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Post by highdefinitiondive on Jun 25, 2006 8:14:19 GMT -8
Has anyone out there tried to convert their newer style U.S. Divers 1st stage Regulator to a Double Hose type of connection like the NEW U.S. DIVERS MISTRAL. I would like to use my new 1st stage with the Double hoses and exhaust valve mounted on the 1st stage yoke. I really like the new U.S. Divers Mistral but do not want to pay $900.00 for it. Perhaps I can just purchase the Double hoses and mouthpiece from Vintage Scuba Supply and then buy the low pressure adapter to the inlet of the Double Hose from a U.S. Divers Dealer. If anyone is a U.S. Divers Dealer, Please let me know how much the parts cost is for the exhaust port assembly and the 2nd stage single hose to double house adaptor. Thanks for any and all input. I need a Double Hose regulator capable of handling 3300psi and depths to 130 feet for filming.
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Post by SeaRat on Jun 25, 2006 9:10:09 GMT -8
highdefinitiondive,
I think what you want to do is technically possible, but not with the New Mistral parts. I don't think Aqualung will sell the second stage and parts to it except as the entire regulator. With liability being what it is, there could be "problems" from that point of view with selling parts piecemeal. But, what you can do is to get a DA Aquamaster regulator, and use the hookah port with an adaptor to go to your first stage. Others on this site may have these LP adaptors for sale. Basically, what you do is to make the DA Aquamaster into a second stage by plugging the HP yolk with a metal protective cap, using the adaptor to the hookah port (removing the oxygen cap) and running a LP hose from your current regulator to the DA Aquamaster hookah port. I'll let others with more information on getting these pieces let you know about where they are.
John
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Post by nemrod on Jun 25, 2006 9:51:28 GMT -8
"I need a Double Hose regulator capable of handling 3300psi and depths to 130 feet for filming. "
This is easy, what you need is a late model round label Royal Aqua Master, the one with the heavy yoke. It outperforms the new Mistral easily, it can be used with 3,500 psi or any psi that you would use a Conshelf with. It easily handles 130 feet depths. It can be adapted to support an octapus and SPG and inflator.
A good Royal Aqua Master is going to run between 400 and 500 dollars. The LP adapter and fittings to run a BC hose and octapus can be put together for about 50 dollars, a rebuils by one of the experts plus new parts somewhere around 100 dollars and new hoses around 40 and so on. Thus a new(old) Royal Aqua Master can be put together for around 750 dollars.
Nemrod
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Post by SeaRat on Jun 25, 2006 22:00:05 GMT -8
Nemrod is correct if you want a whole new regulator.
But I thought this thread was concerning how to use a current first stage to convert it into a double hose regulator, which is why I recommended the use of the DA Aquamaster.
By the way, you can use the seat off an old MR-12 to connect two LP hoses so that you have a male fitting on each end, and that would screw into the adaptor on the hookah outlet on the body of the DA Aquamaster. This works because the MR-12 seat is reversable, and it allows both hoses to rotate. You simply bypass the first stage using this technique. This was used for years to provide hose-supplied air to divers on projects such as underwater archeology, and is shown on page 124 of the National Geographic Society's book, World Beneath the Sea.
Another way to do it is to simply have a hose built with a normal LP outlet on one side, and an oxygen fitting that fits the DA Aquamaster's hookah port on the other.
Finally, you could take a valve, and have the threaded portion re-tapped to the threads of a standard LP regulator hose. Screw in the LP hose, and use a Mistral regulator for the double hose regulator second stage. Be sure if you do this that you use a another second stage octopus on the first stage to serve as an overpressure relief valve, as the Mistral is an upstream valve. But this would breath very nicely, and I think Jacques Cousteau actually used this or an adaptor on a chest-mounted Mistral, with an LP line to an Aqualung first stage, for some of his last dives.
All of this is in keeping with the theme of this thread. If you really want a double hose regulator which will handle 3300 psi, than take Nemrod's advise and buy a Royal Aquamaster.
John
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Post by william on Jun 26, 2006 14:07:29 GMT -8
 It would be a very interesting experiment to watch. To try and recreate the new Aqua-Lung Mistral by useing another, older, single hose 1st Stage and combineing it in some way with the second stage so all will be on the tank valve and only the double hoses comeing to the Diver. It would be interesting to see how difficult or maybe, even, how easy it might turn out to be, to actually do the machine work and all that would be required to make it work safely. If it can be done , then experimentations may be able to be done, then, to find some combinations that may work extremely well. The Chest Mounted double hose regulator body would also be very interesting. To find out if it would have great benefits. It most likely would look very alien and not have the normal look of a dive outfit we are accustomed to seeing.  William
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Post by SeaRat on Jun 26, 2006 15:34:45 GMT -8
To see this concept in use, look at the Cousteau Society website: www.cousteau.org/en/cousteau_pics/film_excerpts/The first film ("People protect what they love") exerpt shows Jacques Cousteau with the chest-mounted Mistral. Further down, there is a clip titled "Filming Oceans" which shows Captain Cousteau swimming with this concept. But probably the best example of this concept is Cousteau swimming in the exerpt titled "Meeting Blue Whale." This clip shows Cousteau with a very unusual triple-tank setup; he uses what looks like a single 80 AL tank with a set of what looks like two inverted 60 ft3 tanks, all hooked to the single first stage and then going to a chest-mounted Mistral (at least that's what I surmise, as it has never been publically announced). John |
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Post by william on Jun 26, 2006 15:59:56 GMT -8
This looks to be very interesting. Thank you John. But, I just borrow this computor. The owner does not want me to download anything so I am a little hand-tied here, ha. I can imagine though, that the Chestmounted Aqua-Lung, a Mistral design would look somewhat like the Double Hose Hooka sets I have seen before that had the Regulator Body mounted on their chest. It looked pretty good and well made too. If there is a website I could go to and see still pictures I would go and look there too. William |
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Post by SeaRat on Jun 26, 2006 19:10:51 GMT -8
I know what you mean, William, as I cannot see it at home either. I use Safari at home, and the Cousteau site with the plugin will only support Netscape and IE. When you get into a store, get to the Cousteau site (www.cousteau.org) or go to this vintage site and make the salesman show it to you. If he can't, say that you don't want the computer. If he can, say "Hay, that's pretty neat." But then you can see it. I don't want to try for a screen shot and post it, as I'm sure that all those photos are copyrighted.
John
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Post by waltstearns on Jun 27, 2006 3:50:01 GMT -8
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Post by william on Jun 27, 2006 12:13:30 GMT -8
Walt That is just great sir. I never knew this was offered and at such a super price. I was surprised to see what else they offer. Free Shipping. For the near future, this is very important to know and can save us a lot of money. "Thank you for the heads up".  William |
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William