DGX Adapter: BC Integrated 2nd Stage Hose = BC Inflator
DGX Adapter: BC Integrated 2nd Stage Hose = BC Inflator
- Makes a High-Flow QD hose used for BC Integrated Second Stage in to ordinary BC inflator hose
The male post of this adapter plugs to the QD female end of the special high-flow quick disconnect hose fitting required for a BC Integrated Second Stage (aka "Air2"), and the female end of the adapter is a Quick Disconnect BC female slide-lock Schrader valve fitting that accepts the standard BC inflator male QD post.
The application for this adapter is when your regulator first stage is configured to use a BC with an integrated second stage as your alternate source (aka "octo"), but you have to move your regulator to a standard BC for some unforeseen reason. (For example, your BC has a puncture, but the boat has a rental BC on board.) Unfortunately, now you can't plug the high-flow female QD hose used to supply both the alternate and power inflation in to the standard low-flow male Shraeder QD on the usual BC power inflator. Your best solution may be to remove the high-flow QD hose from your first stage and scavenge a standard BC inflation QD hose that you can install in its place. If that is not possible then you can use this adapter to save-a-dive.
There are different styles of this adapter, each is for a different high-flow QD fitting found on the two most common types of BC integrated second stages as follows:
- ScubaPro Air II, Atomic SS1, Sherwood Gemini, Tusa Duo-Air II, Zeagle Octo-Z, and ODS (Private label branded as Blue Reef, Dive Rite, Hog and many others)
- Aqualung AirSource 1&2&3 , Aquatec Air3, and Oceanic Air XS 2
| Brand | DGX |
|---|---|
| SKU | DX-LH-X |
| Weight | 0.140000 |
Customer Reviews
Quick-Disconnect Compatibility and Lack Thereof
Divers are sometimes surprised to learn there is NO universal standard that defines the precise shape and exact dimensions of the quick-disconnect ( QD ) fittings used in SCUBA. This can cause compatibility issues with the connection: the fittings will not connect at all; the fittings will not securely connect and can self-disconnect without any overt user action; the fittings will securely connect but gas will not flow; the fittings will connect but will exhibit slow leaks. There is the further complication that the low-flow QD fitting commonly seen on
power-inflators is not suitable for high-flow required by regulators, so QD fittings found on BC integrated second-stages use something else entirely.
- Low-flow BC power-inflator Schrader valve QD common to all BC brands sold in North America
- High-flow BC integrated 2nd stage QD used on the ScubaPro Air II
- High-flow BC integrated 2nd stage QD used on the Aqualung AirSource
- High-flow BC integrated 2nd stage QD used on the Mares Air Control
Finally there is the CEJN fitting (not shown), manufactured by CEJN AB of Sweden. This proprietary fitting is typically seen on the inflation valves of drysuits used in commercial diving.
The low-flow QD posts can be further divided into two styles: a more widely seen post with a shorter barrel and a raised bridge across the top, or a much less common post with a slightly longer barrel and a flat top. In our experience, the flat top post seems more likely to be encountered in the UK and to a lesser extent in Europe; it's almost never seen in North America or Asia. Hoses designed to fit one style of low-flow QD post are less likely to be compatible with the other. However, even within the bridge top post design we have encountered occasional incompatibilities, usually when there is many years difference in age between the male and female fittings.
First the good news... low-flow QD fitting incompatibilities are rare. All the low-pressure quick-disconnect inflation hoses we sell are compatible with the post found on our replacement power inflator as well as the inflators on all the wings we sell. (We see the most compatibility problems with these posts and various adapters.) If you are concerned about compatibility, the best strategy might be to replace the power inflator and hose simultaneously from the same source. Keep in mind that if your BC hose and power-inflator are more than five years old, best practice is to replace them anyway.
Now the bad news... high-flow QD fitting compatibility problems are commonplace. You can not use a standard inflation hose to supply a BC integrated alternate air source, as the device would not receive enough gas due to the restriction of a low-flow fitting. There are several different types of the high-flow fitting commonly seen on BC integrated second stages. If you are concerned about compatibility, the best strategy might be to replace the QD hose with the same brand from the same source as the original equipment manufacturer.
We recommend using the OEM hose for your brand of BC integrated 2nd stage, but if you can't find an OEM hose then we do stock high-flow QD adapters that allow any standard-length LP regulator hose to be converted into a quick disconnect hose for BC integrated alternate air sources. The adapter screws into the second stage end of an ordinary LP regulator hose, and the other end of the adapter is a female slide-lock fitting that accepts the hi-flow male post. Each of the different quick disconnect adapters works with one or the other of the male posts found on specific brands. A snug fit is a desirable characteristic in all quick disconnect fittings; it means the fitting is less likely to "self disconnect" or the o-ring seal to leak. However, it also means you must take care to hold the locking ring fully retracted while forcefully and completely pushing the fitting on to the post, then pull back on the connected hose to ensure secure connection. Unfortunately, in some cases the adapter might leak because of compatibility issues that are more likely with very old and/or worn posts. It the case of the SeaQuest brand Air Source, it's probably time to retire that device, you should also seriously consider retiring the entire SeaQuest BC; they are both over 30 years old.
