Quote:
Originally Posted by in_cavediver
Quote:
Originally Posted by ian
Yoke. It's more standard in US for rentals/boats/etc.
DIN is a European thing! It stands for Deutsches Institut für Normung, which means German Institute for Standardization. It is an agency much like our own ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials). They both develope standards for testing and analysis of industrias processes and materials.
There is a mistique about German engineering that it is far superior to anything else anyone else in the world has to offer. At one time, that was actually quite true. However, the concept was built heavily upon the idea that if 1/2" plate steel was good, 3/4" was better and 1" was even better. In other words: overkill. Rigidity and overstrength are NOT always good ore even desirable!
The DIN valve IS stronger because there is little or no play in the fastened valve parts. The threads incontact with each other are quite strong.
The yoke connection can flex. However, unless there is a catastrophic failure of the metal in the yoke band, it is NOT going to rupture.
In BOTH cases, (YES, BOTH CASES) the O-ring is captured in the joint. Look at where the O-ring is seated in BOTH styles to see that this IS true! The difference is that the DIN valve cannot flex around the O-ring while the yoke style can, IF the valve is not connected properly.
The yoke style valve is more than adequate for the task at hand. The yoke style valve is inherantly stronger, but only marginally so and the added strenght is not merited or needed.
In my opinion, if there is an advantage of the DIN system over the yoke system, it is due to the more "rookie-safe" nature of the DIN threaded system. In other words, it is harder to screw up the DIN connection than it is the yoke connection. However, I have seen a few who have managed to cross thread the DIN valve, rendering it completly useless!
Go with what you have, but remember that there are yoke-to-DIN converters but no DIN-to-yoke converters (that I am aware of).
BTW - my reg and tank are all yoke...
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I disagree on a couple things. First, DIN is superior to yoke in the capture of the o-ring. It is truly captured in behind the threaded portion and is in non movable area. The Yoke o-ring, while technically captured (compression seal in a o-ring groove) still is in a moveable area. A blow to the 1st stage can allow the compressed surface to move and the o-ring to extrude. Not common but possible. This is the reason many/most tec divers use DIN.
Second, Thermo makes some great yoke/din convertable valves in 200bar (I have 4 of them on my stages). Included is a din plug with a standard yoke o-ring that inserts with a hex key. IE, yoke/din convertable tank. Use what you need.
That said, if you have a yoke reg and a non-convertable din tank - your screwed. Din reg - with din/yoke converter works fine on yoke tank. |
I disagree as well. DIN is the superior connection. In addition to the points above, it comes down to o-ring exposure. Tanks are considered very hardy and are flung around wiht abandon, while regulators get handled very carefully by comparison. In addition, you pretty much HAVE to take care of the open end of your 1st stage, or you'll ruin it in no time. Tanks are often left out in the elements, roll around hitting each other, have gear piled on them, etc... in short, they're so strong, no one gives them a second thought. The part that's NOT strong, however, is the little o-ring in the valve that taking all sorts of abuse (especially when tanks are stored outside... every common in places).
By moving the relatively fragile o-ring to a place where it receives better care, you are far more likely to end up with a good o-ring than you are with a yoke valve. The fact that o-ring on a DIN reg is thicker and beefier only helps matters. It's also a lot easier to change without a pick or tools, in the rare event that it actually needs changing.
And for the record, I would consider the DIN institute to be a closer match (in the US) to ANSI and ISO than ASTM. It's a Standards-setting body more than a materials testing body.
08-26-2007, 09:11 PM
DIN or YOKE and why?
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