din or yoke?

[spurtill]

Definetly DIN.

Its safer as has been stated AGAIN and AGAIN.

Also, I've heard there is some European regulation in place now that all bottles sold (in Europe) from now on must be DIN compatible. Dunno if its true or what the details actually are, but if it is you'll start to see DIN bottles in the dive centres more regularly.

The alot of bottles i've used recently have been DIN bottles. Thiose with A-clamp regs use the same bottles but they have an insert in them to change them back to A-clamp. I suppose that introduces another point of failure. So having an A-clamp reg in those circumstances is at least AS dangerous as using an adapter with a DIN reg on an old A-clamp pilar valve.

so DIN

S

 

[paulwlee]

ScubaRon once bubbled...

I recommend going with a 300 Bar DIN regulator

I heard that 200bar DIN regulators aren't around any more. So all DIN regulators out there should be 300bar DIN.

 

[Gator Diver]

My LDS said you only need a DIN if you are going
to be a technical diver.....and yes all his regs
were yoke.....My ATX50 is yoke and I have
no complaints but I am also not a technical or
cave diver

 

[Phish-phood]

I have DIN fittings on my Apeks regs. It is definitely and safer system. I use a DIN convertor if I need to which is hardly ever as most tanks here are DIN compatible.

If I am going on a dive trip where tanks are supplied we always enquire as to whether we can get DIN fittings and have never had a problem with dive shops providing them for us so far.

 

[ScubaRon]

Earlier in this thread I wrote that the DIN-to-Yoke adapter placed the regulator about 1/2" closer to your head.

Last night I realized that I did not take the DIN knob into account and measured it. It places the regulator exactly 1" (2.5 cm) closer to your head on my setup: see attached photo.

I don't think it matters much which brand reg and adapter you use. Sorry for the earlier misinformation.
ScubaRon

 

[ScubaRon]

paulwlee once bubbled...
I heard that 200bar DIN regulators aren't around any more. So all DIN regulators out there should be 300bar DIN.

I don't know if they are still manufacturing new 200 Bar DIN regulators, but they are definitely still selling them in the stores.
ScubaRon

 

[schwarte piet]

It doesn't really matter as regards the cylinder valve, they can all be converted to DIN by removing the centre insert. The difference really is with the 1st stage. There are two types of Din fitting, 232 and 300, you should get expert advice from a decent dive gear dealer. They will explain the best options for your DIN fitting, ignore so-called dive experts who post information on bulletin boards and go straight to the top. you can even contact whoever makes the brand of reg you are thinking of buying and let them point you in the right (safe) direction.
Safe diving >)))*>

 

[VTernovski]

I love DIN. But.... if you travel to Carribean (or even Florida, in my experience), it's a pain in the arss. Since none of the rental tanks give you DIN valve connection. So, youwill need to use the Adapter. In my experience, the Apeks adapter (about $50) makes the first stage knob so long that it sticks out and hits the back of my head everytime. I hate that! espesially when you roll back form a small boat. that hurts! I hate using the adapter. and I also dislake Yoke in general since it's pain in the arss to have to dry that little ball plug before you screw it in after the dive... Also, DIN makes the whole thing a lot small, and it feels more secure, which I like. And you don;t have worry about the O-rings since the O-ring is not on the tank, but on the 1st stage...

 

[schwarte piet]

Oops!
I just noticed that a lot of the replys come from folks based in the
USA. My post was of use if you live in europe, but I don't know that much about the way things are done in the states. My regs are scubapro so I guess it won"t be that different. Its good to see that someone else out there knows aout the removable insert in the cylinder valve.
Safe diving >)))*>

 

[ScubaRon]

schwarte piet once bubbled...
It doesn't really matter as regards the cylinder valve, they can all be converted to DIN by removing the centre insert. The difference really is with the 1st stage. There are two types of Din fitting, 232 and 300, you should get expert advice from a decent dive gear dealer. They will explain the best options for your DIN fitting, ignore so-called dive experts who post information on bulletin boards and go straight to the top. you can even contact whoever makes the brand of reg you are thinking of buying and let them point you in the right (safe) direction.
Safe diving >)))*>

I have heard that the convertible valves are quite common in the UK and a few other countries, but they are virtually non-exitent in the rest of the world.

Also DIN valves come in 200 bar and 300 bar versions. 232 bar is an International (or Yoke) specification, which is why you find it in the convertible valves.
ScubaRon