Newbie question - how often should I clean/lube the housing o-ring

[Sparg93]

I have a similiar question - i'll be on a liveaboard for 10 days.

In between dives it looks like the idea is to keep the housing closed...but where is a good place to store the entire setup between dives? Does it matter if it's kept topside where there is a lot of humidity?

For overnight when I'm sleeping, if i have to change the battery, should i let the case sit open overnight or closed?

 

[bvanant]

If you keep it in your room, make sure you close it up before you take it outside. Keeping it in your air conditioned (and theoretically cooler/drier) room will mean that you trap less water in the housing. Of course when you take it outside you will get condensation on the outside of the housing but that should be fine since you are taking it diving I hope. On a liveaboard, I mostly leave it out on the camera table and only open it to change batteries/download memory cards. My wife takes her video camera to the room, looks at the footage then closes it back up. In any case, the only thing that might get you in trouble is if you take it to your room, cool it way off then bring the open housing out into the humidity. Then you will have a dive without a camera while the whole system equilibrates.
Bill

 

[emoreira]

I think from my training they said to clean, re-lube and inspect the o-ring any time the case is opened. Obviously you will need to do something if you detect water is leaking in the case.

Make sure you use lube that is compatible with your o-ring and case, and don't use too much lube. Just use enough to make the o-ring appear wet. It is the o-ring that makes the seal, not the lube.

Good luck and have fun.

Also consider cleaning the groove where the o-ring fits.
It's very important to thoroughly rinse the housing (closed with the camera still in) after each dive. While rinsing, press every button several times to allow fresh water to rinse the mechanism.

I leave the housing fully opened while not in use. I also remove the o-ring from it's groove and locate it in the opposite part of the groove (the other halve). The o-ring fits a little tensioned in the groove, so leaving it rest in the opposite part of the groove does not tension it.

 

[damage]

Just remember, the lube is to prevent the o ring to get dry, not to avoid floods (that's what my Ikelite housing says ) so, try not to over-lube it or it might get flooded.

If I charge the battery or replace the sd card, I just inspect the o ring looking for hairs, sand or any kind of debris, and lube it slightly.

Also is a good idea to keep inside the housing a small bag of silica to avoid moisture due to changes of temperature.

For storing I rinse the housing very well in fresh water and press all the buttons, dry it and keep it away from the sun. Some guys remove the o ring and put it inside the housing, personally I don't do it and never had a problem.

Anyway, have fun!!

 

[Paul Lenharr]

I just got a Canon WP-DC300 housing to use with my old Canon S50. I am going on a trip this week and was curious as to how often I need to open the housing/remove and re-lube the housing o-ring? After a day of diving or every time the housing is opened? Also, what silica packs should I go with? Thanks.

I know this is probably completely against what most people do.... BUT.....

I have a G9 with Canon housing and my friend has the same setup. After reading these post's, I decided to check / grease my O ring before each dive trip. After doing this the first time, I flooded my housing. After investigation, it was due to a hair on the O-ring.

My friend has used his housing with the original O-ring, never touched for over 75 dives now and has never had a problem.

Just an observation.......

 

[WOODMAN]

In other words you open/close hosing multiple times before you re-lubricate the o-ring, is that correct? Just trying to get a feel how often lubrication has to take place - I guess after every o-ring cleaning? What do people use to clean the o-ring? Where do you get 'lint-free' cloths? Will paper towel do? Thanks.

Paper towel is most definitely NOT lint free! Lots of fibers come off that stuff, even the premium brands. Use a dedicated lens cleaning cloth for your final wipe down on the O ring path. These are cheap and available at every camera shop in the world. Heck, I usually end up getting these free, one way or another. Woody

 

[emoreira]

Paper towel is most definitely NOT lint free! Lots of fibers come off that stuff, even the premium brands. Use a dedicated lens cleaning cloth for your final wipe down on the O ring path. These are cheap and available at every camera shop in the world. Heck, I usually end up getting these free, one way or another. Woody

I never use a paper towel to clean the o-ring after lubing. Only my fingers. Paper towels leave fibers in the sylicone.