Before I start, let me say that I take full responsibility for the mishap that happened last week. I do believe some minor modifications to Ikelites port lock release system would minimize the chance of this situation being repeated.
I had my 40D in an Ikelite housing with an 8 inch dome attached. I had slid the 2 port locks into place simultaneously and when I heard the distinctive click, assumed that both locks were in place.
I arrived at the dive site, geared up, made sure the sync cord nuts were tight, did a final check and started to walk into the water. The water was just above my knees and I was just about to submerge the housing fully when I felt something on the housing move abnormally. I looked down and noticed that one of the housings port release buttons had not engaged properly and there was a gaping hole with water going into the housing. Obviously, I aborted the dive immediately.
Once back at my car I stripped the rig down and discovered about 1 1/2 to 2 table spoons of water inside the housing. I removed the battery and the CF card from the camera and dried every thing as best as I could. I then headed home.
At home I wiped, dried and soaked up all the remaining water the best I could. It was now that I tried to figure out what had happened. I reinstalled the port and as before, I simultaneously slid the port lock release buttons into place. On hearing a definite click, I once again assumed the locks were in place. On closer inspection, I noticed that only one lock had engaged. I pulled gently on the port and the release button slid back quite easily revealing the same situation I had at the dive site. I had stupidly believed both port locks had engaged when I heard the click of just one lock engaging.
I believe if there had been 4 locks at 90 degrees to each other, or even 3 locks at 120 degrees to each other, the chances of the port disengaging from the housing would be greatly reduced. Even better, a bayonet fitting, or a screw in system similar to the way the port is attached to the dome would reduce the risk even more.
Just to finish up, I let the camera sit overnight surrounded by silica gel satchels and when I fired it up the next morning, it worked just fine. I installed it in the housing the next afternoon and the electronics for the strobe also appear to be fine.
Like I said at the start, I accept full responsibility for the flood, but believe some minor modifications to the port lock system may reduce the chance of this happening to someone else.
Regards
Parso
I had my 40D in an Ikelite housing with an 8 inch dome attached. I had slid the 2 port locks into place simultaneously and when I heard the distinctive click, assumed that both locks were in place.
I arrived at the dive site, geared up, made sure the sync cord nuts were tight, did a final check and started to walk into the water. The water was just above my knees and I was just about to submerge the housing fully when I felt something on the housing move abnormally. I looked down and noticed that one of the housings port release buttons had not engaged properly and there was a gaping hole with water going into the housing. Obviously, I aborted the dive immediately.
Once back at my car I stripped the rig down and discovered about 1 1/2 to 2 table spoons of water inside the housing. I removed the battery and the CF card from the camera and dried every thing as best as I could. I then headed home.
At home I wiped, dried and soaked up all the remaining water the best I could. It was now that I tried to figure out what had happened. I reinstalled the port and as before, I simultaneously slid the port lock release buttons into place. On hearing a definite click, I once again assumed the locks were in place. On closer inspection, I noticed that only one lock had engaged. I pulled gently on the port and the release button slid back quite easily revealing the same situation I had at the dive site. I had stupidly believed both port locks had engaged when I heard the click of just one lock engaging.
I believe if there had been 4 locks at 90 degrees to each other, or even 3 locks at 120 degrees to each other, the chances of the port disengaging from the housing would be greatly reduced. Even better, a bayonet fitting, or a screw in system similar to the way the port is attached to the dome would reduce the risk even more.
Just to finish up, I let the camera sit overnight surrounded by silica gel satchels and when I fired it up the next morning, it worked just fine. I installed it in the housing the next afternoon and the electronics for the strobe also appear to be fine.
Like I said at the start, I accept full responsibility for the flood, but believe some minor modifications to the port lock system may reduce the chance of this happening to someone else.
Regards
Parso
