Nice discussion everyone.
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Of course there must be regional variations. Here in Italy the standard singles are 15 liters, 232 bars, and are equipped with two convertible DIN/INT posts, each with its own independent valve.Reading the standards it doesn't seem to be directly forbidden by the standards to use 2 first stages on a single tank.
I guess single tank with dual outlet is rather rare in the GUE-World so they don't really address it.
Also single tank with dual outlet with two first stages only makes sense when you can close each outlet separately, which is even more rare.
On a side note: Interesting that gue don't fully utilise work sharing on the two first stages in their configuration.
In reality we used to teach this also to students at first level, telling them that two independent valves and two first stages is safer. It was way before the Hogarthian or DIR approaches were established, so I was wondering why these approaches, which are declared to be for better safety, do not explicit mandate, or at least strongly recommend, the usage of this on single cylinders.The Y or H valves are just a by-product of some (European) countries which often impose two first stages for leadership level.
From all I did read in this thread, I see no real drawbacks in using two regs. So why isn't this recommended everywhere? Just for cost? Aren't shops always attempting to convince us to spend more money?
There is something I do not understand, why the hell an octopus is still considered the standard for rec diving?
Thanks, this clarifies the point. But still the number of hoses do not change...For shops that rent gear, the addition of an second 1st stage to the configuration also means more hoses...these combined increases their investment. For divers purchasing gear, it inflates the already relatively high cost of entry to owning a complete set of gear.
One can always argue "but its safer", and one can always counter with "how safe is safe enough?"...
..."Safe enough" is a personal decision.
-Z
Thanks, this clarifies the point. But still the number of hoses do not change...