Frakenstein Regulators

[@divezonescuba]

Frankenstein could also mean best in class first and second stages or particularly suited for the application. I know a few people who dive with Mares diaphram 72x or 75x first stages which have great hose routing, but atomic second stages due to their ease of breathing, adjustability, and durability.

[@SuprSi]

As long as the regs are serviced, compatible pressures and tuned together I don't think there's any issue with Frankenstein regs. The 1st stage doesn't know what it's supplying pressure to, and the 2nd stage doesn't care where the pressure is coming from as long as it's correct.

[@SuprSi]

I love your videos btw, thanks for doing what you do!

[@isaac7701]

I personally mix and match because im cheap but I also heavily research compatible pressures to be as safe as I can.

[@ahmeduwtv7605]

Big fan from Egypt

[@tobiashenning1958]

I saw it pretty recently when someone offereded me to buy their old regulator that they last used in the early 2000s.

[@bbl2019]

I dive sidemount with atomic regulators. But had to switch out their hoses to standard regular and long hoses vs their own as their hoses are too stiff to use for sidemount and a big entanglement hazard. Plus they didn’t make long hoses at that time anyways. Had to use hose adapters to make it work since atomic sizing is not compatible with the standard sizing. But the second stages breathe great and I love the swivels

[@Junk-c5g]

Combine an upstream type 1st stage without safety valve with a downstrream type 2nd stage in cold water.... Can easily result in a bursting hose or regulator. Only do this if you really know what you're doing! Probably not too much of an issue with newer gear but risky none the less... Insurance might not cover if combination is not certified.

[@seandonehoo1683]

Great video. I have seen many frankenregulators through the years but they have typically all belong to technicians who knew what they were doing and knew how to match everything I have been a technician for a while but I still don't see a benefit in mixed match as you would have to have different parts kits from different companies and makes it more of a logistical pain in the butt. I agree with your thought if someone places a cheap octo on their regulator it definitely says something about that person.

[@bettasbetta]

I live and dive mostly in the Philippines. It is common for me to see frankenstein regulators when people are trying to put together a sidemount system on a budget.

[@MortenDallDarmer]

The Hannes and backplate is drager aswell

[@timthenetchanter]

I don't use it on my main regulator.. but I bought a pony bottle from my dive store for a great price and I have a Mares Rover Octo sitting around after I bought a Mare Ultra Adj Octo to match my primary when I moved to long hose, so the dive store owner said he will find me a good matching first stage but it might be another compatible brand (Scubapro or Sherwood) and then he will take both and balance them for IP. The main reason I am doing this is cost effectiveness since this is my first Pony and I am using it basically to train on using a redundant air source. And since all of them are from the same B&M dive store that I trust and can service the whole thing there. However, Once I actually wanna go into deco I will probably replace that 'Frankenstein" with something better and definitely will be a single brand. But for now a fully functional bottle for less than $300 Canadian that I can use safely and service seems like a good proposition to me.

[@seanstevenson8038]

I see no problem with mixing and matching 1st and 2nd stages, especially they are serviced and tuned together. I try to target the same IP out of all of my 1sts regardless of make, so that they can be used with any of my 2nds without issue. This way, if I encounter a 2nd that breathes wet or is fouled or failed in some other way, I can just shut it down and swap it out for a 2nd from another bottle. I keep all of my 2nd stage hose connections just a hair beyond hand tight for this reason (with a wrench / spline tool in my pocket).

[@alfmeyer8615]

Dräger Bocamat is the model of the vintage Regulator.

[@InnerSpace_Explorers]

@@alfmeyer8615 thanks Alf, saw they where available in metal, too. So something to look for again 😉

[@Homie111092]

Very interesting topic. I've recently been thinking about whether I want to build such a setup since I acquired an Ocean Reef full-face mask. I now have three sets (Mares MR12T + octopus, Mares 22T + Abyss, Ocean Reef SL-35 + Neptune3). Since I already have a quick disconnect on the SL-35, the idea naturally came to me to equip both the Abyss and Neptune3 with the same quick disconnect so that I only have to service two first stages and three second stages (saving one Mares first stage) while still being flexible to use either the Abyss or FFM. According to the data sheet, the intermediate pressures should match. Unfortunately, I lack the experience to make a final judgment, so for now, I’m sticking with three full sets.

