Scuba gear O-Rings
What are BN, V, M83248, PU series?
BN series (nitrile) is the cheapest type usually found in hydraulic and plumbing shops. Most divers use them on one-time use basis or on rental equipments. Salt water, UV, oxygen and ozone attack nitrile causing to fail. V series are FKM (Viton) which is far superior than nitrile. V will withstand against those elements which attack nitrile. NOX is ok with V series. M83248 is military grade FKM. PU is polyurethane. It’s clear amber in color, and some divers prefer its “prettiness” and resistance to abrasion. I’ve seen some postings recommending other types of synthetic rubber for dive use, some on EPDM too. There are definitely other synthetic materials which can be used in scuba application, but probably not worth your while to investigate especially if you plan to experiment on yourself. ๐
70 vs. 90: It’s all about the hardness or durometer. 90 is harder than 70. 90 can take more pressure than 70, but 70 is softer and supple. So HP and tank necks use 90, and LP uses 70.
| BN series | V series | M83248 series | PU series | |
| Good | Better | Best | Pretty | |
| -003 HP Hose/ SPG Swivel | BN90-003 | V90-003 | M83248/2-003 | PU90-003 |
| -010 LP Hose / 2nd Stage | BN70-010 | V70-010 | M83248/1-010 | PU70-010 |
| -011 Standard 3/8″ LP Port | BN70-011 | V70-011 | M83248/1-011 | PU70-011 |
| -012 7/16″ HP Port/ Hose Manifold | BN90-012 | V90-012 | M83248/2-012 | PU90-012 |
| -013 1/2″ LP Large Port | BN70-013 | V70-013 | M83248/1-013 | PU70-013 |
| -014 Std Yoke Regulator/ K-valve | BN70-014 | V70-014 | M83248/1-014 | PU70-014 |
| -015 Tank Valve Bonnet Nut | BN70-015 | V70-015 | M83248/1-015 | PU70-015 |
| -111 Small DIN Regulator/Valve | BN70-111 | V70-111 | M83248/1-111 | PU70-111 |
| -112 Standard DIN Regulator Valve | BN90-112 | V90-112 | M83248/2-112 | PU90-112 |
| -116 1/2″ Tank Neck (small) | BN90-116 | V90-116 | M83248/2-116 | PU90-116 |
| -214 3/4″ Tank Neck (large) | BN90-214 | V90-214 | M83248/2-214 | PU90-214 |
Scuba Dive checklist
| O-rings of various sizes |
| Small Crescent wrench |
| Dentist Tool good for digging out o-rings. |
| Silicone grease |
| Mask and fins straps (make sure they fit your mask and fins.) |
| Small roll of duct tape |
| Small roll of electrical tape |
| Small roll of rubberized repair tape |
| Spare Bulbs for flashlights |
| Double ended brass clip |
| Extra wrist lanyards |
| Swiss Army Knife |
| spare pair of contact lenses |
| Small bottle of alcohol (rubbing, not drinking) |
| little sewing kit, with a big, strong needle and some carpet thread. |
| seal cement |
| rubber bands |
| Spare HP and LP plugs for regulator 1st stage |
| Nylon cable ties (zip ties), various sizes |
| Extra burst-plugs for the tanks |
| Spare HP swivels |
| Leatherman tool (multi-purpose knife/pliers) |
| Stainless folding “scuba tool” has some open-end wrenches & screwdrivers |
| Spare bulbs for lights |
| Spare weight belt buckle |
| A disposable lighter, mostly for burning ends of nylon cords |
| Several razor blades |
| surgical tubing |
| bungie cord |
| second mask |
| second pair of prescription lenses and some aquaseal, or glass epoxy to mount them |
| couple of ounces of vinegar. Good for urchin sticks and jelly stings. |
| copies of your C-cards. |
| cash |