watergill failsafe first stage

[vintagefrank]

Hi anybody!

First of all: Wish you a wonderful new year 2006 with lots of vintage dives!!!!

Aquired a watergill failsafe first stage and wonder about the connections hp/lp. This reg has 3 ports on each side - I think 1 hp and 2 lp. This reg had - as I know - a special feature: When breathing was stopped, the jacket would inflate slowly. Which port was used for this feature and how does this work?

best regards
frank

[JohnA]

You need to place the LP hose on the right side of the regulator, that is, hose should look like its coming over your right shoulder, then it loops back to the lp connection on the at-pac.

How it works is, they built in a hp leak to the right side piston. When you stop breathing, the IP creeps up until it overrides the spring on the atpac power inflator (downstream valve on the power inflator). By breathing it you keep the IP from creeping up. Another thing the regulator was suppose to do was when you breathed the tank down to 500 psi, it again allow for the creeping IP (even while breathing) to override your inflator spring and inflate the atpac. I have never seen one, but watergill had an additional part for the inflator that would lock the spring externally to keep it from inflating.

So in theory it should work, problem is if you tune the regulator up too much any little free flow will negate its ability to creep. Also, you clearly run the risk of blowing weak lp hoses before it overpowers the spring. I could not get mine to inflate my atpac.

Watergill made a left and right position second stage for that regulator also. Enjoy it, you now have the 3rd one that I have ever “seen”, and I have been looking for them since they first came out in the late 70’s. I would love to know how many were actually sold. I have seen more 2nd generation Seapro fail safe regulators than the old square Watergill’s.

John

Post a picture, I would love to see it.