Flooded housing PM-1 questions

[Divealpha]

Half through todays dive I discovered water in the housing...camera stopped working. When I opened the housing, there was 2-3 dl water inside....Now, is it possible that water can leak in from the port, or only through the backdoor? Seems there are some water left under the glass in the port...
Had some drops of water inside a week ago, cleaned and lubricated the o-ring, and it was completely dry until today.... How often do you lubricate the o-ring?
Can't turn on the camera, so it may be dead, but, have a spare one at home Guess there will be no photos the last five days of my holiday ... :-(

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[Gdog]

I clean and inspect, and then re-lube prior to each day of diving. If I open the housing, the oring gets checked cleaned and relubed.

 

[gstrek]

Every time I get ready to close the case, I use a flashlight and magnifier to carefully inspect the O-ring and the mated part of the housing - it doesn't take much to cause a flood. If I take the o-ring out to re-lube (every couple days) I inspect the groove and housing, then install the o-ring and do a final inspection before closing the housing up.

If all else fails, I have DAN equipment protection / insurance. Knock on wood, I've only flooded an old Nikonos once and it was a mustache hair (not mine).

 

[Akimbo]

A leak will eventually happen to everyone no matter how careful you are. Install a "smart" vacuum check system so you can detect an air leak before getting in the water. There is lots of info in these links for all housings.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/underwater-photography/469000-nauticam-vacuum-check-system.html

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ol...-w-nauticam-vaccum-leak-test-electronics.html

 

[Divealpha]

Did not have to clean and re-lube the housing for my former camera so often(lumix tz 10), and never had a problem. Stepped up to the Olympus PM1, so it seems I have to be more thorough with it..... I suspect the o-ring might be deformed, so I'll order new ones...

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[John Gulliver]

I presume we are talking about the Olympus PT-EP06 housing, in which case I wonder if the Nauticam vacuum check sytem can be fitted to it and, even if it can, it is doubtful whether it is worth the expense. THe housing has no Electronics, so it is only the camera that is at risk and the E-PM1 is a relatively cheap camera. A new one costs as Little as 120 GBP on e-bay.co.uk and a lightly used one only 85 GBP.

 

[Divealpha]

Yeah, it is cheap, and thats why I have a spare at home.. But, seems I have to buy a new spare... anyway, I'm impressed with the possibilties this small camera has.

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---------- Post added January 29th, 2014 at 03:17 PM ----------

A vacuum system costs aprx 200,-, but could it be a good idea to install just a leak detector? Cheaper, 36$, and will at least give a warning before things get really bad?

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[John Gulliver]

If you mean Jeff Mullins' leak detector, you won't be able to see it flash because the housing is not transparent. I fully agree about the camera. I love mine.

 

[Divealpha]

Yes, that's the one. Found a review online from a guy who installed in the EP-06 housing.....maybe he has improved it? The door on the housing is transparent..

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[BoltSnap]

I inspect and lube the o'ring and sealing surfaces ANY time I open the sealing door in the camera, lens port, strobes, ANY sealing door after I open it. The lube job is only to make it shiny not the typical "plumber greasing" however. Before lube, I cleaning the o'ring and make sure that there are no particles of any type on the o' ring (hair, sand, lint, etc.). I also inspect the o'ring grooves and clean them with special paper/pad and give them an overall check using a magnifier. I also make sure that my hands/fingers are clean and don't have any dirt on them.