CRESSI ELLIPSE BLACK/AC2 REGULATOR

The younger brother of Ellipse Titanium, it imitates all the exceptional features of the leading regulator, with a casing made from sophisticated and strong hi-tech polymers (Ellipse Black).

All the parts of Ellipse Titanium, most of which are patented, are technologically used: the fold-out opening of the casing, the special folding diaphragm, the computer designed lever, the tilting movement of the poppet, the seal between regulator valve and casing, the possibility of extracting the entire air supply system from the body of the 2nd stage.

Air regulation is extremely gently and the amount of air delivered is considerable, even given the traditional piston-balanced first stage.

Ellipse/AC2 has no rivals on the market in terms of quality-price ratio.

1st stage Ellipse comes with the traditional Cressi AC2 piston model.

This is a non-balanced first stage with such high performance that it can be compared to lots of excellent balanced models.

The small number of components, the low weight and the excellent materials make it the strongest Cressi first stages, and the most steadfast to maltreatment, a real “working horse” amongst regulators.

An ingenious bush system allows easy and rapid external regulation of the intermediate pressure , it has an exceptional air flow, a lot higher than what is found on the market for this kind of first stage and that easily stands up to comparison with the balanced models in terms of performance.

It comes with both international yoke or 200 or 300 bar DIN connection.

Technical details

The Ellipse regulator has all the features of the new generation regulators, so it is small in size, has very moderate weight, and a modern and charming look. The performance provided is excellent and satisfies all divers, from beginners to professionals, even with its small size and traditional piston first stage.

The first stage of Ellipse is the tried and tested traditional AC2 piston Cressi model. Although this is a non-balanced first stage, it has an exceptional air flow, a lot higher than what is found on the market for this kind of first stage and that easily stands up to comparison with the balanced models in terms of performance. It comes with both international yoke or 200 or 300 bar DIN connection and boasts the exclusive feature of enabling easy and quick adjustment of the intermediate pressure.
It has a generously sized cone-shaped sintered filter.
This compact first stage and its legendary robustness and simplicity make it one of the most esteemed and commonly used models on the market.

The second stage of the Ellipse is made from a special new generation high-tech polymer, which stands out due to its flexibility, mechanical strength and a capacity to absorb shocks and reduce noise that are truly original in this sector.

The casing of the Ellipse has a patented “fold-out” opening. With a simple 4 mm Allen wrench you can undo the cam-lock bayonet closure system to open up the casing. This operation is carried out rarely, but every now and then it is necessary so as to clean and inspect the inside and to make sure that the diaphragm and exhaust valve are intact.
The diaphragm has an elliptical shape, the structure of which is patented and it is possible to use a lever of the same size or even bigger than the ones on considerably larger regulators.
When you open the casing you access the regulator system which is a classic downstream side valve. The lever has an unusual, computer-designed and patented conformation that virtually annuls the friction against the diaphragm cap, thanks to its special structure and also thanks to a completely new feature of the poppet, also patented. In fact, instead of simply sliding longitudinally, like all poppets, this one also tilts vertically, minimising friction against the orifice. The rectangular opening of this orifice is protected internally by a revolutionary seal made from elastomer (patented), which directs all the air towards the injector instead of allowing it to enter the casing from the opening of the orifice. This drastically reduces the risk of the 2nd stage freezing in icy-cold water, and the air is completely directed towards the mouthpiece, which exalts the performance of the regulator.

Another exceptional patented feature of the Ellipse, is the possibility of extracting the entire regulator system from the casing, just by loosening a counter-screw and removing two small metal retaining cylinders. So all maintenance and calibration can be “open heart”, keeping times to a minimum and making these operations easier.

The new structure of the exhalation valve, has made it possible to reduce breathing effort even more than the already excellent values of the Airtech. The valve works in a special trap, which protects it from a sudden flow of water that can be channelled through the exhaust tee in particular situations (jump from a boat into the water, currents, sudden movements of the head, etc…).

A lever that acts as a flow deflector, situated in the upper part of the casing makes it possible to adjust the Venturi effect. When it is moved to (-) position it acts as pre-dive, for water to enter and for the initial phases of the dive, and when it is moved to (+) the regulator can then develop maximum performance.
A system of antagonistic counter-flows inside the casing balances depression created by the powerful Venturi effect, perfectly calibrating air flow to the diver’s requirements.

Performance

The use of a lever with an unusual structure and the almost total reduction of friction have made it possible to obtain very high performance. The inhalation effort is particularly low, averaging about 5.5 Mbar, with an initial effort of almost nil. The overall breathing work is less than 1.1 joule/litre, a very good value for a regulator of this catehory. Anyone who tries the regulator in water will be amazed at the extremely easy and gentle air flow provided, and apart from the excellent values provided at the test bench, it highlights a peculiar characteristic of this regulator: how extremely pleasant it makes breathing and its incredible silence.