Diving Regulator
A diving regulator is a device that provides the diver with breathing gas from one or more of their cylinders on the back of their BCD at ambient pressure. We do say 'breathing gas' because it can be air or either a blend of different gases.
The regulator has one or more valves in series which reduces the pressure from the pressure in the air tank down to ambient pressure over different stages.
Parts of a regulator
Roughly, regulators are made up of the following parts:
- First stage
- Second stage
- Octopus
- Manometer
- Inflator Hose
First stage
- First stage INT
- First stage DIN
For fastening the first stage to the cylinder there are currently two different types available. The INT(ernational) and DIN (Deutsche Industrie Norm) standard.
INT, also known as A-type or yoke, will place the opening of the regulator agains the opening of the cylinder. With a screw you will tighten both opposite eachother where an O-ring in between will secure the fit. With an INT regulator the O-ring will be fitted in the cylinder. Make sure you don't screw the yoke too tightly otherwise it might become difficult to remove the clamp without tools.
The most INT regulators nowadays are of the K-type. There also exists a J-type regulator which gives the diver breathing resistance when the pressure in the cylinder drops below 20 - 35 bar, warning the diver he or she is dangerously low on air. By pulling a lever reserver air is released. These J-type became obsolete when
The K-type is a simple on/off valve.
The DIN type has a screw which is fitted into the cylinder. The advantage of a DIN-type regulator is the withstanding of higher pressures than the INT type regulator.
The first stage has a couple of low pressure exits and some high pressure exists.
The inflator hose is also connected to a low pressure exit point. The inflator hose is connected to the BCD. This will ensure you can inflate your jacket by pressing the inflate button. Air from the tank will be forced it's way into the BCD for changing your buoyancy.
When diving with a drysuit, another low-pressure exit point is being used to hook up another hose to the drysuit.
Second stage & Octopus
In the first stage the gas pressure will be reduced from the pressure in the cylinder to approximately 10 bar. The second stage, which is connected to a low pressure exit point on the first stage will further reduce the pressure from 10 bar to 1 bar. Since 1 bar is the normal pressure at ground level, it is now available for a diver to breathe. The same goes for the Octopus. The Octopus behaves the same like the normal second stage, but is there for safety reasons. If your buddy runs out of air or there is another problem with his/her scuba gear preventing him/her to breathe normally this is the backup for your buddy. Therefore the octopus and/or the hose of the octopus must have a bright yellow colour, so it is easily detected by your buddy.
Manometer
- Analogue manometer
A device which is connected to the high-pressure exit point is the manometer. This could be either an analogue or digital manometer. The manometer measures the pressure in the tank and gives you a reading of the current pressure in the cylinder.
Digital manometers are normally integrated in a dive computer.
