Use of Vindicator Knobs...

[CuzzA]

or not.

I'm curious if the the technical diver uses/finds any value in these knobs, not just for primary tank valves, but perhaps isolation valves, stages, bailout or deco tanks?

I understand proper gear/gas checks, but do some find value in the simple ability to visually identify the status of you or a teammates tank?

Why or why not?

*A search in this forum did not return any results. And a board wide search returned mixed results.

 

[Doby45]

Isolator knob is the only one I use it on.

 

[CuzzA]

Isolator knob is the only one I use it on.

Why only the isolation knob?

For the cave diver it would seem the left post would be equally valuable to have it on as a teammate could see a roll off.

 

[Doby45]

You "could" do that but I doubt my partner would notice a roll off even with a vindicator before I would. The isolator is easy as it is for me, not my partner. It is a reminder during filling and pre-dive checks. It is more a reminder that no one has touched my isolator than anything.

 

[rhwestfall]

a plus of using them (on all valves) is their increased size. For me, they are easier to reach as well as manipulate in cold water equipment...

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

I see more and more of these and with everything else being equal I think they are a good idea for any scuba tank.

 

[_Ralph]

or not.

I'm curious if the the technical diver uses/finds any value in these knobs, not just for primary tank valves, but perhaps isolation valves, stages, bailout or deco tanks?

I understand proper gear/gas checks, but do some find value in the simple ability to visually identify the status of you or a teammates tank?

Why or why not?

*A search in this forum did not return any results. And a board wide search returned mixed results.

Nope. (They aren't a BAD idea, but not required. If my tanks came with them, I'd use them, but I wouldn't pay extra for it)

You start your dive with a flow check ... and during the dive itself.

I can't spin my head to see my valves, and I know the rest of my team are going to have their valves in the correct position during the dive. If there is an issue (a leak), Its my job to verify that my valves are in the correct position if someone touched them. Same as the rest of my teams job to verify their valves if I touch them during a dive.


But they do have a place, dive charter/rental tanks come to mind, and divers that like to spend money at dive shops.

IMO If a fill operator doesn't know what state a valve is in, or a tech diver, or any diver for that matter, then they need to work on that pronto, as that is kind of a big issue.


_R

 

[tbone1004]

only one I would use them on is the isolator for doubles and that's more as an idiot light during filling than anything else since I will isolate my tanks once I get out of the water. No reason to have them on the other valves imho. If diving dry, you'll know if you had a roll off fairly quickly, if wet, it may take a bit, but in an OOA you'll know pretty darn quick.

no downside to them as while they are technically a more complicated piece of equipment, it isn't anything that is going to inhibit your ability to open and close the valve if it fails, since the color is just a screw outside of the valve, but I'm not going to spend $16/valve to upgrade to them

 

[CuzzA]

Thanks for the replies. I do dive with a wrist mirror which allows me to see behind me. I started doing that because I often dive "same ocean" with others and wanted the ability to do my own bubble checks and/or diagnose any problems (entanglement, etc.) behind me.

I have acquired a number of tanks that have yoke valves and am converting everything to DIN and some of these tanks will be used for doubles so while I'm at it I'm considering just throwing a few more dollars toward the valves and putting the vindicators on them since I'm already replacing these valves. So while I don't like the idea of just throwing away good money, albeit not a lot, I wanted to hear if anyone finds value or uses them at this level of diving or if there were concerns about the added complexity of the knob that could render a valve inoperable, however unlikely.

 

[tbone1004]

I don't believe they can render the valve inoperable based on the one that I disassembled.

If you are replacing everything, I would probably spend the money on the crossbar if you don't do your own filling, but other than that, I wouldn't spend the money