Equipment Questions

[littlejohn]

Did a search and didn't find anything so her goes

DIN vs Yoak setups, Pro's - cons? and if one is better then the other why are there two?

Why are so many cave divers using LP tanks?

 

[LiteHedded]

cavers use the lp's because they can be overfilled

 

[scarefaceDM]

I googled - uk.rec.scuba : UKRS Dives
DIN vs. Yoke Valves [Archive] - ScubaBoard
gue.com/Equipment/Config/index.html
DIN vs. Yoke - ScubaToys Diving Forum
DIN VS. Yoke (yeah yeah) - DIR Explorers

What is a Yoke Fitting?
The yoke fitting is the 'normal' method of fitting a regulator to a cylinder valve. As well as being known as a "yoke" fitting the same system is often called an "A-Clamp" or sometimes an "international" fitting. This system is well tried and tested, it does work, but is being slowly replaced by the superior DIN fitting.

What is a DIN Fitting?
The regulator part, A DIN fitting is a screw fitting, simple as that. Instead of the regulator clamping onto the outside of the the cylinder valve, it screws into it.

Why Use One?
There are two main reasons for using DIN fittings -

1- They are safer, the 'O' ring is trapped inside the fitting and it is very difficult for it to squeeze out.
2- It is neater and more streamlined, there is not a large screw knob sitting on top of your cylinder waiting to catch on bits of rope etc.

The vast majority of the technical divers use them with their twin sets and stage cylinders, quite simply they are a better design of regulator fitting. But you don't need to be a technical diver to benefit, more and more recreational divers are using DIN fittings.

The only problem with a DIN regulator is what happens on holiday when you are given an A-Clamp cylinder? That is not a problem, just an inconvenience. You would need to bring a yolk adapter to use your DIN regs and vis-versa.

 

[ToddK]

Just to elaborate on what scarefaceDM said, most rental tanks (at least in the areas that I dive), are setup for Yokes.

If you have a DIN regulator, but are faced with tank valves designed for yokes, you need a DIN to Yoke adapter, which typically goes for $40-50, and just screws on to the DIN threads. This provides a yoke to attach to the tank with.

All of my regs are DIN, and then I just keep a couple adapters for attaching to rental tanks. I think the DIN is a cleaner way of attaching, and gives one less place for kelp or other entanglements to catch on. At least with scubapro regs, you can buy a DIN knob (again, for about $40-50), and convert your yoke reg to a DIN (typically requires a diveshop to do this, unless you are into working on your own regs).

 

[Pirate Dave]

almost all of europe uses DIN valves!

its jsut the diving society here that doesnt use them. i personally dive DIN and have 2 HP steel 110 with a DIN valve on it but a yoke adapter that can be screwed in or out (out for me and in for my friends with yoke) and a yoke adapter so i can borrow my friends tanks and use my own reg. so really im completely universal but dive DIN whenever i can

get a DIN reg the first time and get a adapter for your tanks or get new tanks ; )

all of my friends absolutely love my system after they see it because alot of new divers have never even seen a DIN first stage before and then after i explain how i can use my reg on YOKE tanks as well and have people use my tanks with YOKE also. theyre speechless.

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

The yoke fitting is the 'normal' method of fitting a regulator to a cylinder valve. As well as being known as a "yoke" fitting the same system is often called an "A-Clamp" or sometimes an "international" fitting. This system is well tried and tested, it does work, but is being slowly replaced by the superior DIN fitting.

...

The only problem with a DIN regulator is what happens on holiday when you are given an A-Clamp cylinder? That is not a problem, just an inconvenience. You would need to bring a yolk adapter to use your DIN regs and vis-versa.

I would need to see some worldwide sales figures before I would believe DIN is slowly replacing yoke, and I don't mean I think it's happening faster.

Where does most diving happen? In warm water vacation locations? Where does most dive gear get purchased? In warm water vacation locations? (training gear and rental gear)

Most new divers buy gear either used by or sold by the instructors and dive shop they are certified by. What type of gear do most dive instructors and dive shops use or sell?

For recreational diving, this is regional IMHO. In Europe most recreational divers may be using DIN, that's what everyone says (I've never been there).

In my months in the Florida Keys, where a great majority of US recreational divers dive, yoke was just as prevalent as I see it here in Hawaii; 99.9%. Once in a couple blue moons someone is asking for DIN tanks or adapters, but I see significantly more European vacation divers with yoke gear.

In tech diving DIN is more popular, but my half way to cave training was completed with a Y-valve and two yoke regs, same as my training buddies gear. (instructor was manifold/DIN/doubles of course)

Not saying your wrong, I just need to see some sales data to believe DIN is replacing yoke!

 

[scarefaceDM]

I did not write that text..it comes from one of the links I provided for the OP. Since he did ask and claimed to not have found any info.
take a minute and read the links provided..

I did dive in France. DIN was there choice...good thing I had a conversion kit with me...saved on rental of a reg from an unreliable source.

I would need to see some worldwide sales figures before I would believe DIN is slowly replacing yoke, and I don't mean I think it's happening faster.

Where does most diving happen? In warm water vacation locations? Where does most dive gear get purchased? In warm water vacation locations? (training gear and rental gear)

Most new divers buy gear either used by or sold by the instructors and dive shop they are certified by. What type of gear do most dive instructors and dive shops use or sell?

For recreational diving, this is regional IMHO. In Europe most recreational divers may be using DIN, that's what everyone says (I've never been there).

In my months in the Florida Keys, where a great majority of US recreational divers dive, yoke was just as prevalent as I see it here in Hawaii; 99.9%. Once in a couple blue moons someone is asking for DIN tanks or adapters, but I see significantly more European vacation divers with yoke gear.

In tech diving DIN is more popular, but my half way to cave training was completed with a Y-valve and two yoke regs, same as my training buddies gear. (instructor was manifold/DIN/doubles of course)

Not saying your wrong, I just need to see some sales data to believe DIN is replacing yoke!

 

[oceancrest67]

I use DIN regs for my LP 104's for technical diving. I like the streamlining and secure fitting. I use a yoke set up for my recreational rig.

DIN stands for Deutsches Institut fur Normung.

Here is quote from Dive Rite Express:

The Deutsches Institut Für Normung (DIN) is a German standards setting organization similar to our American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Compressed Gas Association (CGA). DIN 477 is a specification that recommends cylinder valve outlet and connector designs for specific types of gases and pressures based upon safety considerations. These various designs have deliberate incompatibilities to preclude the possibility of errors when handling different types of compressed gases at differing working pressures. The two valve outlets and connectors of interest for divers are the DIN 477 No. 13 and the DIN 477 No. 56 (formerly No. 50), both designated for use with compressed air. The DIN 477 valve and regulator fittings are most widely used outside the U.S. The regulator first stage DIN connector is a male screw type, and instead of clamping on to the outside of the valve as does the yoke, it screws directly into the female DIN outlet of the valve. The sealing O-ring is held in the end of the regulator connector rather than in the face of the outlet. The DIN 477 system, with it's captured o-ring design, has proven to be very reliable for use with SCUBA.

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

Where you dive and how you dive should be taken into consideration for any gear purchase. For recreational vacation diving most tanks in the world are yoke, and so most first stages made/sold are yoke. If you plan to be a technical diver, DIN is way more popular but yoke is now used on more HP tanks than in the past. I have only seen a few manifolds in Hawaii but they have nearly all been yoke. If the Red Sea has plenty of yoke tanks DIN may actually be losing market share, even if it is a superior design.