The first stage also called a "pressure regulator" is the most important component in the equipment, as it actually allows you to reduce the air pressure within the cylinder.
The air coming in from the cylinder passes through a conical filter with a high filtering surface contained upstream of the first stage, which reduces it to a pressure between 9 to 11 bar (depending on the calibration value) with respect to the ambient pressure. The reduction takes place by means of a piston or a diaphragm balanced by a pre-calibrated spring.
Inside the body of the first stage there is a chamber where the air expands reducing pressure down to the calibration value and together with the ambient and the spring pressure, the pressure acts on the piston or the diaphragm, moving them, until the delivery flow is interrupted; each subsequent pressure decrease with respect to the calibration values will reopen the circuit until the new equilibrium.
They can be balanced and unbalanced piston or balanced diaphragm and depending on the models they can be equipped with a 360° swivel turret.
They are generally made of chromed or sandblasted finished brass, but on request they can also be made of more precious alloys.
The connection to the cylinder fittings can be ensured using one of the connections specified in the following standards (EN 250):
a) YOKE connection (ISO 12209; 232 bar);
b) DIN 200 connection (ISO 12209, 232 bar);
c) DIN 300 connection (ISO 12209, 300 bar).
The 3/8" UNF low pressure LP outputs are used for the second stage, octopus, Jacket, etc., while the high pressure HP outputs have 7/16" UNF threads where they are connected: diving pressure gauge and/or dive computer with pressure gauge functions.
the First Stage can be either a PISTON or DIAPHRAGM TYPE.
Piston-type 1st Stage
In the piston-type first stage the balancing is achieved by opposing different surfaces at different pressures. This system is a very simple mechanism that consists of the movement of a single component (the piston). This is an unbalanced first stage.
The reasons for its longevity (it is still built and used today) lie in its reliability and affordability; the lack of control of the intermediate pressure is compensated by its reliability.
ADVANTAGES
Reduced number of components
Extreme ease of maintenance
DISADVANTAGES
Balance not perfect
STANDARD MAINTENANCE
Checking and/or replacing the piston pad
Checking and/or replacing the piston O-Rings
Checking and/or replacing the conical filter
Checking and/or replacing the LP and HP O-Ring caps
Checking calibration
Diaphragm-type 1st Stage
In a diaphragm-type first stage the balancing is achieved by opposing the same pressure on equivalent surfaces. This type of system has a diaphragm that transmits pressure variations to the internal valve.
ADVANTAGES
Actual balance of both cylinder and ambient pressure.
Water does not enter the internal mechanism.
DISADVANTAGES
High number of components
More laborious maintenance
STANDARD MAINTENANCE
Checking and/or replacing the piston
Checking and/or replacing the diaphragm
Checking and/or replacing the internal O-Ring
Checking and/or replacing the conical filter
Checking and/or replacing the LP and HP O-Ring caps
Checking calibration
The first stages are divided into two types:
Unbalanced and Balanced.
1st STAGE - UNBALANCED
In an unbalanced first stage, the air delivery is permitted by the high pressure at the surface S1 of the pad. Around the piston rod is located a calibrated spring to provide about 10 bar outlet pressure when the cylinder is fully charged. When the cylinder pressure decreases, reducing the thrust exerted on S1, proportionately decreases the intermediate pressure: this effect causes a slight increase in respiratory effort, always comfortable and widely in the limit of the Norm EN250. In addition, the ambient pressure (the water that enters the chamber under the piston head) adds up on the surface S2 with the force exerted by the calibrated spring. This increase causes an increase in pressure exerted on the upper face of the piston head S3 which remains almost unchanged the pressure differential, always around 10 bar more than ambient pressure. In fact the two surfaces S2 and S3 are slightly different and balancing with the ambient pressure is not perfect, but the difference is minimal and is not perceived as respiratory effort.
1st STAGE - BALANCED
In the balance first stage, the above mentioned problems are eliminated in a simple way: by detaching the pad from the piston, in this way the breathing-in effort and the air flow are maintained almost constant throughout the dive.
In fact, the delivery is not dependent on variations in the high pressure because the pressure of the cylinder is no longer exerted on a surface but the air flows freely in the piston shank. The two surfaces S2 and S3 are almost the same, which minimises the difference between the increase in ambient pressure and the increase in intermediate pressure.
Cylinder maintenance,
fittings and regulators
"Always carry out adequate maintenance on your equipment!"
Neglecting equipment maintenance can cause serious damage to it and your lungs.
It is vital to carefully check all the components after each dive;
If there are scratches or dents on the outer surface of the cylinders, which have led to the paint coming off, it is necessary to carry out a retouch with an anti-rust paint in order to avoid corrosion;
it is recommended to carry out a thorough external and internal inspection every 100 refills for the cylinders and every year for the regulators, regardless of the number of dives, in order to identify the initial signs of corrosion and to act beforehand.