Converted to DIN, now I have a problem.

[Bubbles-old]

Greetings,

I use a Sherwood Maximus regulator. I recently bought a high pressure steel tank so I also purchased a DIN adapter for my first stage. The problem is that with this adapter the end of the first stage now sticks out much farther than it did before and presses uncomfortably into my back or neck. I am thinking of buying a new, dedicated DIN first stage and one that has the regulator running parallel to the tank and not at a 90 degree angle. A first stage similar to the Viper Tec, or many others. But I really want to keep my second stage because I like it a great deal. I like the swivel, I like the way the bubbles exit, it's comfortable to me, etc. I have not seen a second stage I like as much. Is there any way to buy a first stage only that points up and down, is DIN and would work with my Sherwood second stage? I have to do something and I will get a whole new reg set up if need be but if there is any way I could keep my second stage please tell me how. Thanks for your help.

 

[Rick Murchison]

Conventional wisdom is that you shouldn't mix brands between first and second stages - made for each other and "balanced" for each other and all that... in fact, neither knows what's on the other end of the hose, and with a very few exceptions, all operate at the same intermediate pressure.
Now, finding someone who'll *sell* you a first stage only will be a good trick - and convincing someone to honor the warranty will be a good trick, too.
But the physics doesn't support the policy.
Rick

 

[Merlin]

I have Oceanics with DIN and they stick out less that when I had a yoke on the first stage. But the Oceanics mount "parallel" to the tank.

A few things to try:

1. Change the height of the tank by changing where the tank staps is clamped. Maybe moving it up or down a bit will shift it to a more comfortable position. Although the design of the maximus makes this hard.

2. Have you tried mounting the reg so that it is on the outside, that is, the tank valve is between you and the first stage? The tank would need to rotate as well, of course. Seem like a long shot, but it will move it away from your head. You may need to rearrange hoses, might even need a longer hose in some cases.

I have used ScubaPro second stages with Oceanic first stages without any difficulty or issues. I can't offer any advice for the Maximus though.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

 

[Iguana Don]

Bubbles,

You can also try this..........

Go back to your dealer and have him order you a DIN 1st stage housing. Then have him/her change out the internal components. This would be cheaper than buying a new 1st stage.

Don

 

[SubMariner]

The easiest & most cost effective route is to have the 1st stage on your reg converted to DIN.

I have a Sherwood Blizzard that I had converted to DIN when I decided to go to HP steel. This was 1991... I've never gone back.

When I have to dive with a non-DIN tank, I use a Poseidon adaptor. And they aren't the only company making this piece of equipment.

Good luck,

~SubMariner~

 

[Merlin]

I think the problem is the design of the Maximus. Because of it's orientation with respect to the tank valve, it ends up sticking straight out, rather than up.

http://www.scubadiving.com/gear/13luxregs/images/sherwood.jpg

I'm not sure if the image will come, but follow the link to see what I mean.

 

[SubMariner]

This is what Bubbles said:

"I use a Sherwood Maximus regulator. I recently bought a high pressure steel tank so I also purchased a DIN adapter for my first stage. The problem is that with this adapter the end of the first stage now sticks out much farther than it did before and presses uncomfortably into my back or neck. I am thinking of buying a new, dedicated DIN first stage and one that has the regulator running parallel to the tank and not at a 90 degree angle..."

According to the above Bubbles is using a DIN ADAPTOR to connect from her 1st stage (standard yoke configuration) to the DIN tank, and therefore is having a problem with it sticking into the back/neck. This problem would be solved by converting her 1st stage to a DIN first stage.

~SubMariner~

 

[Bubbles-old]

I checked with Sherwood and they do not offer a true DIN first stage so that rules that out.

I thought about mounting it so that it pokes out the back and swapping all my hoses to the other side but it isn't really the fix I'm looking for.

I talked to the nice folks at Sherwood and they stated that my second stage can be adjusted for use with any intermediate pressure from 120 to 150psi and it comes from the factory set up for 140psi which I've found to be most typical.

The 1st stage I really wanted to get was the Apecs TX100 but you can't buy just the first stage. I did a little looking and found out that the Zeagle Flathead 6 is the identical first stage and you can get it in DIN and all by itself for ~$250. It is identical in every way except for name. So I went with that. I'll let you know how it breathes, I can add the second stage later if I just have to but I think it will be OK. I know that I'll want to dive more often since I will get my comfort back. Thanks again.

 

[Iguana Don]

Bubbles,
Zeagle and Apeks are not the same, they use to be, but as of Jan of 2000, that ceased to be. Zeagle now makes one that looks like the Apeks, but that is where the similarity ends.

Don

Sub Mariner, that's what I said, go to the dealer and have it converted by buying a new housing. But Sherwood doesn't make a true din reg, so that's out

 

[Bubbles-old]

I'm assuming then that the Zeagle is still a quality piece of equipment? I've seen the units side by side and they appear to be identical in every respect, at least on the outside. Thanks for the info.