Ikelite Housing Maintenance

[Scuba_Noob]

Hi, I have an Ikelite housing for a Canon Powershot S95.

I'm wondering how often you clean it and how. I'm assuming you lube the o-ring and make sure there's no dust in the place it sits.

I've read a lot of different views on cleaning, but I'm curious if there's something specific for the Ikelite housing for the S95. Also, I'm not sure how to remove the O-ring to lube. Should I just lube it with silicone grease while it's set in the housing?

 

[Scuba_Noob]

I haven't received any reply to the thread yet (only been one day), and maybe I need to add more information.

I'm mainly following this recent thread (http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ti...-tips-advice-new-underwater-photographer.html).

One person says "Make sure your O-ring is clean without any particles or dirt, no need to lube it after every dive. Do it again after a long period of time between dives." - I dive a few dives every week. How long is a long period of time?

Another says to clean and relube after opening the housing two times. - That seems a little excessive and carries risk that I might damage the O-ring, unlike someone with a lot of experience. Another post says a year between significant lubing, with removing dust and light lubing once in a while.

Post 10 has detailed steps for cleaning, which seems very complicated.

That's why I ask the question again here, because I'm thinking that different types of housings might have different cleaning requirements. The Ikelite site (IKELITE Underwater Systems) has some very vague tips as well.

 

[Doubler]

If I am on a 5 day live aboard trip I clean, inspect and lube the oring every morning. I don't allow the deck hand to put my rig in the rinse tank as more floods happen that way then most others. I rinse it myself. I remove the camera at night to download. When I am not using the housing the oring is removed and placed in a plastic bag inside the housing. This is how I have done it for years, other people do it different ways and I would not call what they do is wrong.

 

[Scuba_Noob]

Doubler, thanks for your quick response. How about if you're just doing regular diving? Let's say one or two days a week. Would once a week suffice?

And you mention that when your housing is not being used, the o-ring is removed and placed into a plastic bag in the housing. How long would you have to not use the housing to do this?

Finally, what camera model and housing are you using?

 

[John Gulliver]

I inspect the o-ring every time I open the housing. I clean and lubricate it a couple of times during a one-week trip. When I'm at home, the o-ring stays in place if I plan to dive again within a couple of weeks. If I know I won't be diving for a month or more, it goes in a plastic bag inside the housing.

 

[Doubler]

Like John, when I open the housing I inspect and clean. Most people don't leave the camera housed overnight so daily is the norm for me. What's the right amount of time to keep oring mounted? Not sure, I remove mine because I don't want flat spots to develope. Just as important as the oring is the oring groove and control button ports. Inspect the groove for sand, hair and other assorted debris. Lubricate the button ports. I have 2 Ikelite T2i DSLR housings.

 

[Ikelite Staff]

Scuba-Noob,

Good advice from Doubler and John Gulliver. Since you have an ULTRAcompact housing, I would leave it unlatched and open slightly when not in use. This reduces pressure on the o-ring which tends to seat itself after being closed for a long period of time. This can make the housing harder to open.

As long as you keep the o-ring and o-ring channel free of debris and lightly lubricated, there should be no problem.

Below is from page 9 of the ULTRAcompact General Instruction Manual:

O-ring Maintenance
We recommend that you clean the main housing o-ring and main housing o-ring channel before each day of diving.
1. To remove the o-ring, place index finger and thumb on the o-ring as shown, diagram D.
2. Squeeze the o-ring into a loop by pressing down on the o-ring and squeezing your index finger and thumb together, diagram E.
3. Grab the o-ring loop with your other hand and remove the o-ring from the housing back.
4. Wipe the o-ring channel clean with a paper towel, napkin, or lint-free wiping cloth­.
5. Clean and lightly lubricate the o-ring. Use Ikelite lubricant only. Put a small amount of lkelite lubricant on your fingers. Pull the o-ring through your fingers to apply a light coating of lubricant. Apply only enough lubricant to make the o-ring feel slick. Do not stretch the o-ring. This light coating of lubricant will help to keep the o-ring from drying out and will help to show a dark sealing line when the housing back is properly sealed.
6. Very lightly lubricate the o-ring sealing surface on the housing front.

CAUTION: Never use a screwdriver or metal object to remove the main housing o-ring. This could damage the housing and o-ring, which could result in a leak.http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/camera/products.html

Regards,

Brett Foster - Ikelite

 

[BSOD]

FWIW - I have the same setup - S95 w/Ike housing.

I had a different setup a few years ago, which leaked (I think due to rushing a bit while closing it up the morning of), so I'm particularly fastidious about cleaning and checking the main O-ring and it's groove since then. I tend to do morning dives, so I get everything setup the night before (camera, in closed housing, ready to go), so I don't need to rush (and possibly miss something) in the morning.

In addition to what others have mentioned, it's a good idea to closely inspect the seal once you've closed the case (with your camera in it). One of the benefits of having a clear case is you can see the seal all (well, 90+% of) the way around, so you can check if there might be a speck of lint/sand/etc you missed while cleaning. May be a bit of overkill, but it gives me more peace of mind.

Brett/Ikelite/others - what about maintenance for the other buttons/o-rings to prevent/fix sticky buttons? Aside from rinsing it in fresh water after a dive.

 

[Doubler]

I grease them and work the grease in by working the button, for ones with a shaft I grease the shaft.

 

[Scuba_Noob]

Thanks a lot, everybody. I feel like I have the necessary knowledge now to properly prevent flooding in my housing.

Just curious, however, whether leaving the housing open will cause the lube to dry out. Might be a stupid question.