missing screw for INON strobe

[maractwin]

I've got an INON D-180 strobe, though I believe that the same part is used on their other strobes as well. On the end of the fiber optic cable that attaches to the strobe, there's a tiny screw which holds the connector together. My screw worked loose and fell out during a dive.

Anyone know where to get a replacement? It appears that INON only sells a replacement fiber optic assembly for $35 when I only need the tiny screw. I can't find a specification for the size of the screw to look for it from other sources.

I've got a dive this weekend, and may try duct tape to hold the cable together.

-Mark

 

[justleesa]

man what a bummer....I'm sorry that I can't help you with it, but hope some one can

 

[dlndavid]

How about taking it to a camera repair shop, they can get you a screw.

 

[herman]

How about taking it to a camera repair shop, they can get you a screw.

Maybe, the screw needs to be at least SS and really should be marine grade SS. I kind of doubt standard camera screws are SS, most likely just zink plated.

 

[ReyeR]

The screw is an M2 (metric, size 2), about 3mm long. You might be able to source it from a good stainless steel fastener shop. Look for marine grade screws.

The same thing happened to my buddy. I managed to source an M2 x 10mm. I just cut the length down to size and it's all fine now.

This is a thread on dd.net by someone with the same problem: http://www.digitaldiver.net/yabbse/index.php?board=3;action=display;threadid=12584;start=0

 

[Ryan]

The screw is an M2 (metric, size 2), about 3mm long. You might be able to source it from a good stainless steel fastener shop. Look for marine grade screws.

The same thing happened to my buddy. I managed to source an M2 x 10mm. I just cut the length down to size and it's all fine now.

This is a thread on dd.net by someone with the same problem: http://www.digitaldiver.net/yabbse/index.php?board=3;action=display;threadid=12584;start=0

There should have been a spare one in your box when you bought the cable, as this is a known issue.

I am moving right now, if you aren't in a huge time crunch, pm me your details and I'll come up w/ one for you.

 

[dlndavid]

Maybe, the screw needs to be at least SS and really should be marine grade SS. I kind of doubt standard camera screws are SS, most likely just zink plated.

Nobody said anything about a standard camera screw, and just what is "marine" grade SST? 316? or is 18-8 sufficient? Anyway it looks like maractwin, has gotten the information he needs.

 

[RonFrank]

I've got an INON D-180 strobe, though I believe that the same part is used on their other strobes as well. On the end of the fiber optic cable that attaches to the strobe, there's a tiny screw which holds the connector together. My screw worked loose and fell out during a dive.

Anyone know where to get a replacement? It appears that INON only sells a replacement fiber optic assembly for $35 when I only need the tiny screw. I can't find a specification for the size of the screw to look for it from other sources.

I've got a dive this weekend, and may try duct tape to hold the cable together.

-Mark

Local hardware store or Home Depot.

Stainless steel is good enough, you don't need some *name* applied to it.

If you can NOT find one that meets your needs after checking a few hardware stores, then order one from a speciality shop like Ryan is at.

Once you find one, buy three cause it's likley to happen again, and the effort to find this $.20 wonder screw is far more costly than the part.

 

[maractwin]

Thanks for everyone's help. I found M2 x 4mm stainless screws online at http://www.smallparts.com/products/descriptions/mmpx-f.cfm where I can get 25 of them for $1.15. Of course, shipping is a lot more than that. I'll know in a few days if this is really the right screw.

Yes, a spare did come with my strobe. I lost my first screw on my very first dive with the strobe, as it wasn't tightened at the factory and I didn't know to double check it. I noticed during the dive it was wobbly, tried to tighten it by fingernail, but lost it before the end of the dive. So I used the spare then. Now two years later, I lost the spare. Not that I noticed it working loose, but at least these days I keep a jeweler's screwdriver in my camera case so that I can tighten these things.

-Mark

 

[dlndavid]

Use Loctite