More diving equipment advice...

cleanbluesky

cleanbluesky

cleanbluesky

Soldato
Joined
2 Nov 2004
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Following on from my last thread I have decided to purchase a Buddy Commando TD at the weekend... which will do me fine unless I get to a point where I want to do dual tank dives or whatever (if I want to do this I will just get a wing) but I am now confused about which regulator to get...

I have been recommended Apeks by two people so I am going to go with them... here is a set I might go for... I know that I need an a-Clamp because that is what we use but what are the DINs used for? Also, what is the difference between air ready and nitrox ready? If I get a nitrox one (in case I ever want to dive nitrox) would it be possible to also use it with air?
 
Sleepy said:
Apex user here

Air is nitrox 21 (AKA EAN21) BTW, so Oxygen clean/serviced cylinders can contain it. However filling a O2 clean cylinder from a normal air compressor will invalidate the O2 cleaning of the tank and will require it to be recleaned which costs £ and takes time. so if you do by a clean tank you'll need to fill it from compatible air banks only, which is not much of a problem nowadays but its something you'll need to be aware of and would be covered in a Nitrox course.
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Good post BTW - but doesn't this apply to cylinders only and not regs - is there any disadvantage to getting nitrox regs...

DIN fittings are better than A clamps and most cylinder values are DIN with an screw in insert to enable them to take a clamp. Buy a DIN regs and if its going to be a proble buy an A clamp adaptor.

DIN is better cos it captures the O ring, so even if it extrudes it is still held around he seal minimising gas loss. DIN is better cos its smaller, less chance of catching on something whether on the boat or in the sea. DIN is better cos it is less damaging to the O ring, you'll rarely have to fumble for a spare on a freezing cold rocking boat minutes before slack.
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Okay, we use A-Clamps where I am diving but from what I have read it is better to get DIN...

Are there different types of DIN or would I be covered for almost everything if I get a DIN nitrox regs with adapter?

I have read that DINS are used for higher-pressure cylinders and that using an A-Clamp reg with adapter isn't recommended - I assume that since A-Clamp is lower pressure that using a DIN to a-clamp adapter would be fine...
 
Sleepy said:
Technically it applies to both regs, cylinders, contents gauges, stabs etc. In reality the main issue is cylinder fires which do happen and as its the filler who takes the risk it is only fair to give them clean cylinders which are goiing to be filled with pure O2 under pressure.

As to regs apart from a few titanium regs most are perfectly happy being used to breathe pure O2. Some manufacturs moan about Oring replacement but thats mainly gouging more dosh from you. None of my apex regs have ever been O2 cleaned/serviced and they all have been used by me breathing pure O2 under pressure for long periods of time.
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Okay, it seems you've answered the rest of my questions - but I still dont understand the issue with cleaning -

should a person have seperate sets of equipment for either air or nitrox - or just seperate cylinders using the same regs, jacket etc.... I think you've understand the rationale behind this but I don't quite understand...
 
The_blue said:
apeks here as well, ATX50 2nd stage and atx40 octo.

Couldn't see the point of going higher up the range, just more things to go wrong ;)
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I don't really understand what the extra features are - if someone can explain them I would be grateful...

I just figured that the top of the range would be best for something that would last throughout my diving career...
 
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