Manifolds - DGX vs Thermo

[dberry]

Is there any real difference between the DGX ($99) and Thermo ($249) branded manifolds? Other than the price. Both have barrel style o-rings, adjustable 8.5inch center-to-center, 5250 psi burst disks and come with port plugs. Am I missing something?

DGX Premium Dual-Outlet Manifold w/Isolator | Dive Gear Express®

Thermo Pro DIN/K Dual-Outlet Manifold w/Isolator | Dive Gear Express®

-Don

 

[tbone1004]

are apeks regs really any different than hogs? same type of discussion. I would have no problem using the DGX manifold for technical diving

 

[Doby45]

I use the DGX gear and let me tell you it is beefy as hell. I gots no problem spending less.

 

[victorzamora]

Doby, could you tell me where the burst discs are on the DGX valves? My intense, burning love of thermos is due to the location of their burst discs.....it makes it easier to carry big, heavy SM tanks. Which valves do you have? The ones I'm looking at are the long neck modulars.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Is there any real difference between the DGX ($99) and Thermo ($249) branded manifolds? Other than the price. Both have barrel style o-rings, adjustable 8.5inch center-to-center, 5250 psi burst disks and come with port plugs. Am I missing something?

DGX Premium Dual-Outlet Manifold w/Isolator | Dive Gear Express®

That's the manifold I bought recently but have not yet used to assemble my new doubles. I'm glad you posted the question, because I never gave it a second thought before making my choice. Name-brand Thermo for $249 or house-brand DGX for $99 made the decision easy for me.

 

[stuartv]

There's no time limit on the DGX Return Policy. If you get the DGX and decide 2 years from now that it's crap and you should have gotten Thermo, you can return it and get the Thermo.

If there was a question of the DGX being junk that might kill you if it's crap quality, that would be one thing. But, every piece of DGX kit I've tried has been very good quality.

 

[Doby45]

Doby, could you tell me where the burst discs are on the DGX valves? My intense, burning love of thermos is due to the location of their burst discs.....it makes it easier to carry big, heavy SM tanks. Which valves do you have? The ones I'm looking at are the long neck modulars.

I also got the longneck modular and the burst disk is on the side facing away from the opening. When we went down to Florida I took my tanks and my lazy partner kept grabbing my tanks when we had to haul them a good distance, because they are so comfy to tote.

 

[Doby45]

I bought the manifold separately because I was an idiot, shoulda bought the package, but I did get me a vindicator knob for the manifold knob. Very happy with my purchase.

 

[2airishuman]

Is there any real difference between the DGX ($99) and Thermo ($249) branded manifolds? Other than the price.

I have some pieces of each.

The "short-neck" DGX manifold is almost indistinguishable from the Dive Rite manifold in dimensions, layout, and appearance, and uses the same parts.

The Thermo manifold uses a copper sealing ring rather than an O-ring on the packing nut. I prefer the O-ring because it requires less torque to assemble. The Thermo manifold is somewhat taller from the top of the cylinder neck, which I find to be a liability. The threads on the Thermo manifold DIN outlet don't go quite all the way to the bottom, and so it isn't compatible with some cheap transfill whip components I use that work fine in the DGX valves.

Thermo and DGX manifold service parts are interchangeable except for the packing nut seal.

The DGX valves I have purchased new have come with a 3-piece burst disk that is etched with a pressure rating in the same fashion as 1-piece assemblies. I believe this is a poor design, because the whole point of the 1-piece assemblies is that the etched pressure rating can be relied upon since there are no parts to mix up. I have also found the stock burst disc to be difficult to remove, which I've had to do since I use mine on LP cylinders and want the correct burst disc.

 

[divad]

but I did get me a vindicator knob for the manifold knob. Very happy with my purchase.

Are you saying you feel vindicated?