{"id":2856,"date":"2021-11-23T14:34:43","date_gmt":"2021-11-23T14:34:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/divingcorner.com\/?p=2856"},"modified":"2021-11-23T16:28:46","modified_gmt":"2021-11-23T16:28:46","slug":"balanced-vs-unbalanced-regulator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/divingcorner.com\/balanced-vs-unbalanced-regulator\/","title":{"rendered":"Balanced VS. Unbalanced Regulators (The Difference)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You\u2019ve started your research on regulators while trying to decide what to buy, and you keep coming across the same confusing terms — balanced or unbalanced. What do they mean? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the difference between a balanced and unbalanced scuba regulator?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essentially, a balanced regulator will breathe the same no matter how deep you are or how much air is left in your scuba tank (the ease of breathing is not dependent on your tank pressure). An unbalanced regulator, however, may feel more difficult to breathe from as the pressure in the tank gets lower, or as a diver\u2019s depth changes during the dive.<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Balanced Regulators<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"balanced <\/picture><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

If you read the diaphragm vs piston regulators<\/a> article, the first stage of a regulator always has a bias spring and a high pressure seat \/ poppet valve assembly that directs (and responds to) the intermediate pressure air movement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a balanced regulator, these gear pieces operate at the same force no matter what ambient pressure levels are. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other words, the pressure coming from the tank and the ambient hydrostatic pressure from a diver\u2019s depth do not affect the regulation of the intermediate pressure chamber in the first stage. <\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

While the term \u201cbalanced regulator\u201d usually refers to the first stage of a regulator, a second stage can also be balanced or unbalanced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In any second stage, a diver\u2019s inhalation opens a valve that is tensioned by a spring inside the second stage body (similarly to when the piston or diaphragm in a first stage moves to open a pathway between the high pressure and intermediate pressure chambers). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a balanced second stage, there is an intermediate pressure stored on the backside of the valve to counteract the tension from the spring (without this intermediate pressure pocket, it would be more difficult for a diver to pull breath from the regulator). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This ensures the consistent ease of breathing from the second stage and the first stage (if both are balanced). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a note, it is unlikely that a diver will be able to notice a significant difference in ease of breathing between a balanced or an unbalanced second stage as long as it is paired with the balanced first stage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the first stage is unbalanced, a balanced second stage may assist slightly in easier breath pulls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unbalanced Regulators<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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