Controllers and bulkheads

A couple of questions arise (well, lots-n-lots, actually) as I'm sorting out which strobe to go with.

1. Does Ikelite only offer Ike connectors on the sync cord bulkhead for the Coolpix5000 housing, or is their an option for a Nikonos connector?

2. How easy/hard is it to use the switch on the Ike Manual Controller when wearing cold water gloves (or mitts - I've been diving with "lobster claws", but expect I'll have to switch to 5 finger gloves to control the camera goodies)

3. For that matter, which strobe controllers are actually usable when wearing gloves (I've seen many posts that the YS-90DX controlls are almost impossible to use when wearing gloves)?

4. Any word on when/if Ike will be releasing the combo controller he teased us with a couple of months ago? I have a hard time understanding what's so difficult with adding either a switch position or a separate switch that would essentially "pass through" the sync cord signals to the strobe.....but then I'm not an EE.....

Not sure if you can get a Nikonos connector on an Ike housing. Note that the Ike bulkheads are considered by some to be more reliable. You can get synch cords to use most any Nikonos compatible strobe with an Ike housing (I think). The manual controller has a large dial on it. I use it a lot with 5 mm gloves and have no problem. I don't think that 3 finger mits would be a problem.

I have a 90DX and dont have problems with either 5MM neo gloves or my dry gloves. However for those of you who are diving dry and havent switched to dry gloves yet - DO IT. Hugh difference in dexterity and your hands will be as warm as the rest of your body. Im using the SI TECh gloves with adapter rings in my wrist seals. You can pick up a dime from a wet piece of glass with these.

Nemo

Nemo, with the SI Tech gloves, did you leave the wrist seals in place, or did you remove them and basically permanently install the gloves? The reason I ask is that I read somewhere that with the wrist seals in place, you don't get any air into the gloves, which causes some amount of squeeze, much like if you don't put any air in your drysuit. Is that the case, and if so, how deep does it start?

Thanks

Tom

I use SITech gloves. I got the clamp-on non-permanent model, and they are FANTASTIC (esp. because my wrist makes it hard to get a good wet seal without them. .

A thick thread or thin tube (supplied with the kit) can be used to allow air to travel between the dry gloves and your drysuit.

I also am having my gloves installed with the wrist seal in case of a glove flooding. I will be using the Skanna version as they are much less expensive but, from what my tech buddies tell me equal to others. (They also snap into a ring)

I was told to just use a small bit of sergical tubing to allow air to move between the arm and the glove. If you get a flood you just pull the tube out.

http://www.skaana.com/Skaana/skaana1.html

You can get synch cords to use most any Nikonos compatible strobe with an Ike housing (I think).

So if I wanted to use a YS-90DX or YS-90TTL, for example, I could connect with a synch cord which had an Ike connector on the housing end, and a Nikonos compatible connector on the strobe end? This would allow the camera to control the strobe for TTL exposure, correct?

All of these guys are right about equalizing the air in the glove. A tube, a cocktail straw, piece of string etc all work. If you are brave a few pin holes in the wrist seal do it too but you are comitting to using the glove 100% of the time then. I actually have the problem of air leaking into the glove at depth and then growing as I surface. The worst one was from about 170' and the glove looked like a 5 eared Mickey Mouse baloon. Didnt blow of the ring though. I spent my deco trying to push the air back into my wrist seal. At least I didnt get board on that hang.

Here is another big tip too. The actual blue gloves that SI sells with the glove system are just triple dipped chemical resistant gloves that can be had for less than $15.00 not the $45 that SI charges. I buy them by the dozen for my business so if anyone wants replacement gloves let me know and I will hook you up. I had my dive partner just buy the rings from SI's US distributor and I gave him a set of my gloves.