TargetTalk

New to me LP50

1. The manual says every 1000 shots or so to lightly grease (acid free silicone) the external adapter o-rings to prolong their life? Is this necessary? I have some silicone plumbing grease, not sure if its acid free but have used it on other things with no problem. Use it or don't bother?

2. Neighbor has a regular aluminum scuba tank filled to 3000psi with a k-valve. I know I need a k->din adapter yoke. I am in Florida by the beach, plenty of dive shops around. Any special kind of k->din adapter required, or will any of them do? Plastic or metal matter? Do I need some kind of regulator?

3. To fill I just basically hook it up, slowly turn scuba valve while keeping an eye on the cylinder gauge, stop before it gets in the red?

4. Is $50 fair price for aluminum scuba tank (average sized i guess) with 2.5 years before next hydrostatic test? externally it looks good.

Thanks!

The K-Valve Yoke->DIN adapter is pretty standard. $40-60 new at most places. I don't think there is such a thing as a plastic version. Mine is a black powder coat and might give the appearance of plastic, but it's metal.

$50 for a tank is a GREAT price (at least here in the desert). Especially with Hydro still 2.5 years away. I paid $80 (talked down from $90) just a couple weeks ago for a tank that needed hydro and visual . Granted it is a gorgeous candy apple red... ;)

Hydro was $20, visual was $20. Fill was $5. You will need a visual every year, if it hasn't been done in a year, plan on it with your first fill.

Oz

Oz-
I went to 2 dive shops today on my lunch hour...like I said I'm by the beach.
They both looked at me like I was nuts.
I didn't mention that it was a yoke, so maybe that's what caused the confusion.
I just said I was looking for a k-valve to din adapter or converter.
(I kind of feel like they just wanted to sell me a new valve or tank...)
Could you point me out to a photo of one?
Thanks

melchloboo wrote:Oz-
Could you point me out to a photo of one?

Our host sells them (about half way down the page).

Actually, yes! I just posted it up in another thread when I was asking about fitting a gauge into my setup. Regardless, the picture has the adapter:



The adapter is used by SCUBA divers who have DIN-based (European) breathing regulators who might vacation where only K-valves are used (e.g. U.S.). It allows them to use their personal DIN regulators on the old style K-valves. I would assume that they would be very popular in your area since there are probably a lot of European tourists SCUBA diving. But you know what happens when you assume...

Oz

Yep, that's what I thought..I saw those at both places!

My mistake was telling them what I wanted it for. Now I see they were trying to hustle me into buying a new tank, valve, or both. Well, there are probably a dozen other shops within a few miles, so I'll easily get one this weekend. I bet these guys probably are used to hustling paint-ballers.... One guy was like, just bring the cylinder each time and we'll fill it...sure...

Its also possible that they scam all the eurpoean tourists that come to lauderdale with a din regulator, they figure if they don't know to ask, then sell them a new tank or valve...who knows...any way i'm venting...

One thing I did learn though is that some DIN valves look like (to the untrained eye) a K-Yoke type but the inner o-ring is actually an insert that can be unscrewed with a hex-style key, and the valve is really a DIN. Or put another way, its really a DIN with a Yoke/K o-ring insert. My neighbor's might actually be that type, I'll have to check, then I may not even need the adapter.

Thanks. I guess we have to stick together against the other hobbyists!

Found the adapter today, no problem.

I asked the dive shop I got it from what the deal with the others was. He says that many shops now consider the practice of putting an adapter on a K valve to make it DIN is unsafe for divers. He said this is very debatable, but that the modern trend is to sell tanks that have DIN valves with removable K-yoke inserts screwed in. So he agreed it was a little of games-playing by the other dive shops trying to get me to buy a new tank or put a new valve on a k-valved tank. Even today on a beautiful saturday none of the shops were crowded at all, so maybe with the economy more shops are playing games.


BTW, at least here in Florida, it costs just a little more than the adapter to have a dedicated DIN valve put on a scuba tank. But I figured the adapter gives me flexibility should I need a new/used tank down the road.

Anyway he sold me the converter. Guess where I'll be taking my tank for refills?!