O Ring and button maintenance question

[SandyUT]

Hi all:

A couple maintanence questions for my DC1000 elite

How long do the main orings last or when should they be replaced (flash and camera body)?

Do the seals on the buttons need any treatment or maint besides rinsing?

Thanks!

 

[DandyDon]

Hi all:

A couple maintanence questions for my DC1000 elite

How long do the main orings last or when should they be replaced (flash and camera body)?

Do the seals on the buttons need any treatment or maint besides rinsing?

Thanks!

Did you check your manual? I think it says to replace he O-ring annually. I don't. I remove, inspect,, and clean it but - honestly it's cheaper to insure it on State Farm Personal Article Policy.

I seldom to anything to the other seals. Might be a good idea to dab some silicone grease on them and move them once a year.

I jammed a button on my housing thru careless handling recently. I phone Sealife tech support, got an RA#, and Karl was super nice as always.

 

[BHB ScubaTroll]

NO SILICONE GREASE!!!!

Silicone will ruin these O-rings. They are similar to the Olympus housing O-rings and will grow in length with silicone use.

I extended the life of my O-ring with silicone after my housing flooded. I was able to extend its life only a couple of months with silicone. The O-ring expanded about 1" during those two months. The replacement O-ring I bought could easily pass inside the old O-ring and had room to spare

As far as buttons, I use a soft toothbrush on them when I am soaking the housing after a day of diving

 

[cdarroch]

NO SILICONE GREASE!!!!

Silicone will ruin these O-rings. They are similar to the Olympus housing O-rings and will grow in length with silicone use.

Really? Thanks, I didn't know that... Is this true of all camera-housing O-rings? I'm currently using a Canon housing, and I lubed it with silicone the other day. I haven't noticed any difference.. I'm assuming that the rubber actually absorbs the silicone grease over time, and if I don't use any more, it shouldn't be too much of an issue, right?
Cheers!

 

[BHB ScubaTroll]

Really? Thanks, I didn't know that... Is this true of all camera-housing O-rings? I'm currently using a Canon housing, and I lubed it with silicone the other day. I haven't noticed any difference.. I'm assuming that the rubber actually absorbs the silicone grease over time, and if I don't use any more, it shouldn't be too much of an issue, right?
Cheers!

No, it is not true of all camera O-rings. I can only recommend that you read whatever manual comes with your specific housing and follow those instructions.

I do know from experience that Olympus O-rings are made with a different composition and require a "special" grease (way more expensive than regular silicone) or it will ruin the O-ring in much the same way as silicone does to the SeaLife O-ring. My Ike housing uses silicone just fine...

 

[DandyDon]

NO SILICONE GREASE!!!!

Silicone will ruin these O-rings. They are similar to the Olympus housing O-rings and will grow in length with silicone use.

I extended the life of my O-ring with silicone after my housing flooded. I was able to extend its life only a couple of months with silicone. The O-ring expanded about 1" during those two months. The replacement O-ring I bought could easily pass inside the old O-ring and had room to spare

As far as buttons, I use a soft toothbrush on them when I am soaking the housing after a day of diving

Nope, do not use silicone grease on the main O-ring, but I did not suggest that. Their manuals all say not to.

Silicone grease can be used on the buttons which I did suggest, or at least that's what the Sealife Rep Darlene once suggested in this forum.

Really? Thanks, I didn't know that... Is this true of all camera-housing O-rings? I'm currently using a Canon housing, and I lubed it with silicone the other day. I haven't noticed any difference.. I'm assuming that the rubber actually absorbs the silicone grease over time, and if I don't use any more, it shouldn't be too much of an issue, right?
Cheers!

Nope, your Canon manual says to use silicone grease on the main O-ring.

 

[cdarroch]

Nope, your Canon manual says to use silicone grease on the main O-ring.

Phew - thanks! I don't have the manual handy to check. Crisis averted!

 

[DandyDon]

Phew - thanks! I don't have the manual handy to check. Crisis averted!

This link Digital Cameras - High-End, Advanced Digital Cameras - D-Series Digital Cameras - Performance and Style, Digital ELPH Cameras - Easy and Fun! A-Series Digital Cameras - E-Series Digital Cameras - Underwater Photo - Canon USA Consumer Products can lead you to your housing since you did not mention your model, then to your respective housing, then to its manual. I generally download manuals to my PC so I can access them anytime.

Sealife O-rings start at $15 plus shipping online for the DC500 and 960 strobes. I have no idea what o-rings cost for the DC1000, but State Farm PAP insurance is a good idea anyway. Darlene also posted here that they have records of their o-rings being used for years with no problems as long as they are not nicked or have debris that ruin the seal.

I'm not going to intentional flood my DC500 of course, but when it floods, as all dive cameras will in time, I'll file my claim and use my check to upgrade - keeping my other DC500 as the backup it is now.

 

[SeaLife Joe]

Not much more to say except, don't lube the O-rings. As for the button o-rings, proper cleaning will insure a good lifetime of use without having to lube them again. To properly lube these you would have to take the buttons out and then lube. We are looking into a service program that will do a complete overhaul on your camera and lube/replace the o-rings.

 

[sabbath999]

We are looking into a service program that will do a complete overhaul on your camera and lube/replace the o-rings.

I think that is a winner of an idea!