Which side should the Regulator be on?

[Gary miyakawa]

We are swapping our regulators from Yoke to DIN (since we are diving with HP Steel). While converting them over, I was noticing that if I rotate the take 180 degrees (with Air Valve on the right hand side), the actual 1st stage is now in the "back" of the tank (and farther from my head).. This seems like a better way (to keep from getting headaches).

I've looked around and can't find a "reason" from the valve to be on the left other than, that's just how it's done...

Is there any "technical/safety" reason for not doing this ?

Thanks for the comments (and I'm sure, opinions)..

Gary M

 

[tursiops]

ALL the hoses need to be longer, and there is more chance for entanglement. Your description makes no sense, by the way. You've got your left and right mixed up, unless you are describing it as if you were in front of the tank looking at the tank. Only then can the valve be on the right. right and Left are usually expressed from the point of view of the diver, not someone looking at the diver from in front of them.

 

[tr3a]

We are swapping our regulators from Yoke to DIN (since we are diving with HP Steel). While converting them over, I was noticing that if I rotate the take 180 degrees (with Air Valve on the right hand side), the actual 1st stage is now in the "back" of the tank (and farther from my head).. This seems like a better way (to keep from getting headaches).

I've looked around and can't find a "reason" from the valve to be on the left other than, that's just how it's done...

Is there any "technical/safety" reason for not doing this ?

Thanks for the comments (and I'm sure, opinions)..

Gary M

I seem to remember seeing photos of divers wearing original CG45's (taken in 1940s I think).
The regulator's were were on back side of tank with yoke screw facing the back of the divers head.

 

[rx7diver]

We are swapping our regulators from Yoke to DIN (since we are diving with HP Steel). While converting them over, I was noticing that if I rotate the take 180 degrees (with Air Valve on the right hand side), the actual 1st stage is now in the "back" of the tank (and farther from my head).. This seems like a better way (to keep from getting headaches).

I've looked around and can't find a "reason" from the valve to be on the left other than, that's just how it's done...

Is there any "technical/safety" reason for not doing this ?

Thanks for the comments (and I'm sure, opinions)..

Gary M

If the first stage is closer to your back, it is more protected (from impact and from getting tangled up in something).

If you are getting headaches (caused by having your regulator or valve striking the back of your head, then your cylinder needs to be lower on your back. And turret turned down helps with this, too.

rx7diver

 

[CT-Rich]

Theoretically, you could move everything around as you described, but your 1st stage is now extend back out behind by several inches, along with the hoses, creating extra opportunities to snag or whatever.

A more practical concern is that if you are on a boat and they swap your tank for you, they will f- it up for you. And most divers worth diving with will not go near you.

 

[Gary miyakawa]

Thanks for the comments so far!... The entanglement issue I would worry about if we were Wreck/Cave divers. We are predominantly muck divers so there is much less opportunity for catching on something. We are going to give it a try to see how it works for us. Easy to flip it back around if we don't get any benefit from it.

Thanks for the comments!

Gary M

 

[tursiops]

I always enjoy posters who ask for comments and advice and then ignore it.

 

[Gary miyakawa]

Thank you for your opinion.

 

[Damselfish]

If I'm reading this correctly I think doing this increases the odds someone will turn the air off when they meant to turn it on. I mean, it's one of the few things pretty much everyone agrees on why muck it up? I'd look at other ways of solving the problem. (I get the problem - I drop my tank lower.)

 

[tursiops]

Thank you for your opinion.

Please don't confuse facts and opinions. Where did I express an opinion?