Peter said > What standard tests should manufacturers be using to adequately replicate > a piece of equipment attached to a PFD exposed to the elements above water I've followed the success (and/or lack of it) of many of my Auckland paddling buddies as they have used VHFs, GPSs & cameras with various IP ratings. Many brand names from the top-line Icoms & SH VHFs to various Garmin Etrex units - which are 10 year veterans in the market. I don't think any of these consumer-grade devices are built to standards that let them live reliably for more than the warranty period of 1 or 2 years when used in a salty kayaking world. I'd say that it's conclusive - the only way to keep these devices alive reliably is to bag them (Aquapac or similar) and then to rinse them gently in fresh water fairly frequently. One good buddy is an ex-Navy electronics guru & treats his gear well (as you might expect). He went through 3 Etrexes before he bowed to the reality that irrespective of what it says on the box, an IP7 or 8 rating doesn't survive for more than a couple of years in the real world. Whether it is salt-crystal buildup on rubber seals or some other mechanism, I'd say you get 10x better reliability if it's both waterproof & bagged. Then if the waterproofing is a bit tired, all it has to survive is a bag leak - and if the bag cracks & leaks a bit - the device's waterproofness should be able to cope with such a gentle immersion. At least it becomes a two-point-of-failure issue. Kayaking is a tough environment. Best Regards Paul Hayward, Auckland, New Zealand *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sat Aug 06 2011 - 03:26:28 PDT
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