Manifolds: differences between manufacturers

[2airishuman]

I'm comparing the overall costs for a tank+pony setup to twin LP50s.

There is wide variation in the price of manifolds, with discount house-brand ones being sold new for $100 up to more than 2x that for Thermo or Dive Rite. And then Blue Steel and HOG somewhere in between.

Is there any substantive difference in quality or parts availability?

 

[runsongas]

the dgx manifolds work pretty well and the parts are easy to get. i think the sea elite manifolds are from the same oem too.

 

[decompression]

I have a few of the DGX manifolds.....solid performer, can't beat the price.


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[tbone1004]

they're all basically the same. Best way to buy doubles though is to buy them used, but LP50's are impossible to find. Best way to get them is here
Low Pressure 50 Dubs Package - Dive Right in Scuba

though if you're spending money for new, the HP100s would be a better overall deal. LP50's are just irritatingly small enough where you can't do two dives in a day if your buddies are using anything bigger than al80's, ESPECIALLY if you can't get cave fills. They hold 70cf with cave fills which is close enough to AL80's, but if you are stuck at working pressure or even at 3k where they hold 58cf, they're just too small for multiple dives a day without getting fills.

 

[NAM001]

There are 2 things I see in the various models .
1st tall or short profile valve. The high ones are about 1 inch taller than the low. easier to reach valves
2nd I have always loved thermo. they open slowly compares to other manufacturers. thermo is like (don't quote me) 3 turns to get the flow on what 1/4 turn on a dive rite valve will do. Preticularly nice for gas sampling. I also like the valves like dive rite and thermo that use the o-ring that is a fat one (like the ones on your regs). I think oms has the ones that are really skinny rings, and have the little dent at the oring seat for inserting a pick to remove the ring. Not all fill whips seat to them.
I use the dgx tall valves. I like the additional height for valve operation but also it raises the valve and reg a bit higher to give a little more room for the wing fill tube if it is center mounted. tall vaLVES to make it easier to reach the valve. Especially if you are sporting shorter tanks like lp95's.

 

[2airishuman]

they're all basically the same. Best way to buy doubles though is to buy them used, but LP50's are impossible to find. Best way to get them is here
Low Pressure 50 Dubs Package - Dive Right in Scuba

though if you're spending money for new, the HP100s would be a better overall deal. LP50's are just irritatingly small enough where you can't do two dives in a day if your buddies are using anything bigger than al80's, ESPECIALLY if you can't get cave fills. They hold 70cf with cave fills which is close enough to AL80's, but if you are stuck at working pressure or even at 3k where they hold 58cf, they're just too small for multiple dives a day without getting fills.

In my area there aren't any good deals on used doubles. There are some but sellers are asking for top dollar.

In the long run I'll end up with a set of larger doubles, also, for Lake Superior wrecks, because of the temperature and depth, but I don't want a set of big doubles for less demanding dives. Locally for me essentially all the dives except the Lake Superior wrecks are shore dives, so I could go back to the car between dives and transfill from whatever other tanks I have at hand. Or I may just pay the money for a second set of LP50s at some point.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I can't imagine using double 50 tanks for normal dives. The cost of a manifold, perpetual costs for hydro and VIP and some (dick) dive shops may charge you double for filling the twin baby tanks. they may also be an issue on charter boats with regard to stowage of these tanks. Bringing 2 sets of doubles might be very unwelcome.

Maybe if you are rich and cost does not matter.. but a 100 or 120 or even larger steel tank is what I would buy. I have one of those 3500 psi 149 faber tanks.. It is heavy, but manageable for me and it provides a lot of air.

35 years ago I used to dive sometimes with double 71.2 steels, but now a single tank (and pony) is all I need - even for dives that exceed recreational depths.

Oh yeah... I got a VERY nice pair of 53 cu-ft aluminum Catalina tanks.. Out of hydro - perfect condition... I would love to get rid of them if you are silly enough to want doubles..