>>>>Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2002 17:36:24 -0800 From: John Blackburn <digipixs_at_erols.com> Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Taping eTrex's Has anyone tried taping the edges of the battery compartment for some greater degree of watertightness? John Blackburn<<<< That's what I've done. I used duct tape, which seemed to work well except that it leaves a sticky residue behind--especially if left in place for a while. I would expect electrical tape to also leave a residue. Does anyone know of waterproof tape that DOESN'T leave a residue behind when removed?? Evan Woodinville Washington *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 1/25/2002 9:35:40 AM Eastern Standard Time, sh_at_actglobal.net writes: > BTW, I have checked out the submersability of Garmin's unit by going for a > swim in the surf. I rinsed it in fresh water and it works fine. I now put it > in a baggy for surf launches and landings, but otherwise take it out and > just keep it in the pocket of my PFD. > Abandoning my lurk at the scan of eTrex! My luck with that unit was not as positive. Splashing with salt spray and probably some water shorted out the batteries and disabled the unit. Twice. I returned it to West Marine with all the corrosion intact, and suggested --- in writing --- that they not perpetuate Garmin's misstatement about "submersibility". They will admit that the unit will not work after submerence of virtually any kind, but, if you can find new batteries, completely dry the inside of the battery casing, and then get it back together during a severe attack of clapotis, you have no problem. See, Garmin will say, the electronics survive! BS --- it's false advertising, and they should cease and desist. An unbagged eTrex is a light paperweight once it's wet. Not worth the money. Just plain not worth the chance that it won't work when you really need it. End rant: resuming lurk. Two months to graduation. Jack Martin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
JCMARTIN43_at_aol.com wrote: > >Abandoning my lurk at the scan of eTrex! My luck with that unit was not as >positive. Splashing with salt spray and probably some water shorted out the >batteries and disabled the unit. Twice. I returned it to West Marine with >all the corrosion intact, and suggested --- in writing --- that they not >perpetuate Garmin's misstatement about "submersibility". They will admit >that the unit will not work after submerence of virtually any kind, but, if >you can find new batteries, completely dry the inside of the battery casing, >and then get it back together during a severe attack of clapotis, you have no >problem. See, Garmin will say, the electronics survive! BS --- it's false >advertising, and they should cease and desist. An unbagged eTrex is a light >paperweight once it's wet. Not worth the money. Just plain not worth the >chance that it won't work when you really need it. > >End rant: resuming lurk. Two months to graduation. > >Jack Martin > > > This issue with the Etrex, and in fact all of the Garmin line, has been addressed here before (a couple years ago, so it doesn't hurt to go over it again.). Garmin does not warrant the battery compartment to be waterproof. Usually all you need to do is make sure that you check it at the end of every use for water in the battery compartment then clean and dry as necessary. Take care with the rubber seal on the compartment cover to assure that there isn't any sand or other material to break the seal. I have had an Etrex for two years, it has ridden on my deck unprotected through confused seas that washed completely over the deck with no malfunction. The contacts in the battery compartment look as clean as the day I bought it. The Etrex is one of the lowest priced GPS units on the market that claims any degree of water resistance. I figure that my two years of total reliability makes it a bargain, I could have paid more than three times the price without any improvement in reliability. The fact that it is small enough to slip into my shirt pocket when I am hiking doesn't hurt either! My GPS, like my travel camera, rides exposed and abused. If it can't take the punnishment then I don't want it on my deck. Mike Noyes -- Paddling along through fog so thick that only one's thoughts are visible, your reverie is abruptly shattered by the ancient cry of a great blue heron as she lifts uncertainly from the brilliant blue of a mussel-shell beach witnessed only by the brooding, wet spruce....your passage home seems as much back through time as it does through space. Mark H Hunt *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 1/27/2002 6:07:44 PM Eastern Standard Time, Evan_Dallas_at_notes.ntrs.com writes: > . Incidentally, does anyone know > whether Garmin will send a replacement unit in this situation? > > If they wanted to show good faith, they'd have to, Evan. I made sure that, the second time mine flooded and failed --- also the second time I used it, for what that's worth --- I didn't clean it up at all. West Marine took it as is, although they took their time sending me the refund check. But here's the deal: any equipment that claims to be JIS 7 (or the Euro equivalent) for waterproofness (one meter for a half hour) provides the buyer with the expectation that the system will function after submersal. Sounds like most of these eTrex's don't do that, even though Garmin says that "... the eTrex is completely waterproof so it can take an accidental splash or dunk in the water and still continue to perform." Perform what? Hope we don't have to get into a Clintonesque session of defining "perform", but I'd take that to mean "work". And, if they know the battery compartment doesn't meet the JIS 7 standard, then they should know that frequently the system doesn't either. Jack *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Has anyone tried taping the edges of the battery compartment for some greater degree of watertightness? John Blackburn *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 1/28/2002 5:44:41 PM Eastern Standard Time, digipixs_at_erols.com writes: > Has anyone tried taping the edges of the battery compartment for some greater > degree of watertightness? > > It's very possible the unit has been redesigned, John, but, for the short period I owned one, there was a dinky twist lock in the center of the battery cover that latched it down. Sorta. But the hole for the latch would be hard to cover. Sticky black electrical tape is good around battery-radio seals, though. Always use it --- now. Jack *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Electrical tape usually leaves much less of a residue than duct tape, but I wouldn't trust either to remain waterproof. Aquapac or similar clear waterproof plastic bags are convenient, will hold both the GPS and spare batteries, and will float if accidentally dropped overboard. Also guards against the possibility that the rest of the unit may not be as well sealed as claimed. Based on reports on the GPS newsgroup the latter has been observed across all makes. Evan Dallas wrote: > That's what I've done. I used duct tape, which seemed to work well except > that it leaves a sticky residue behind--especially if left in place for a > while. I would expect electrical tape to also leave a residue. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Electrical tape usually leaves much less of a residue than duct tape, but I wouldn't trust either to remain waterproof. Aquapac or similar clear waterproof plastic bags are convenient, will hold both the GPS and spare batteries, and will float if accidentally dropped overboard. Also guards against the possibility that the rest of the unit may not be as well sealed as claimed. Based on reports on the GPS newsgroup the latter has been observed across all makes. Evan Dallas wrote: > That's what I've done. I used duct tape, which seemed to work well except > that it leaves a sticky residue behind--especially if left in place for a > while. I would expect electrical tape to also leave a residue. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Electrical tape usually leaves much less of a residue than duct tape, but I wouldn't trust either to remain waterproof. Aquapac or similar clear waterproof plastic bags are convenient, will hold both the GPS and spare batteries, and will float if accidentally dropped overboard. Also guards against the possibility that the rest of the unit may not be as well sealed as claimed. Based on reports on the GPS newsgroup the latter has been observed across all makes. Evan Dallas wrote: > That's what I've done. I used duct tape, which seemed to work well except > that it leaves a sticky residue behind--especially if left in place for a > while. I would expect electrical tape to also leave a residue. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
G'Day, The seal on aquapacs eventually wears out if you are constantly opening and closing it - my mobile phone Pac lasted about two years being opened about twice a week - a VHF pac which is opened much less frequently is still going strong - worth testing from time to time. All the best, PeterO Who just bought a 2nd hand phone to replace the one he drowned at the weekend! *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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