What type of valve do you use?

[Tavi]

I use DIN. I take a yoke adapter on trips.

 

[gadget]

I Love my DIN stuff and wish everthing was this way.

Word of warning if you are thinking of switching to DIN or if you already use it.

Most people always carry spare tank o-rings but I know of more than a few people ( myself included) who forget to carry spare DIN regulator orings.

I think it's because all the training we get, reinforces to always check the tank o-ring which revolves around Yoke setups.

Just a point to ponder.

 

[MSilvia]

I've only ever used yoke. What are the advantages of DIN, and why did you switch if you use it? (assuming you started with yoke)

 

[ninja]

Din fittings all the way!!!

They are popular in the rest of the world and europe!! Why are they not totally being used in North America is beyond me.

I'm sure it has to do something with that whole resistance to the METRIC system

Len

 

[Arduous]

DIN’s on all my tanks except for my pony bottles which use yoke.

.................Arduous ...................

 

[ebbtide]

so far it is yokes all the way but i havent had the oppertunity to dive with anything else YET !
but i will beacuse i wanna go with twin tanks .

 

[Lost Yooper]

I still have one tank left to convert to DIN, but all my others are 300DIN.

Mike

 

[msjones]

DIN on all of my tanks--------dive safe

 

[devjr]

When I "inherited" a 3500 psi tank with DIN valve it collected dust in my locker for a couple years. It didn't match up with anything I had but I wanted to try it, so I converted a regulator to DIN. I decided I liked the light weight and trim of the HP tank but didn't like the idea of having a non standard valve. Too much hassle when going on trips with others who may not have DIN, lugging a compressor, and worrying about special adapters which are easy to misplace or forget. I did some consultation with a local dive shop on the ins and outs. The sticking point was the DIN fittings for my compressors. Two of these use custom made yoke type armatures and cannot be adapted to DIN at the fill side. I finally decided to go over to the HP's, and machine standard yoke valves to fit.
This has worked out well. The yoke valve has always been just a bit friendlier. It is easier to clear before attaching to a compressor. It is simple and rugged to the extent that the threads are shielded by the yoke and do not carry water into the valve as does the DIN. The yoke protects the regulator inlet from direct blows. It is quick to change when filling. The yoke is convenient to hang a regulator from, for drying. An underwater strobe light can be attached to a yoke screw. The yoke screw is easier to grip.

The yoke is blamed for O ring blow outs. I hear this on the board but I haven't seen this happen since 1976. My old triple 40 cf aluminum tanks use a Nemrod manifold. The O ring for the valve is the old thick type which essentially acts as a compression washer; Not like today's modern yoke valve which is a metal to metal lockup. However, being old design was not the problem. Although US made O rings would fit the inlet perfectly, they kept pinching and leaking when the reg was pressurized. I found that a metric O ring from a Poseidon parts kit would work on the Spanish valve and I never had any more trouble. Otherwise, for todays yoke valve, I recommend the white "silicone" O ring. They are bulletproof up to 3500 psi.

I think DIN valves are a better idea for people who live in a DIN friendly area or group. The DIN concept seems to have some merit with today's divers who favor multiple connections and regulators, eg cavers. The DIN is just a cleaner setup where a lot of stuff is being hooked up, routed and tied off.

 

[sumguy]

Echoing what some have already said; I use yoke because I rent and travel, but when I buy tanks, I'll be switching to DIN.