Tank valve - left or right???

[kwinter]

I know this is an old thread that I stumbled across, but I think some things need clarification in case others come looking for info.

1. There is no industry standard for calling valves "left" or "right". Dive Rite uses the method to look at the valve opening and see which side the handwheel is on. Others use the method to dertermine which post it would be. So buying a left modular valve from DR and buying a left modular valve from XS Scuba might give you opposite valves. There is no way to tell without checking the specs or seeing a picture.

2. The designation of 200 bar vs. 300bar valves is only loosely related to pressure. I believe 200 bar valves are actually rated to 232 bar or somewhere in that range. That is the reason newer high pressure tanks are 3442 psi instead of the old 3500. The old PST 7/8 neck HP 3500 tanks required 300 bar valves. These are 2 threads deeper than 200 bar valves, hence the reason that 300 bar valves can not accept a yoke plug.

3. Most yoke regulators can be converted to DIN fairly easily. The cost is probably more like $50-$60 than the earlier $30 quoted. But this gives the ability to use any tank.

4. There are adapters that can be used for diving with a DIN regulator and a yoke tank valve. They are plentiful and fairly inexpensive. However, it seems that the OP mentioned getting an adapter (not a plug) for a DIN tank to attach a yoke regulator. There are such adapters, but they are FILL adapters and are not safe for using while diving. They are intended to allow the filling of a DIN tank (especially a 300 bar valve for which there is no plug) from a yoke whip. It is extremely unsafe to use this while diving.

In summary:
If you have a DIN regulator and yoke adapter, you can use any tank valve.
If you have a 200 bar DIN valve and yoke regulator, you can use a yoke plug and dive.
If you have a 300 bar DIN valve and yoke regulator, you are out of luck. You can get an adapter to fill the tank, but not dive it.
There is virtually no reason to have a 300 bar DIN valve on any tank rated up to 3442 psi. 200 Bar valves will be just fine and can be plugged for yoke.

 

[idive2]

The designation of 200 bar vs. 300bar valves is only loosely related to pressure. I believe 200 bar valves are actually rated to 232 bar or somewhere in that range. That is the reason newer high pressure tanks are 3442 psi instead of the old 3500. The old PST 7/8 neck HP 3500 tanks required 300 bar valves. These are 2 threads deeper than 200 bar valves, hence the reason that 300 bar valves can not accept a yoke plug.

I wonder if a standard yoke would even physically fit over a 300 bar din valve ? If it is not physically possible that would explain why
no one has bothered to make an insert for the deeper threads on the 300 bar valve. If the yoke does fit over I am wondering why
no one has made a deeper insert ?

With regards to valve terminology kinda like saying is it on the left or right side of the street, depends on which way you're going !

 

[kwinter]

I wonder if a standard yoke would even physically fit over a 300 bar din valve ? If it is not physically possible that would explain why
no one has bothered to make an insert for the deeper threads on the 300 bar valve. If the yoke does fit over I am wondering why
no one has made a deeper insert ?

The reason is that the yoke connection itself can not be trusted much higher than 3000 psi. Older yokes were even lower. So putting a yoke reg on a tank with 3500+ could be inviting disaster. The captured o-ring of a DIN connection is much more secure.

 

[RonFrank]

I have dove HP tanks filled to 3500psi with yolk valves without issue. Yolk valves with high pressure tanks must work OK as they use them for rentals in the Keys and at Jupiter. You info is as outdated as this thread!

 

[kwinter]

I have dove HP tanks filled to 3500psi with yolk valves without issue. Yolk valves with high pressure tanks must work OK as they use them for rentals in the Keys and at Jupiter. You info is as outdated as this thread!

First let's clarify something. Unless you are talking about eggs, it has nothing to do with yolk. It's yoke, as in what you put on a team of oxen. Or A-Clamp.

Yoke o-rings get extruded all the time at standard pressures up to 3000 psi. DIN has a captured o-ring to handle higher pressures. Using an A-clamp attachment with 3500 psi is playing with fire IMHO. While you are certainly free to do what you want, it is irresponsible to recommend to others using equipment beyond its stated safety range.

 

[idive2]

Yeah, they do use yoke on the convertible valves which are 3442 psi tanks, so not far off from 3500.
The only extrusions I have had with the yoke have been with deteriorated o-rings. That being said I don't
think I would put a twenty or thirty year old reg on a HP tank. I think the really old regs were smaller yokes
so probably would not fit over a din valve anyway.