What Is IP Creep Intermediate Pressure Issues

What Is IP Creep Intermediate Pressure Issues
The struggle to get your regulator set just right can be difficult sometimes. The Intermediate Pressure is vital to making a regulator perform to its best performance. There are several things that can prevent it though from stabilizing. In this video Instructor Bryan Stafford explains what some of the issues might be.
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Lake Hickory Scuba Center & Marina
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[@redrumgt5004]

Very easy to follow. I am new to diving but good with technical subjects in general and it was very informative. Great job

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Glad you liked the video @redrumgt5004.

[@aguycalledshane]

Definitely would like to see more like this.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Shane, we will be having more equipment related videos coming out real soon.

[@rameshwarp]

Thank you, for all your videos. This kind if gear troubleshooting subjects are excellent. Please make more if them in the future. Thank you.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

You're welcome Rameshway Prasad, glad you liked our video. We will try to get more like this made in the future for you.

[@zebrastrong9291]

I loved this video! I especially enjoy the videos that show simple maintenance and/or troubleshooting that we as divers can do to keep our gear and, in turn, ourselves safe! You do a great job of breaking it down (pun intended, lol) and explaining what’s going on and why! Keep up the good work!

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Thanks Zebra. Which by the way, is still one of coolest names I have seen on here.

[@bens.1603]

Great video to learn from, as always :) Love the content, please keep it up!

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Glad you liked the video @bens.1603.

[@Neptune730]

I definitely like the service videos. It is a good refresher for the repair training I got 25 or so years ago. I service my own equipment. But having stopped diving for 19 years. I may have forgotten some small things.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Glad you liked the video Neptune's Creations.

[@rey_nevan]

Thank you for the great content. Love it!

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Glad you liked the video Marcel Kunz.

[@coachgkj]

Great info as Always, going to search your play lists for more.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Thanks Garth Jensen.

[@LiveaboardLife]

Oh, this video is great and will save me of many future headaches. Thanks.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

You're welcome Scuba Travel Views, glad you found it helpful and liked it.

[@MiniMeiser]

great video, attempting to service my scubapro mk17 for the first time and having a few problems post service, very informative.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello David Bizant, glad you liked our video. Good luck with your regulator.

[@Will-ol9lp]

That is a great teaching video my friend

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Will, glad you liked the video.

[@andreaskiefer8603]

I was always wondering what happens when your first stage ices up, resulting in freeflow. I imagine it is exactly at this point that ice will cause this.. Awesome video

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello @andreaskiefer8603, here is an article on regulator freezing you may find educational. www.scubadiving.com/why-scuba-diving-regulators-freeze

[@davidvandermaas5054]

Great video, very well explained ! Totally agree on replacing the diaphragm when servicing. It is not always in the standard service kit. As a service technician I also make pictures of these kind of issue and print them on the report to be transparent on what we're doing with their equipment and what they are paying for. Like to watch these vids : Keep up the good work

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello David van der Maas, glad you liked the video. We too try to always be transparent with our customers when servicing their gear.

[@brunobonamino8991]

@@LakeHickoryScuba how do you think i can clean the inside of the housing with out and ultrasonic machine?

[@joe-aj0yz]

Thanks for the breakdown. Even if I don't service my own gear, I do like to know what's going on below the surface, so-to-speak. Always appreciate your vids! 👍

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Joe, you are welcome. Glad you liked our video and found it helpful.

[@Robert_H_Diver]

I loved this vid, I have this same reg and I’m glad I know I can do simple service on it myself to keep it going. Keep up the good work!!

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello robert harrison, of course we only recommend letting a trained service technician service your regualtor, but there are many things a diver can do himself or herself to keep it in great working order. Also minor repairs and adjusting can easily be done but the diver as well.

[@Robert_H_Diver]

LakeHickoryScuba absolutely, thanks for the response. You are probably my favorite scuba KZbin channel, lots of great and education content. Keep it up! 👍🏼

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Thank You for being a subscriber and kind words.

