagle / Apeks ends which are slightly different.

You cannot use an adapter to go from a standard inflator to the octo inflator as you would not get enough air flow. You could go the other way, but since the hose is only 20 bucks - why bother - something else that could leak or pop off and the adapter costs nearly that anyway.

As far as replacement inflator ends... We end up with a bunch of them since a lot of folks want octo inflators, so a standard inflator mechanism would run $29. We just have to know which BC as their are 2 different corregated hose ends in the world. The smaller ones you find on Oceanic, Aeris and a few others, then the larger ones that fit most the rest of the world.

If anyone needs any additional info - just pm me and I'll try to help!

[ertechsg]

Yea they keep mine off my riptide , but Todd did give me a price break

[torrey]

Now we're really getting somewhere. I guess you can learn "2" something news in a day, hehe. Hopefully I can just fix the leaky inflator, as I have already purchased the adapter...and yeah, it was about $20 or so, but I was in a tough spot and wanted to test my used (new to me) BC since I had already forked over $20 to enter the scuba park anyway.

Now that I have the adapter, I never have to remove the hose from my 1st stage...I just pop the adapter on if I switch from one BC to the other. Good to know about the Air2 needing a bigger hose though, in case I ever need to buy a new one.

[mike_s]

The Best way to figure out inflator compatibility is to look at Dive Alert's chart

http://www.divealert.com/divealert.html

Model
.......DA-1............DA-2X..........DA-3X


DA-1 - ConnectorsAll Standard Inflators

DA-2X - SeaQuest AirSource, Zeagle Octoplus, Beauchat Venturi, U.S. Divers Air Mic & Oceanic Air XS

DA-3X - ScubaPro Air 2, Tusa Duo-Air & Atomic SS1