strain relief on hoses or not?

Jussi · March 30th, 2007, 11:36 AM

Reading my Doing it Right: The Fundamentals of Better Diving
and also checking one gue.com/Equipment/Config/index.html
says the following:

"All hoses should be fitted with strain relief to reduce the risk of kinking and failure."

Which is the "ultimate" truth: Use them or not?
I've seen pics where DIR-divers don't use them and I think also older
version on Fundamentals of Better Diving doesn't mention to use them.

Thanks!

PfcAJ · March 30th, 2007, 08:23 PM

From what I've learned/seen/do myself, hose strain reliefs arn't used anymore. They trap salt water, hide damage, and really don't do a whole lot.

We bend a 6'' hp hose back on itself with no issues.

rjack · March 31st, 2007, 12:05 AM

I have only had one hose "wear out" due to not having strain relief. It was on my argon bottle and I routinuely sit on the junction of the hose with the reg. It eventually delaminated (after ~150dives). Would it have worn out if a hose protector had been on it? I don't know. I do know that the progressive damage was obvious and it was easy to gauge when to replace the hose without the protector on it.

Most DIR divers I know don't find them useful.

Richard

A-M · March 31st, 2007, 02:13 AM

On the other hand: it happened three times that my HP-hose got a bubble on it. The place where the bubble appeared was always close to the first stage directly after the metal connection where the hose starts (sorry, don't know a better description in english). Maybe it's coincidence, maybe a strain relief would have prevented it?
BTW: it happened to both my deco reg and my backgas reg so movement is not an issue.

rjack · March 31st, 2007, 05:21 AM

That part's usually called a "ferrule" in US english

Quote:

"usually metal sleeve used especially for joining or binding one part to another (as pipe sections or the bristles and handle of a brush)"

They are typically a crimped connector, but not always.

What kind of reg(s) is this happening on? How many dives on the hoses A-M?

A-M · March 31st, 2007, 11:26 AM

The regs were both SP and Apeks and the hoses are different brands.
It happened twice on a backgas gauche (it's always HP hose). One really soon after like 100 dives, the other after 300-400 dives. The HP hose on my stage reg was brand new and had max 40 dives on it.... I guess it's been a production error or just bad luck.

Ahmed Adly, Marlin Inn DC · March 31st, 2007, 12:49 PM

I have not had them on my regs for the past God knows how many dives. I can see there is some strain on the hoses and they should be replaced. But I am a bit lazy. But if I get more active with deeper stuff this season, I will be breaking open a hose kit.

Also, the technology that goes into hoses these days is great. Especially the Scubapro. They have these new Kevlar hoses that are simply indestructable.

Roel · March 31st, 2007, 01:01 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Ahmed Adly, Marlin Inn DC)

Also, the technology that goes into hoses these days is great. Especially the Scubapro. They have these new Kevlar hoses that are simply indestructable.

That sounds great, how can I recognise them to make sure I get the kevlar version?

Ahmed Adly, Marlin Inn DC · March 31st, 2007, 01:57 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Roel)

That sounds great, how can I recognise them to make sure I get the kevlar version?

I think you just ask for them actually. They are kevlar reinforced hoses.

I encountered them when Scubapro made a technical workshop in Hurghada a few years ago and presented their products and the philosophy behind their construction, which is very impressive.
They basically believe that you should be able to pick up a piece of dive gear from any point, shake it, put it back down and still depend on it's reliability. This is supposed to make provision for the idiots that seem to make a career from throwing peoples gear around before dives

TobyFish · April 2nd, 2007, 12:22 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by A-M)

On the other hand: it happened three times that my HP-hose got a bubble on it.

Interestingly, although the GUE site shows a mixture of rigs with and without hose protectors, the one hose that never has straign relief on is the HP

I have no idea why

March 30th, 2007, 11:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jussi(Offline) New Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Zurich, Switzerland Posts: 43	strain relief on hoses or not? Reading my Doing it Right: The Fundamentals of Better Diving and also checking one gue.com/Equipment/Config/index.html says the following: "All hoses should be fitted with strain relief to reduce the risk of kinking and failure." Which is the "ultimate" truth: Use them or not? I've seen pics where DIR-divers don't use them and I think also older version on Fundamentals of Better Diving doesn't mention to use them. Thanks!

