Flooded DS 51

Hello again,

sorry for my english (not my born language)

I was not saying it was Islandbound did something wrong. Just trying to share some similar experience I had: once I have flood both of my Ds50.

It was after a night dive. Both of them were working great during the dive. It was a long shallow night dive. I must have made over 70 shots. All of them full power. At the end of the dive they were still working. Then I left them inside fresh water for an half an hour while taking care of other equipment. Can you believe it? The two Ds50 had the same problem: some water got inside the battery compartment. I was using NiMH rechargeable betteries...

I've sent them to Ikelite USA. They fixed them. No charge but the Mail expenses. Very good service.

Carlos, my experience while flooding is almost exactly like your dive. I am still perplexed why the strobe flooded. The strobe was sent off yesterday to Ikelite and hopefully it can be fixed.

Sorry for your troubles Islandbound.

My used DS50 survived it's maiden voyage. Took it down on 7 out of 10 dives total, swapping batteries every other dive. After reading this thread I was paranoid about leaving it in the rinse bucket, but I didn't have any problems.

I did take the following precautions (superstition? or good ideas?)

a) I did not put 'freshly charged' (warm) batteries in it, only room temp

b ) I only loaded batteries inside, in the AC, rather than out in the humidity on the dive deck

c) After each dive I did leave it in the rinse tank for 10-20 minutes while gearing down, but then collected it, blew it off with compressed air, and reverified flash operation with the turn on, let charge, turn off trick.

d) After the dives where I did NOT swap the batteries, I did loosen the battery door (again, in AC, inside) just in case battery heating 'pushed out' some air past the o-ring, so I wasn't pulling a partial vacuum at the surface before the next dive. This does of course open up the possibility of an "oh, f***" moment if I forget to re-tighten before using!

e) I did bubble-test in the dip bucket before each dive.

f) After diving I removed batteries and left the door 'loose' so as not to be compressing the o-ring during storage between trips.

I noticed also that I lost the plastic 'clip-ring' that holds the battery compartment cover screw in - not that it seems to want to come out. But with that gone I was able to see the inner face of that screw is just flat - no embedded o-ring. So the 'seal' for the screw hole is just the flat face of the screw to the exterior face of the battery door??? Surprising, but as I said it did work.

My buddy's brand new DS51 flooded via the battery compartment on its first dive on our recent trip to Bali. Cleaned it up OK and it worked fine. Second dive it flooded again. On very close examination, the battery door appeared to be slightly warped. This was subsequently confirmed by the Ikelite distributor who sorted it out when we got back. I really don't understand how stuff like that gets out of the factory.

I am late to the "funeral" for this strobe.

My strobe DS51 flooded. This is the second time the strobe has flooded. Once about 10 years ago in Bonaire and now today in FLorida. In both cases, I cannot figure out why. I'd like to take blame for it but until I figure it out cannot as there is no obvious reason. I meticulously clean and inspect my stuff.

I wish the strobe manufacturers would make their equipment with double or even triple "O" rings. Its redundancy.

Thanks folks.

Upon reading this thread again carefully, I found the plastic inside the door and surrounding the screw cracked. I didnot even know it existed. I have a picture but don't think I can post here due to being a newbie.

Upon reading this thread again carefully, I found the plastic inside the door and surrounding the screw cracked. I didnot even know it existed. I have a picture but don't think I can post here due to being a newbie.

You should be able to add pics to your posts, Gorji.

Click on More Reply Options and then Chose File, elect your pic from your hard drive (or whatever) and then click Attach. When you've done with your post, click Add Reply.

The 'old cracked door flood' got me on my first dive with my DS-51. I washed the battery compartment and the flash worked properly. I later sent it to Ikelite trying to resolve other flash issues.
It turned out my brand new housing for a Canon G16 was the issue.
I bought new battery compartment covers and all is fine now.
I also had a similar issue with my DS-160, It flooded the first time out. Bought other battery packs and all is fine.
And then there was my Substobe M. Flooded first dive. Main compartment. Took it back to the dealer, still flooded. Serviced properly the next day. The dealer was an Ikelite repair station.

The moral of the story? water will seek out anything electronic, double check everything before going near the water.