Are BC inflator connections standardized?

[arew+4]

I just bought regs and computers for my kids, but they are not done growing so I'm holding off on BCs for now. I want to buy inflator hoses, but since different places rent different brands of gear it doesn't make sense unless there is a real good chance what I buy will fit most brands.
Did anyone know what the most common connector type is?

Thanks in advance,
Andy

 

[Centrals]

Highly unlikely that the rental bc is NOT using the most common power inflator available in the market.
BTW, BP/W is more flexible with body size over the conventional bc!

 

[Bob DBF]

There is one connector (Schrader valve) for an inflator, there are at least two others that I know of which are different and are used on inflator-octo combinations.


Bob

 

[tbone1004]

There is one connector (Schrader valve) for an inflator, there are at least two others that I know of which are different and are used on inflator-octo combinations.


Bob

there is a second "long stem" quick connect that APD and a few others in Europe use, but they are really rare. Aside from the AirII's which are a completely different animal, everything else should have the "normal" quick connect

 

[KeithG]

there is a second "long stem" quick connect that APD and a few others in Europe use, but they are really rare. Aside from the AirII's which are a completely different animal, everything else should have the "normal" quick connect

Agreed. We once saw an "extra long" (but not much) connector on a BCD on a LOB. The owner had just bought a noise alarm thingy that clipped into the inflator hose before his bcd. It did not seat properly and he could not inflate his BCD. We swapped the noise maker to my BCD and everything worked fine.

Examination revealed that the connector on his BCD was just a smidgen longer than mine. It worked on his hose, but it bottomed out on the noise maker.

I do not remember any make / model info on any of his gear.

 

[joe10540]

Even if they are different wouldn't you get a longer LPI hose as your kids grow? I replaced all of mine with longer than standard to reach around to a point it was comfortable. The most I've paid for a LPI was $40 and all my rubber hoses get swapped out every couple years anyways just as a precaution. They are cheap enough that I'd just rather not risk a leak. All of my inflators are the same now though since I got rid of my air II that was a larger diameter than the standard inflators. On the off chance that your inflator hose doesn't fit a rental they can probably swap out your hose for one of theirs as part of the rental at little to no cost. You are going to make some incredible memories with your kids! Wish I got started earlier and did more diving with my dad.

 

[tbone1004]

@joe10540 not talking about the LPI hose but the actual connector on the wing inflator

 

[The Chairman]

but they are not done growing so I'm holding off on BCs

Check out the Zeagle Express Tech. They'll adjust bigger, a lot bigger, as your kids grow.

 

[arew+4]

Thanks for the replies and info, and to whomever fixed the typo in the title. Sounds like the QD Schrader is fairly standardized, so I'll be picking up three of them. The other reason I'm holding off on BCs it's that I'm not sure what kind of diver each of them is going to grow into. They all had a blast in bonaire and are looking forward to the Keys so I'm pretty sure they are all hooked. However, my younger son has informed me that my BC is trash and I need a back plate wing setup, He also thinks it would be good idea for me to get a side mounted doubles rig, do I think I have at least one who's gonna go tech, and hopefully take me with him.

 

[The Chairman]

and to whomever fixed the typo in the title.

Not a problem.

The other reason I'm holding off on BCs it's that I'm not sure what kind of diver each of them is going to grow into.

The Express Tech is a Hybrid. You can use it from Rec to Tech. Check it out and you might be pleasantly surprised.