Interchangeability of wings, backplates, etc..

[ReferenceToxicity]

Quick qustion ... Are the harnesses, backplates and wing from different manufacturers interchangable? I'm not experienced with this type of equiptment. They seems like they would be, but I would like to know for sure. Is it possible to buy one set and then modify it with parts from a different manufacturer or do you pretty much need to stick with one brand for design compatability reasons?
Thanks

 

[ppo2_diver]

In short, yes. Any backplate will pair up with any wing. Harnesses are different. If you use a one piece harness, you don't have to worry about. But any of the other harnesses (OMS, Dive Rite, etc.) should have no trouble connecting onto any backplate.

 

[Gombessa]

In short, not always. What you can usually count on is 11" spacing between the center bolts on both the backplate and a wing. This makes it so that most backplates fit on most doubles, and most wings will mount to most backplates plates (for doubles, or if diving singles, via an STA).

One of the main issues you'll find is that there is no standard for cam band slot spacing or number. So the band slots on a plate may not match up with the slots on a wing - in this case, you'll need to use a single tank adapter in order to use that particular combination of plate + wing.

Also, subtle differences like the "depth" of the channel down the center of the plate may make it such that one plate fits the bolts on a set of doubles, but does not have enough clearance to fit a different set.

 

[TSandM]

It tends to be more of a problem with single tank setups than with doubles. If you are using cambands that thread through the backplate, the slots may or may not line up with the holes in the wing for the bands. If you are using an STA, you pretty much avoid the problem.

 

[rongoodman]

I ran into an issue trying to pair up a Halcyon plate with an Oxycheq doubles wing. The bottom corners of the plate have a little bit of a bend to the rear, and they were digging into the zipper on the wing. The Oxycheq plates don't have the bent-back corners, and the Halcyon wings have the zipper in a different spot.