March 31st, 2007, 12:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ahmed Adly, Marlin Inn DC(Offline) New Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: hurghada Posts: 849	I have not had them on my regs for the past God knows how many dives. I can see there is some strain on the hoses and they should be replaced. But I am a bit lazy. But if I get more active with deeper stuff this season, I will be breaking open a hose kit. Also, the technology that goes into hoses these days is great. Especially the Scubapro. They have these new Kevlar hoses that are simply indestructable. __________________ It has just dawned on me.... We are all just recycled stardust Ahmed Adly, www.deepvoyage.com

March 31st, 2007, 01:57 PM	#9 (permalink)
Ahmed Adly, Marlin Inn DC(Offline) New Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: hurghada Posts: 849	Quote: (Originally Posted by Roel) That sounds great, how can I recognise them to make sure I get the kevlar version? I think you just ask for them actually. They are kevlar reinforced hoses. I encountered them when Scubapro made a technical workshop in Hurghada a few years ago and presented their products and the philosophy behind their construction, which is very impressive. They basically believe that you should be able to pick up a piece of dive gear from any point, shake it, put it back down and still depend on it's reliability. This is supposed to make provision for the idiots that seem to make a career from throwing peoples gear around before dives __________________ It has just dawned on me.... We are all just recycled stardust Ahmed Adly, www.deepvoyage.com

April 2nd, 2007, 12:22 AM	#10 (permalink)
TobyFish(Offline) Fine Upstanding Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Telford, UK Posts: 795	Quote: (Originally Posted by A-M) On the other hand: it happened three times that my HP-hose got a bubble on it. Interestingly, although the GUE site shows a mixture of rigs with and without hose protectors, the one hose that never has straign relief on is the HP I have no idea why __________________ Rude-boy Volvo "Gangsta Rollin' in me nine-six-oh"

March 30th, 2007, 08:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
PfcAJ(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Orlando, Fl Posts: 139	From what I've learned/seen/do myself, hose strain reliefs arn't used anymore. They trap salt water, hide damage, and really don't do a whole lot. We bend a 6'' hp hose back on itself with no issues.

March 31st, 2007, 12:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
rjack(Offline) wet behind the ears Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 861	I have only had one hose "wear out" due to not having strain relief. It was on my argon bottle and I routinuely sit on the junction of the hose with the reg. It eventually delaminated (after ~150dives). Would it have worn out if a hose protector had been on it? I don't know. I do know that the progressive damage was obvious and it was easy to gauge when to replace the hose without the protector on it. Most DIR divers I know don't find them useful. Richard

March 31st, 2007, 02:13 AM	#4 (permalink)
A-M(Offline) Cave addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Netherlands Posts: 370	On the other hand: it happened three times that my HP-hose got a bubble on it. The place where the bubble appeared was always close to the first stage directly after the metal connection where the hose starts (sorry, don't know a better description in english). Maybe it's coincidence, maybe a strain relief would have prevented it? BTW: it happened to both my deco reg and my backgas reg so movement is not an issue.

March 31st, 2007, 05:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
rjack(Offline) wet behind the ears Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 861	That part's usually called a "ferrule" in US english Quote: "usually metal sleeve used especially for joining or binding one part to another (as pipe sections or the bristles and handle of a brush)" They are typically a crimped connector, but not always. What kind of reg(s) is this happening on? How many dives on the hoses A-M?

March 31st, 2007, 11:26 AM	#6 (permalink)
A-M(Offline) Cave addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Netherlands Posts: 370	The regs were both SP and Apeks and the hoses are different brands. It happened twice on a backgas gauche (it's always HP hose). One really soon after like 100 dives, the other after 300-400 dives. The HP hose on my stage reg was brand new and had max 40 dives on it.... I guess it's been a production error or just bad luck.

March 31st, 2007, 01:01 PM	#8 (permalink)
Roel(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Netherlands Posts: 374	Quote: (Originally Posted by Ahmed Adly, Marlin Inn DC) Also, the technology that goes into hoses these days is great. Especially the Scubapro. They have these new Kevlar hoses that are simply indestructable. That sounds great, how can I recognise them to make sure I get the kevlar version?