Did I just kill my strobe?

After returning from an extremely good trip in Pulau Weh (Indonesia), I tiredly dropped my dive and camera gear into the dunk tank (read bath tub) at home. This included my two Ikelite DS-125 strobes. After about 30 minutes I removed and found to my horror that I had forgotten to put the bulkhead cover onto one of the strobes! Now, I know the strobe electronics are sealed off from the battery compartment, but am not sure how good or well they are insulated from the bulkhead side (if at all). Used a blower to dry it off and am leaving it overnight before I try to test fire it. Want to calm my nerves while I wait.. will I need to send it in or am I relatively safe? *fingers crossed*

After returning from an extremely good trip in Pulau Weh (Indonesia), I tiredly dropped my dive and camera gear into the dunk tank (read bath tub) at home. This included my two Ikelite DS-125 strobes. After about 30 minutes I removed and found to my horror that I had forgotten to put the bulkhead cover onto one of the strobes! Now, I know the strobe electronics are sealed off from the battery compartment, but am not sure how good or well they are insulated from the bulkhead side (if at all). Used a blower to dry it off and am leaving it overnight before I try to test fire it. Want to calm my nerves while I wait.. will I need to send it in or am I relatively safe? *fingers crossed*

Should be not a big problem. Look for corrosion of the connector but if you don't see any, should be fine. Happened several times to me with no apparent ill effects

Bill

By bulkhead do you mean the synch socket was exposed or do you mean the battery pack was not on?

Either way, corrosion can eventually damage the exposed metal connections. All strobe manufactures recommend sending the strobe in for servicing, even if the electronics are apparently okay.

If it was freshwater I doubt there would be any major damage. You MAY get some corrosion, but if you dry it out thoroughly it's probably no worse than high humidity.

thanks guys! i dried it as best I could with a blower, then let it sit in my de-humidifying cabinet for a day then tested it... no problems... *phew*

Lucky You!

Got You spooked tough

Scubamoose