Deluxe IP Checker - Steel Gauge

            Deluxe IP Checker – Steel Gauge       We have all seen the pretty little IP checkers available through most manufactures. They run the small gauge with the BC connect on the bottom. Northeast Scuba Supply, Inc. was just not happy with the quality or the accuracy of these and we thought we could do better. We started with the heart of the unit and bought a good gauge. This gauge is 0 -300psi, perfect for checking intermediate pressure. You see, gauges are most accurate in the middle 1/3 range; for our gauge that allows the most accuracy between 100 and 200psi... like I said, perfect for intermediate pressure. The gauge is marked in both bar and psi (metric and imperial), so our friends across the lake will still be good to go. The gauge has a larger 2 inch face, compared to the generic 1 inch on the plain Jane ones you may have seen. We then put a brass tee for corrosion protection on the unit so there is no worry of rust getting inside the gauge or the parts rusting together, in the rare event you need to replace a part. The BC connector is also a heavy duty one that will take years and years of abuse; plus with this unit, you are able to take it apart, which gives you the ability clean corrosion off of it. The final part is the most necessary, this is the over pressure relief valve. This is not seen on other units and we have never figured out why.  Let’s take a look at the reason you are using an IP Gauge: you either have a free flow on your reg or you just rebuilt your reg and need to check it. You have no idea what the IP is at or if it is right. You then take your plain Jane IP Gauge, hook it in and proceed to peg the gauge. The gauge is now junk as it has been over pressurized. This is a common problem and should not happen. We have put an industrial strength over pressure relief valve on the unit. The over pressure relief valve is set at 200psi and can handle a flow rate of 173 cubic feet per minute. This of course is over-kill, but better to be safe then to be throwing your nice gauge out.  On a side note:  The difference of the above two is one has a steel case (i.e. a rusty case in wet environments) and the other has a pretty polished brass case (i.e. great for boat kits).