Advice on new twinset please

[Narked@50]

Hi Everybody

I have been putting together a list of items for a twinset and am pretty much there on what I want. I know what I choose will not suit everyone but then we are all different, right?

This is what I am thinking of just for background info. as I have a few questions based on the WHYS and WHY NOTS rather than the kit itself.

Dive Rite Rec Wing
Transpac II harness, XL with crotch strap and stabilising plates for twins
Dive Rite weight system 32 T2128 (twin pouch)
Twin Faber 12L cylinders, O2 clean and stickered
MDE valves and MDE isolation manifold, plastic blanking plugs for valves
Stainless twining bands, (not custom divers) with appropriate bolts/wing nuts
Apeks ATX200 DIN with 2m hose (RHS)
Suit hose, ND type fitting (RHS)
Oceanic or ND Pearl Twin consol, pressure + compass (RHS)
Apeks DS4 DIN + ATX40 octopus, yellow (LHS)
BCD hose to fit wing (LHS)
Oceanic or ND Pearl Twin consol, pressure + depth (LHS)

Questions:

1. Do any "barrel" type manifolds fit the MDE valves?

2. I was going for two sets of gauges for redundancy and to spread the instruments. Comments??

3. Is there any problem with the routing for the DS4/ATX off the left cylinder?

4. Is having an "octopus" length and coloured hose on the LHS DS4/ATX a good or bad idea?

Just as a side line of info, I have had a few quotes back for the above and another few bits of kit I want. So far, Kent Diving have been the cheapest and both Divers warehouse and Mikes have been the most expensive, the later by several hundred pounds!!

Thanks for input, I hope to get this lot in the next week or so unless you lot put me off!

James

[Padowan]

Originally Posted by narkedat50

1. Do any "barrel" type manifolds fit the MDE valves?

The MDE manifold centre section uses face o-rings and needs to be matched to the valves.

Originally Posted by narkedat50

2. I was going for two sets of gauges for redundancy and to spread the instruments. Comments??

Seems excessive to me. I only have 1 SPG on the post that I breathe off primarily, even though I dive with the manifold shut. If anything goes t*ts up, the you're bailing anyway.

Originally Posted by narkedat50

3. Is there any problem with the routing for the DS4/ATX off the left cylinder?

It depends really on your total hose routing. I have ATX50's (DST) on both sides and run on the left post my drysuit inflator and backup 2nd stage runs behind my neck round to the front on a necklace. The right post has the long hose hogarthian style, the single SPG and the wing inflator across behind neck. This is "almost" DIR, except for the SPG on the wrong side, and I have no problem with this routing. The DS4's allow for the same routing in a smaller package, and I would go for 2 of these instead of the ATX200 - you'll save money too..

Originally Posted by narkedat50

4. Is having an "octopus" length and coloured hose on the LHS DS4/ATX a good or bad idea?

Again, it depends - if you're running a long hose, then this is the one you're most likely to want to donate, so why confuse the issue by attracting attention to what is essentially YOUR backup reg? Mine's standard length and black.

Originally Posted by narkedat50

Thanks for input, I hope to get this lot in the next week or so unless you lot put me off!

No problem, hope it helps..