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 yesterday at 03:26 AM1 day 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 14 hours ago14 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!

Yes, other pumps and sucking do work but that's not my issue now.

The valve itself isn't working to create a lasting vacuum. I can get the light to turn green but it won't stay green for more than 30 seconds, so it seems a problem I wouldn't want to take underwater as if that is leaking, maybe it would let water in, too? I'm trying to locally source the little tool to remove it but haven't had luck yet. Can anyone suggest an alternative tool so i can remove the valve and hopefully figure out what's wrong? Thanks!

Is it actually loosing vacuum or is the indicator broken? Pop the latches and see if the back comes off. It won't if there is still a vacuum.

3 hours ago, Dave_Hicks said:

Is it actually loosing vacuum or is the indicator broken? Pop the latches and see if the back comes off. It won't if there is still a vacuum.

it's losing vacuum.

A friend has the tool so I'll grab that later today.

Edited 6 hours ago6 hr by Kristin

Steady red light is a low battery. If a fresh battery does not cure the problem something is possibly amiss with the circuit. Pull a vacuum and let it sit over night. Then release the vacuum, do you hear the valve equalizing? If so there is probably not a leak. If no vacuum, then I guess there is a leak. Change port and door O-rings perhaps, inspect the sealing surfaces.

Edited 5 hours ago5 hr by Nemrod

No, it isn't the battery, which I have changed already.

The vacuum seal is not working.  

Have just pulled it out and tried to see if anything is obvious.  If anyone has pulled theirs apart to see the spring and little foot, it would be great to hear from you as it seems that this has to be the issue somehow - there's really nothing else that can go wrong.  I can't find a detailed parts diagram or instructions on how to fix this online at all.  

6 minutes ago, Kristin said:

No, it isn't the battery, which I have changed already.

The vacuum seal is not working.  

Have just pulled it out and tried to see if anything is obvious.  If anyone has pulled theirs apart to see the spring and little foot, it would be great to hear from you as it seems that this has to be the issue somehow - there's really nothing else that can go wrong.  I can't find a detailed parts diagram or instructions on how to fix this online at all.  

Just a couple of months ago I forgot to put  the cap on and went in the water. Got to about 30 feet and realized my error, NA-R50 housing. Fortunately I did not flood. However, salt crystals formed despite my effort to wash it out. Two days later I had a problem pulling vacuum. The green light would come on but I would quickly get the flashing red light while I was at breakfast. I thought perhaps some salt crystals or debris had formed on the internal seal surface. I pulled a vacuum as best I could and quickly put distilled water in the cavity and pressed the release button several times. I repeated several times. I had placed a microfiber cloth inside to ensure no water got anywhere inside the housing. I completed the trip and have had no further issues and just recently did a pool dive, all functioned normally. If I could stay home long enough I would like to take it apart. Too expensive to replace but if I cannot then I guess off to Reef Photo it goes. YRMV.

Edit to add, I forgot, after forcing the distilled water flush through the valve I used an air gun to gently dry it including pressing the release while allowing air to flow through it. It functioned the remainder of dives and is still seemingly fine. I too would like to know how to disassemble the valve.

Edited 4 hours ago4 hr by Nemrod

3 hours ago, Kristin said:

No, it isn't the battery, which I have changed already.

The vacuum seal is not working.  

Have just pulled it out and tried to see if anything is obvious.  If anyone has pulled theirs apart to see the spring and little foot, it would be great to hear from you as it seems that this has to be the issue somehow - there's really nothing else that can go wrong.  I can't find a detailed parts diagram or instructions on how to fix this online at all.  

So, There are two possibilities: the electronic circuit or the valve itself. I didn't understand if you had tested whether, regardless of the light, opening the latches made the back come off, or if you felt air escaping when pressing the valve.

Anyway, now that you've removed the valve from the housing, try washing it. If you have access to someone who services regulators or a jeweler, try cleaning it in an ultrasonic bath. Otherwise, soak it in vinegar for a while and actuate the valve by hand several times. Then rinse it and run clean hot water through it first, followed by air.

It might just be that the internal mushroom membrane is dirty. I wouldn't dare take it apart.

3 hours ago, Nemrod said:

I too would like to know how to disassemble the valve.

To avoid to ruin the valve, you need that tool or something like that.

You can also change the valve for a new one... I've good experience with the sentinel from Vivid.
Small and not to expensive

4 hours ago, Nemrod said:

Just a couple of months ago I forgot to put  the cap on and went in the water. Got to about 30 feet and realized my error, NA-R50 housing. Fortunately I did not flood. However, salt crystals formed despite my effort to wash it out. Two days later I had a problem pulling vacuum. The green light would come on but I would quickly get the flashing red light while I was at breakfast. I thought perhaps some salt crystals or debris had formed on the internal seal surface

Been there, done that (except the reason was that I LOST the cap and figured it out a night before my first dive in a trip to Dauin). That was the older NA M14 vacuum model without the red push button : you had to screw/unscrew a ring around the vacuum.

I removed the vacuum with a wrench, cleaned the O-ring as much as I could and went diving. After a gentle cleaning, I noticed it took a longer time for the greenlight to switch to yellow-red (about 2 hours or so) . That was enough for me to go diving : after all, how did we survive before the vacuum times?

Back home I purchased a noname M14 vacuum, almost half price of the Nauticam model, coming with a smaller vacuum pump .

Edited 29 minutes ago29 min by Luko