Scuba Gear tips by Scuba.com - Yoke vs. DIN Valve

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Scuba Gear tips by Scuba.com demostrates the difference between a Yoke (K-Valve) and DIN Valve on a tank and how to attach your regulator hose.

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Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Scuba
• Gear
• Yoke
• K-Valve
• DIN
• Tank
• Regulator

[antoniscon007]

Both of the valves ARE K-valves!!!!

one is YOKE K-valve and the other is DIN K-valve...

[scubacom]

@antoniscon007 Technically yes, but the DIN valve is not considered nor referred to in the industry as such.

[k956upg]

& for the rest of the world that isnt in america dont forget k valve is A clamp.

but thats not covered.

I removed the last of my a clamps on my twinset & lift bottles because i got tangled up on solo dives & had to streamline everything so noticed A clamp Y or K is bulkier & not as strong.

din is the future & becoming more common & more compact for lift bags dsmbs etc that have intergrated bottles.

i find there a tiny bit harder to use though.

[scubacom]

@k956upg Well, that's not entirely correct. By using it's name "K Valve" and describing it as a Yoke valve it is pretty commonly known to be a "clamp" as you describe. I've been all over the world during the last 30 years of diving and have never met anybody who didn't recognise a K valve.

While DIN valves are a more streamlined and more secure method of attaching your 1st stage to your tank, there is very liitle chance of the K Valve going away in the future.

[scubacom]

@hibob841 That isn't entirely true. High pressure fills are not restricted in the US. Just about every dive compressor sold will fill high pressure tanks. For instance we offer a Hoop Wrap tank from XS Scuba. They are just not popular. DOT does mandate the DIN valve on scuba cylinders 3500psi and above. The reason everyone is going to 3442 is convenience. The most common regulator/valve being yoke/"K" means you can still get an "HP" tank and still use the most common configuration of gear.

[hibob841]

@flspy Because "K" valves work fine for most recreational divers. Also, Americans can't get the high-pressure fills that are available to Europeans, because of DOT rules...we can only get 3442 psi/232 BAR fills, regardless of equipment. Since there are now 3442 psi K valves, that advantage of the DIN is moot for us. Not to mention, if you travel in many places you can't rent a DIN tank--so you'll have to bring an adapter. Many shops can't fill DIN without you bringing an adapter, either.

[scubacom]

@flspy Yoke valves came around first mainly because they were the valves that were available at the time. Once established it became the standard in the industry that we still use today. To eliminate the valve would be extremely negative cost wise for many, many people, something the manufacturers like to try to avoid.

[flspy]

I guess the big question is why don't they just make DIN vales? Why two kinds?

[scubacom]

The kind of force it would take to cause a problem or failure on your yoke connection would most likely also cause a problem with your DIN connection. Both connections have been over-tested through the years and found to be more than secure and safe.

[CarMoves]

It makes a difference if you hit it in a cave or wreck.