M26

[Jas_H32]

Can someone help,

I am sure this question has been asked before but, I am looking to get a new set of 12l twins for nitrox is it worth getting the new M26 valve or will we be ok on the old valves.

Thanks

[42]

Can someone help,

I am sure this question has been asked before but, I am looking to get a new set of 12l twins for nitrox is it worth getting the new M26 valve or will we be ok on the old valves.

I've found that a few fill stations have had trouble with the M26 valve as they don't have the whips or converters in yet, as its unlikely some of them have been asked to fill M26. If you have a problem you can buy M26 to Din converters. I use them on my RB as it came supplied with M26 1st stage and valve in the cylinder.

[19696]

Depends whether you have M26 regs and whether you want them to fit.

AFIUI, most dive centres have not switched, neither have most divers.

[Fart Mersho]

Depends whether you have M26 regs and whether you want them to fit.

AFIUI, most dive centres have not switched, neither have most divers.

Is there a general consensus of rebellion amongst the community that means it's not going to be worth switching? I'm not hijacking your thread jason, just I'll be in the market for twins after xmas...

AFAIBT, the m26 ones are for O2 clean? can you have m26 on non-o2 clean cyls, or would every hydro, visual, etc HAVE to be o2 clean? and the same for the regs? can you have dirty regs with an m26 fitting?

[Jas_H32]

my thinking was that they cant expect the whole diving community to change overnight so maybe the servicers will have to change the valve over when the cylinders are serviced. Therefore having a phased changeover which should give us a changeover of 5 years.

[Fart Mersho]

my thinking was that they cant expect the whole diving community to change overnight so maybe the servicers will have to change the valve over when the cylinders are serviced. Therefore having a phased changeover which should give us a changeover of 5 years.

sounds sensible... how much would a valve change cost of part of a test? do you have to change the whole manifold, or does it break down? You've still got the issue of having to fork out for a load of new regs too!

[Jas_H32]

Yeah it is always going to hit us in the pocket but if that happens in a few years time i don't mind too much.

[chrisch]

my thinking was that they cant expect the whole diving community to change overnight so maybe the servicers will have to change the valve over when the cylinders are serviced. Therefore having a phased changeover which should give us a changeover of 5 years.

The phased changeover has finished. The controversy was at the end of it.

The fact virtually no-one has any M26 kit at all should answer your original question.

Chris

[Fart Mersho]

The phased changeover has finished. The controversy was at the end of it.

The fact virtually no-one has any M26 kit at all should answer your original question.

Chris

lol... furry muff...

is it only a problem in other EU countries then, or at popular holiday destinations?

[11431]

Do a search on the forum, you'll find plenty of other discussions on it.

Synopsis;

It's an EU recommedation, not a regulation
UK HSE has chosen to take it on advisory (i.e. it's not enforced, it's not law)
Some EU countries (e.g France) have complied, many haven't
If you buy O2 clean gear, e.g O2 regs, O2 cylinders with rebreathers, they'll llikely ship with M26 (for regs, simply buy non O2 ready regs and get them O2 cleaned)
Most UK divers think it's pants and are showing it the disdain it deserves. Having different valves for O2 rich and standard air provides absolutely no benefit or safety assurance to us as divers, or to filling stations. Arguably, having differing regs and valves reduces your options on a deco dive, i.e. if a reg failed you wouldn't be able to swap out other regs on your system

Conclusion, don't support it! Buy standard regs and standard valves, give M26 the big finger.