[@diveaddict6885]

I dive a Frankenstein regulators set up.

[@bitaarmaments8004]

They need to take that thought all the way out. Ocean technology doesn’t make a first stage, so we have to mix to use full face. I think ocean reef is in the same boat. My only mixing is my OTS guardian on my agency scubapro and personal Prosub rigs, but I have no problem as long as they work.

[@salprestige2577]

can't be a back plate if the spg is attached to the first stage.

[@danthornham-xt7xh]

Does swapping out the hoses or gauges count as Frankenstein? If so, I'm guilty. But try to keep brands of 1st & 2nd stages together, and service whatever new combination i build. Also, have different brands on left and right of sidemount setup. Is that Frankenstein?

[@NathanHall]

Apeks DST 1st Dive Rite XT4 2nds

[@sifakalemur4162]

I think it all depends on what you are attempting to mix and match. If there is forethought, and you have the technical skills, the issue becomes one of liability and warranty moreso than function and safety. If your first stage has an IP +/- a few PSI within the spec of a second stage, you're halfway there. Are you pairing an overbalanced first stage with a second stage designed for an underbalanced first stage? Is everything in the system O2 clean? Does your second stage have a bias spring adjustment, or Venturi angle adjustment? Do you know how to adjust your crack pressure? If you can answer these questions, you probably already know exactly how much wiggle room you have when it comes to mixing and matching. If you're pairing a Posiden first stage with an old aqua lung Calypso second stage... Either hit the books, or just pay the technician. Bottom line, it's absolutely something you can royally screw up if you don't understand the principles behind the different regulators. However, with the know how, and some tuning, you can achieve some good results. I personally use a lot of Dive Rite second stages with deep 6 first stages. The first stages are almost identical to that of the Dive Rite. It's not that crazy of a Frankenstein, but it just goes to show that Frankenstein regulators operate on a spectrum of compatibility.

[@ssneg]

There is a typo in the title

[@diveaddict6885]

I dive a Apeks MTX 1st stage and aqua Lung Legend 2nd stage

[@florianwinkler2565]

Why should there be any problem by mixing producers from 1st and 2nd stage? They are connected by a low pressure hose. As long as they are correctly adjusted there is no difference for the use of them. Because second stage doesn‘t know wherefrom it gets the air, and only cares for the right pressure.

[@PCoetzee24]

You're kind of correct. An exception is when you connect a Poseidon Jetstream 2nd to a random non Poseidon 1st stage. The Jetstream/Xtream stages are "Upstream" and require a OPV built into the first stage. If you have a failure without the OPV, hoses will explode.

[@florianwinkler2565]

@@PCoetzee24 yeah thats true. The people i know diving poseidons love and hate them at the same time 😂

[@thedivesmith8838]

I dive Frankenstein reg setup, I dive them in caves and cenotes and technical diving in Canada. I have hundreds of dives on these reg and they have always worked flawlessly.

[@SuprSi]

@@florianwinkler2565 I was lent 2 sets of slipstreams, the IP was set to 10bar. They breathed like garbage and I hated them. When I found the 8 bar spec and set them correctly they became perfectly smooth. I've also just serviced a set and I'm impressed with the build quality and design, the 2nd stage is very interesting in how it works. Big fan now.

[@EnergiZeScuba]

Frakenstein?

[@PCoetzee24]

Don't put Poseidon Xtream or Jetstream stages on random first stages. They are upstream and require an over pressure valve somewhere. The required OPV is a unique feature of Poseidon 1st stages. I occasionally mix gear but always check the IP and adjust as per specification of the 2nd stage.