Started with the green light of happiness today, did my dive with happy green, came back to wash things down and now there's a red light. Bummer, right? Undo everything. No water, not even a hint of a drop. Good.

Trying to get a green light back as it went straight to blue after I flipped the switch off and on. I can get a yellow, but then it either goes off or goes back to blue. I can't get a green.

Battery? Hopefully I can find a replacement in the morning, if so.

Issue with the vacuum seal port? How to troubleshoot/fix this?

Other suggestions? Totally bummed. Wobbie from the other day for tax.

First suggestion is fresh battery. Though it should blink red/blue when switched if low. If you lose vacuum it signals this by flashing red not solid red. I found another reference online which indicates that solid red is dead battery. That's you best bet I think.

16 minutes ago, Chris Ross said:

If you lose vacuum it signals this by flashing red not solid red.

It should flash yellow first when it senses you are losing vacuum, flashing red is vacuum lost already.

Funny enough, i had this today on 3rd dive, started flashing yellow at 20 meters, got up to 5 meter and it went to green again.

Thanks - fingers crossed it's the battery! It wasn't red blinking or solid on the safety stop so at least it waited til I was up.
My hand pump completely fell apart this afternoon, too! $53 for a new one is insanity.
What a weird day 😄

apparently the vacuvin pumps for resealing wine work??

5 hours ago, Chris Ross said:

apparently the vacuvin pumps for resealing wine work??

Yes, there is an old thread about using a Vacu Vin pump. Put the rubber part that you normally will insert in the bottle over the vacuum valve. I can't find the tread but the where some enthusiastic users.

You can get a green light sucking by mouth in a pinch 😅

Thanks for the suggestions on a new pump. I've borrowed one for now and will try one of the wine ones. @Grantmac yup, it does work - have had to do that before! Felt ridiculous 😄

Sadly, the new battery is not the issue. I can, with a lot more effort than usual, get the light to go green, but it will not stay green so I've got a leak somewhere/the vacuum valve is wonky. Any ideas how to fix it/trouble shoot it? I've never pulled one apart/off the housing - is there a trick to it or things I should know? My vacuum pump was installed by Reef when I bought it so I don't think I have the little tool I see on the video - what can I use?

thanks!

40 minutes ago, Kristin said:

Thanks for the suggestions on a new pump. I've borrowed one for now and will try one of the wine ones. @Grantmac yup, it does work - have had to do that before! Felt ridiculous 😄

Sadly, the new battery is not the issue. I can, with a lot more effort than usual, get the light to go green, but it will not stay green so I've got a leak somewhere/the vacuum valve is wonky. Any ideas how to fix it/trouble shoot it? I've never pulled one apart/off the housing - is there a trick to it or things I should know? My vacuum pump was installed by Reef when I bought it so I don't think I have the little tool I see on the video - what can I use?

thanks!

I have a cursed Nauticam Vacuum circuit as well. The battery lasts just a few sessions. I was constantly replacing the batteries and actually bought some rechargeable 2032 cells. So at least I am not throwing them away constantly. I never had this with my D800 or D850 housings, but the vacuum in the newer Z8 is just plagued. I was on a trip recently and I just gave up turning the circuit on. I pumped it and made sure the back would not come off releasing the latches after a few hours to test the negativity. The idiot light was just not that necessary.

I bought a replacement vacuum circuit, but I have not gotten around to installing it. The rechargeable batteries are doing the trick, but I have a replace them after just a few days of diving. And I dive 2 or 3 days a week.

Edited 17 hours ago17 hr by Dave_Hicks

@Dave_Hicks how frustrating!! Mine is the older model on my 7dmkii housing and I've never had an issue. This is definitely not a battery thing, unfortunately!
The only thing I can think of is there is something with the vacuum valve itself so I'm trying to find info on troubleshooting/fixing it - hopefully a local friend has the tool so i can get started.

14 hours ago, Floris Bennema said:

Yes, there is an old thread about using a Vacu Vin pump. Put the rubber part that you normally will insert in the bottle over the vacuum valve. I can't find the tread but the where some enthusiastic users.

https://waterpixels.net/forums/topic/1731-essential-spares-for-underwater-photography/#findComment-10796

As a "think out of the box" idea I wonder if a simple gauge pump to use if an electronic monitoring system dies might work in a pinch?

I had the Nauticam system on my Nauticam NA-R50 housing and it worked fine.....My current low cost Ikelite DLM housing has a simple mechanical valve and uses this pump......I was initially reluctant but after months of use I like the simplicity of the whole arrangement.....

Seal your housing, pump to a number (10 in my experience) and check the gauge in 5 - 30 minutes or even overnight. If the gauge reads the same number your housing is holding vacuum :)

Granted it's not an electronic monitoring set up with LEDs, etc. but if traveling far away and your vacuum set up croaks I wonder how difficult it would be to create a seal on the hose and check your housing?

Just a thought......

Ikelite

Vacuum Pump with Gauge

A vacuum leak detection system allows you to check for leaks after assembling your housing and prior to entering the water. This can make the difference between a successful dive and a stressful situa

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by dhaas

1 hour ago, dhaas said:

As a "think out of the box" idea I wonder if a simple gauge pump to use if an electronic monitoring system dies might work in a pinch?

I had the Nauticam system on my Nauticam NA-R50 housing and it worked fine.....My current low cost Ikelite DLM housing has a simple mechanical valve and uses this pump......I was initially reluctant but after months of use I like the simplicity of the whole arrangement.....

Seal your housing, pump to a number (10 in my experience) and check the gauge in 5 - 30 minutes or even overnight. If the gauge reads the same number your housing is holding vacuum :)

Granted it's not an electronic monitoring set up with LEDs, etc. but if traveling far away and your vacuum set up croaks I wonder how difficult it would be to create a seal on the hose and check your housing?

Just a thought......

Ikelite

Vacuum Pump with Gauge

A vacuum leak detection system allows you to check for leaks after assembling your housing and prior to entering the water. This can make the difference between a successful dive and a stressful situa

You can create the seal by sucking the air out with your lips! The electronics are just a visual indicator with additional functionality of a leak alarm. No contraptions necessary.

On 12/10/2025 at 11:15 AM, Chris Ross said:

apparently the vacuvin pumps for resealing wine work??

I’ve used my mouth a few times, takes several breaths but works as well. It’s just a bit awkward on the dive deck with everyone looking at you. 😆

7 minutes ago, waterpixel said:

I’ve used my mouth a few times, takes several breaths but works as well. It’s just a bit awkward on the dive deck with everyone looking at you. 😆

Sucks to be you!