[@kyleknickerbocker8650]

The technical videos are great. I don't want to do my own repairs but know the causes are great

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Kyle Knickerbocker, we think all divers should be able to diagnose problems in the field. Even if they don't plan on working or servicing their own gear.

[@timg9134]

I love the technical videos!

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Tim G, glad you liked the video.

[@theyorkshireratman4275]

Great helpful video

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Glad you liked it the yorkshire ratman.

[@ronaldi9571]

Very good video !

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Thanks Ronald I.

[@charlesclements4350]

Thank you, Bryon.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

You're welcome Charles.

[@francisbevacqua8014]

Definitely would like to see more like this

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

I will see what we can do for you francis bevacqua.

[@wormhole331]

And people keep saying “take your regulators to a service center to be properly serviced” and then you see shoddy work like the place that sold a regulator that didn’t do a simple ip check and lied about rebuilding it. Doesn’t instill confidence does it. I’ll be maintaining my own regs. Excellent video though!

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello wormhole331, sorry to hear about your unfortunate incident. I would definitely be upset as well.

[@joshuamorales8482]

Thank you 🙏🏼

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

You are very welcome joshua morales.

[@usarmy308]

Hey bud was hoping to see a video on how to pair the mares smart air to the mares wireless transmitter. Also if you could go over issues for instance I have a paired transmitter but will not display psi. Thanks

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Christopher, this will be the very next video we upload, stay tuned.

[@usarmy308]

@@LakeHickoryScuba awsome. Yall are the best ever. Keep up the amazing videos.

[@artposada2171]

Great tutorial as usual. Glad I found this video even if it's old. I think this is exactly whats happening with my regulator. Ironically, it started shortly I had it serviced. My problem happens only on the octo second stage. The primary second breathes nicely and doesn't leak. What's puzzling is that when I first open the tank valve everything is fine...no leaking. But, when I take the first breath from the octo it shortly thereafter, within 10 secs or so, it starts leaking and won't stop. It only stops when the tank pressure is very low like under 1K PSI. Any thoughts would be helpful.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello @artposada2171, it sounds like the low pressure seat in the second stage is malfunctioning based on what you are saying is happening. A simple adjustment should fix the issue. If not, you may have to replace the seat.

[@artposada2171]

@@LakeHickoryScuba Thank you for your honesty and professionalism. I suspected that was the problem...or else both seconds would be leaking if it was IP creep. After my post I took the reg to my local shop. After telling him everything I told you the "pro" at counter said "it has to be IP problem" though he couldn't articulate why the primary second wasn't leaking. He recommended full service to which I agreed...better than carrying on the conversation with him. Thanks again no need to reply just sharing.

[@Chogogo717]

So if you have IP creep vs cracking pressure issue wouldn’t you have the possibility of your primary AND the backup second stage free flowing? I know my backup second stage breaths harder, so it’s probably safe for me to assume it ma cracking pressure is higher, and it would free flow after my primary, right? Great video! I’d love to get certified to do gear work as a side gig enough to help support the dive habit, service my own gear, and play with tools since I’m not hands on with airplanes any more.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Balancing out the IP and Cracking Pressure is not that difficult. Typically, the alternate second stage will always be set to breathe slightly harder than the primary. Unless of course both are primary's like in Sidemount. But to answer your question, yes, too high of an IP can cause the seat to fail in the second stage causing a free flow.

[@troop1026]

What would cause creep in a piston style regulator. what would cause a piston style first stage to wine from 3000 to about 2100 psi. Only in the water. It won't wine on the bench.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello troop1026. In piston regulators, the spring tension could be off, the inside of the housing could be scratched, the high pressure seat could be wore out, or in some cases, the small little plastic spacers could be damaged. Simple fixes, as Piston Style regulators are the easiest to work on. This of course being as long as the internal part of the housing is not scratched.

[@HVAC_Sean]

What cleaning solution do you use in your sonic cleaner? What temperature?

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Sean, currently we are using a 50/50 blend of water and white vinegar. I'm not sure on the temperature, as its preset on the cleaner. A quick note, the 50% vinegar can be a little to abrasive on certain coatings, so you may want to drop it down to a lower blend. I will always do a freshwater rinse after removing parts from the cleaner.

