DGX Nitrox Ready Valves

13 Items

Set Descending Direction
  1. Front View
    DGX Gears Premium Pro Standalone Valve, Right (Typical Side)
    $55.00
  2. Left (Uncommon Side) DGX Pro Valve - Front
    DGX Gears Premium Pro Standalone Valve, Left (Uncommon Side)
    $55.00
  3. Front View
    DGX Gears Premium Modular Valve, Right (Typical Side)
    $75.00
  4. Front View
    DGX Gears Premium Modular Valve, Left (Uncommon Side)
    $75.00
  5. Front View
    DGX Gears Premium Modular Long Neck Valve, Right (Typical Side)
    $75.00
  6. Front View
    DGX Gears Premium Modular Long Neck Valve, Left (Uncommon Side)
    $75.00
  7. Front View
    DGX Gears Premium H-Connector, Fits Right (Typical Side) Modular Valve
    $55.00
  8. Front View
    DGX Gears Premium H-Connector, Fits Left (Uncommon Side) Modular Valve
    $55.00
  9. Front View
    DGX Gears Premium Center Bar w/Isolator Valve
    $75.00
  10. Premium Dual-Outlet Manifold with Isolator
    DGX Gears Premium Dual-Outlet Manifold with Isolator
    $199.00
  11. Premium Dual-Outlet Long Neck Manifold with Isolator
    DGX Gears Premium Dual-Outlet Long Neck Manifold with Isolator
    $199.00
  12. Service Parts for DGX Premium Valves
    Service Kit / Parts - DGX Gears Premium Valves
    Select Part to See Price
  13. DGX Insert 200-BAR DIN to Yoke
    Valve Insert 200-BAR DIN to Yoke, Nitrox Ready
    $5.00
Tek Tip Warning Image WARNING
According to our suppliers, these Nitrox Ready products are compatible with oxygen and factory cleaned for use with compressed gases in excess of 23.5% oxygen. Nonetheless, the 'clean state' of this equipment applies only prior to initial use. Thereafter, periodic inspection and cleaning are a necessity. You must meticulously follow the recommendations of the US Department of Transportation (DOT), Compressed Gas Association (CGA), and other federal/state/local agencies, plus your dive training agency for equipment maintenance, handling, storage, labeling, filling, transport and use of compressed gases. Oxygen-related fires and explosions can result in serious injury or death. Ultimately, you must make the final decision to assume all risks associated with the use of any compressed gases, including those in excess of 23.5% oxygen.

Lubrication and SCUBA Valve Installation

In general purpose applications, the lubrication of joining threads will reduce galvanic action between dissimilar metals and when joining tapered threads is useful to reduce galling. This is especially true when the very tight join alone is responsible for providing a seal. Aluminum metal is notable for it's susceptibility to galling. Lubrication of O-rings helps protect against wear, abrasion, pinching, or cutting. As a result, conventional wisdom and "common sense" says to always lubricate threads and O-rings. However, the benefit of using lubrication during installation of valves in SCUBA cylinders is debatable.

In our own research and experience we can't find any objective basis for lubrication with properly maintained SCUBA tanks where the valve is removed and O-ring seal replaced on the annual VIP maintenance schedule recommended by our industry. SCUBA valves already have a relatively low potential for galvanic action due to the inherent nature of their materials. Modern SCUBA valve inlet threads are straight, not tapered, and galling (even in aluminum cylinders) is not a concern unless the valve is improperly over-tightened into the cylinder neck. The threads are not intended to provide a seal in this application; the high-pressure seal is provided by a captured O-ring. The unique design of the captured O-ring seal between the SCUBA valve and cylinder neck will not damage the O-ring during assembly, nor is it subject to wear. While oxygen compatible lubrication of the neck threads and O-ring in SCUBA valves and cylinders is harmless when done correctly and under ideal conditions, it also has no clear benefit.

Generic cylinder and valve maintenance guides rarely address the specific nature of the SCUBA industry, especially in regards to gases other than air. Since the valve, O-ring, cylinder and lubricant manufacturers in any assembled SCUBA tank are all different, it's commonplace to find conflicting recommendations. Even gas handling standards and best practices regarding use of lubricant have conflicting recommendations. Our suppliers do agree that nearly all installation, sealing and removal problems are caused by improper technique and over-tightening the valve into the cylinder, as well as often the excessive use of lubricant but very rarely the absence of lubricant. A few local dive shops intentionally avoid all lubricant, some use it very sparingly and many others use it to excess. The bottom line is that lubrication use in this SCUBA application seems to mostly be a matter of opinion derived from parsing conflicting standards and confusing recommendations.

Any lubrication, even oxygen compatible lubrication, is typically not considered best practice for use with medical oxygen or industrial oxygen. That's because while oxygen compatible lubricants might have higher temperatures of ignition than hydrocarbons, they can still serve as fuel in the kindling chain of an oxygen fire. Any lubricant will attract and retain contaminates, plus there is the significant risk that an incompatible lubricant might be applied. In our opinion, legitimate oxygen safety concerns outweigh the questionable benefits espoused by those recommending lubrication in SCUBA cylinder and valve Nitrox applications.

Prioritizing safety above all other considerations, Dive Gear Express does not recommend using any form of lubricant, including oxygen compatible lubricant, when installing our Nitrox Ready SCUBA valves in oxygen clean cylinders.