Question about HP Steel

[creggur]

I think I've decided when the time comes to go with steel tanks.. The size of the HP80, and HP100 are perfect for my wife and me respectively..

I like the boyouncy characteristics, and the idea of the tank lasting forever with proper care. I feel the increased $$ is justified for these reasons..

My question is do yoke valves work at the 3442 pressure, or will I be looking at having to switch to DIN?

Also is it difficult to get a good fill to that pressure?

[mm_dm]

I used yoke for at least a year on mine before I switched to DIN. You'll be fine with the yoke setup and you can change it out later (after you get over how much you spent on the tanks). I never have a problem getting a full fill from a dive shop, but some dive boats and on-site fill stations will only fill to 3000psi. Not a big deal IMHO.

I would carry some spare o-rings for your tanks. Some fill stations really crank down hard and nick the ring. I had more o-rings nicked on fills than I could ever destroy on my own

[rubberduck]

I just purchased a new HP100 and it came with a yoke/din valve. It basically has an insert that is used for yoke regs. Remove the insert and your ready for din diving. You get the best of both worlds.

I have had no problems with a good fill but I do usually drop my tank off and pick it up later.

[mike_s]

Originally Posted by creggur

..

My question is do yoke valves work at the 3442 pressure, or will I be looking at having to switch to DIN?

Also is it difficult to get a good fill to that pressure?

All the 3442 tanks are yoke compatible with any yoke made in the last 10 years or so. Look at your yoke and it most likely will have a pressure rating stamped on it. I think mine is 4000psi.

Pretty much the only new HP Steels you can buy right now are the Faber (aka Blue Steel) and the Worthingtons.

Unless they ordered it with an odd valve, the Worthington HP tanks come with the Thermo Pro Valve. it's a DIN/Yoke convertible. You use an allen wrench to remove a yoke insert to use the DIN fitting.

The Faber tanks comes with a San-o-sub convertible DIN/Yoke valve that the inserts removes the same way.



With either of these configurations, you'll be fine with your yoke. However, once you go DIN, you'll never want to go back.

[mwhities]

Originally Posted by mike_s

With either of these configurations, you'll be fine with your yoke. However, once you go DIN, you'll never want to go back.

I concur.

Michael

[MEL-DC Diver]

If you already have yoke regs, stick with the yoke. No sense changing your entire configuration based on 1 part of it. That being said, there are a few big DIN users on this board and that is why you hear so much about DIN - most everyone uses Yoke. You will hear this likened to VHS and BETA. Yes Beta was superior, but VHS won out and in the end you are still watching the movie. Blown O-rings is also spoken about. It happens in Yoke configurations, but not nearly as often as you would be led to believe - and actually changing one takes about 2 seconds. BFD, in my opionion. Keep some spares in your dive bag. Note also that the Thermo/Convertible valve can handle both connections, so your tank is really not going to be the deciding factor. See how you go for now and if you really want to change it out you can always fit out your regs later.

As for fills... Always check the pressure when you pick them up and have 'em top them off if low. If getting a hot fill, look for 100-200 lbs overpressure.

[creggur]

Thanks for the info guy's. Exactly what I needed to know...

[cgvmer]

Yoke are probably the most common in the US and Carib. DIN is more common in Europe. DIN is more flexible as you can convert DIN to YOKE, but I have not seen a conversion of YOKE to DIN.

For one companies's take on this read here:http://www.diveriteexpress.com/library/tanks.shtml

[JugglingMonkeys]

nice page!

it says, "The HP100 is the most popular steel tank choosen by sport divers."

do you agree?

[MEL-DC Diver]

Originally Posted by cgvmer

Yoke are probably the most common in the US and Carib. DIN is more common in Europe. DIN is more flexible as you can convert DIN to YOKE, but I have not seen a conversion of YOKE to DIN.

For one companies's take on this read here:http://www.diveriteexpress.com/library/tanks.shtml

In my experience, DIN is only more common in Europe. Everywhere else (not just US/Caribbean) - Yoke. Unless you plan on doing a lot of European diving, not a deciding factor.