[@jalbert9613]

Would like to see more reg service vids.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello J Albert, I will see if we can make some for you.

[@jalbert9613]

It really makes you appreciate how much goes into a reg. Also how important it is to have a pro service it to me least.

[@frizzby-x]

Great vid! Just out of curiosity - what’s that accent? :)

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Southern Country Boy is what I like to call it. LOL

[@ts440s]

If a poseidon xstream says intermediate pressure is 125 and a scubapro mk11 is 133 will that be OK ?

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello john metyk, I would have to refer you to a Poseidon or ScubaPro technician. The intermediate will change not only between brands, but also first stages with in the same brand. Most will give you a high and low, and anything in between will be fine.

[@optionmaker007]

I watched the video and get confused. For me it is unclear how a not-correct sealing diaphragm could lead to IP creep. I understand IP creep as a leakage of air from the hp side to the lp side of the reg. This is typically caused by parts around the valve mechanism (crown, seat, corresponding o rings). A damaged diaphragm sealing would let to air escaping the first stage. I am not a professional so I double checked my thoughts by having a look into the "scuba regulator bible" (SCUBA Regulator Maintenance and Repair by Vance Harlow). And Vance is exactly mentioning the issues I described above and not refering to any problems around the diaphragm. Can you pls explain your thoughts?

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Hans Wurst, there are multiple things that can cause an IP creep. One of those being the main regulator spring loosing tension, which a faulty diaphragm can cause. When we service a first stage that has IP creep, there are 3 major things we look for. The first would be improper adjustment of the first stage. Second is damage on the inside of the housing (scratches in the housing). And third, we check the main spring and diaphragm. During a complete overhaul of a first stage, the first stage diaphragm gets replaced with a new one, especially with Mares regulators. Over time the diaphragm can loose its strength which allows the spring behind it to expand more than the manufacture's recommended tension. So yes you are correct in saying the diaphragm itself does not cause the IP creep, but it can lead to it by not holding proper tension on the first stage spring. Hope this answers your question.

[@bikeon143]

Ok Bryan, I'll be your best critic to keep you honest; 3 possible causes, why not start from the inside first...make sure there isn't debris or scratches before replacing the diaphragm, which you knew you were going to replace the diaphragm as soon as you looked at it.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

It was an oversight on my part. I'm only perfect on days that end in y. LOL

[@darrenwootton2007]

Can this still happen on an environmentally sealed 1st stage?

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Darren, great question. Yes it can happen to any regulator, even an environmentally sealed one.

[@wallybrown9509]

tear down and rebuild an Aqua Lung Legend please.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Wally, listed are several videos that JCA Elite Scuba did showing how to rebuild the Aqua Lung Legend. Hope this helps. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpXUc5mBe82WjLs, kzbin.info/www/bejne/nIq5gJuAq7Sch80, kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGq2eHR8oc2lo7s, kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2nRY2apqryGrJI, kzbin.info/www/bejne/n56xanmGgM6KZpY, kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKXRZJiprJySjbc, kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYTUlaSVl9KVgpY, kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGqmeqGne7poZtk, kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3mlhHZ5ead-iMU, kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZPKdGqkrJ16pJI

[@MatVoss]

ok then.... a) You do not have to use metallic tools to get the membrane out. Even a dentist ball point tool may make scratches. The easiest way is to use an air gun blow through one open IP plug (the others closed) b) Faults in the membrane itself or in its seat do _not_ cause an IP creep. Instead, the cause the 2nd stage to bleed, because the joint pressure from the IP spring and ambient is out of balance by the leaky membrane.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello sun yata, you are correct, you can use compressed air as an option to remove the diaphragm as well. Thanks for sharing.

[@MatVoss]

OMG... don't let this guy into the vicinity of yr regs.... Springs may be adjusted, and killing regs and membranes is never easier as he does. Damn. Use en air gun to get the membrane out while the IP and HP plugs are still in.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello sun yata, sorry to hear that you did not like our video. Nevertheless, we appreciate you watching the video and sharing your thoughts with us.