Pony cylinder

[Arty]

I've been diving with a 3-litre pony cylinder which is attached by a metalsub to my main cylinder. The problem that I have with this is that it is very difficult to reach over my right shoulder to open it due to my short arm.

I'm thinking of 'inverting' the cylinder so that the valve is upside down which will allow me to open the cylinder.

Does this seem a workable solution. I'm open to suggestions.

[Spirit of Guernsey]

Turn it on before kitting up.

[Mark Chase]

Yes it works fine. You might need a slightly longer hose

Personally when running the pony that way id necklace the regulator and just leave the pony on.

I didn't bother having a second reg on the main tank. In an OOA id go necklace

In a gas share id go necklace and hand off main tank

[bottle maker]

If you are carrying the pony as an independent gas source then it needs to on ready to use immediately. You also need to practice using it so that in a genuine out of gas its use is secured nature. and you know how far the gas will take you.

[Tel]

I've been diving with a 3-litre pony cylinder which is attached by a metalsub to my main cylinder. The problem that I have with this is that it is very difficult to reach over my right shoulder to open it due to my short arm.

I'm thinking of 'inverting' the cylinder so that the valve is upside down which will allow me to open the cylinder.

Does this seem a workable solution. I'm open to suggestions.

Yep it's fine, whenever I use or teach pony this is always the way

Inverting keeps hoses from the main rig clean and yes the valve is very easy to access.
Also means hose can be followed from the valve.
As has been mentioned will need a slightly longer reg hose, but not OTT - 1m is fine.
Only thing to watch is the valve head grounding on bench etc. Din is def best for this config.

[Arty]

If I do that it could go into free-flow as I enter the water.

[dwhitlow]

I've been diving with a 3-litre pony cylinder which is attached by a metalsub to my main cylinder. The problem that I have with this is that it is very difficult to reach over my right shoulder to open it due to my short arm.

Why do you need to reach the valve? Surely it is on?

I used mine like this for a few years and it was switched on at all times, the regulator was necklaced under my chin and there was an SPG I could read to check remaining gas.

[dwhitlow]

If I do that it could go into free-flow as I enter the water.

Perhaps the second stage needed adjustment or service?

[Tel]

If I do that it could go into free-flow as I enter the water.

1. Charge the system, shut down, jump in, no FF it's ready to use by switching on.
2. Charge the system, shut down, jump in, no FF, switch on check function and away you go.
3. Switch on, Jump in, no FF, carry on the dive.

Three trains of thought depending on your POV as to readiness, but personally I work with #3.
I've seen an incident with a diver at Stoney years ago (admittedly on a twinset) that almost had
a very bad day because nothing was on, he failed to open his valves and his buddy was a mess.

If you jump in with your primary on and the pony FF, so what?
If you jump in with your primary off isn't that what the pony/redundancy is for?

Mind none of this 'should' happen which is why the phrase is 'shit' happens

[Mark Chase]

If I do that it could go into free-flow as I enter the water.

SO could a twin set then because that's how you dive those.


Same problem with deco cylinders or bailouts on a CCR

Just get a reg you can turn down and don't have it tuned to the edge of free flow. Apex ATX50 is my choice.

[NWdiver]

Underwhelming results from the overnight pony thread so far...

I echo the above comments. Invert it if you need to. Have it switched on at all times. Any gas source that I might have to switch to without notice is kept on. The only cylinders I've ever dived shut are deco gasses where you know you have a nice calm gas switch.

Bailouts are on.

[jturner]

If I do that it could go into free-flow as I enter the water.

So could your octo but I assume you jump in with the main cylinder opened?!! If it does freeflow, stop it. At the end of the day, inverting it is fine if you want to but how many times have you needed to turn the cylinder off underwater? Personally, I would always have the pony fully on and dive with my bailout stages (on CCR) open too and I can count the number of times I've had a freeflow on 2 fingers (and neither were a significant event). I suggest you might be overthinking the problem here, or your pony regs are in serious need of a service!

Why do you need to reach the valve? Surely it is on?

I used mine like this for a few years and it was switched on at all times, the regulator was necklaced under my chin and there was an SPG I could read to check remaining gas.

Likewise.

[steelemonkey]

I use mine inverted and turned on.

[Wardy_uk]

I'm very dissapointed with the poor advice so far

Surely the correct answer is buy a Rebreather?

[Scubaguy]

2 pony's with a Scrubber in between, wait for someone to provide a funny pic now

Please dont tempt me, I need to buy my dive it again and re-start diving still the Reg can always go on a Bail out Cylinder