Fisheye Fix Light HG20DX flooding problems

I've been using the Fisheye Fix Light HG20DX for several years and love the nice even light it puts out, but I've had many problems with this light that just seem to keep getting worse.

The back of the light battery compartment in my opinion is very poorly designed, in that it traps water that you can't get to until after you open the light. When you remove the back to pull the battery out for charging, that water gets sucked into the battery compartment where all the electronics are located. After damaging my first light this way I learned my lesson that you have to open the light bulb face up, with towel ready to dop up the water that inevitably will be trapped in the back cap and carefully inspect the light to be sure its dry inside.

My most recent light has been in the water exactly two times. The first time I noticed the red flashing flood indicators half way through the dive. The light went in for repair costing me $200. The second dive was just a couple of weeks ago in Cozumel. Again, the first dive of the trip the red flashing flood indicators started screaming at me 10 minutes into the dive. This time it was an even worse flood. I could not turn the light off (even though the dial said it was off) and the bulb exploded. Now I have over $650 invested in the light and its useless! I have no idea why the light flooded again.

At first I thought it was something I was doing, but now I know that something is not right with this light. Unfortunately my insurance barely helps because of a $250 deductible for floods.

I've asked quite a few other Fisheye users about their experiences with this light and almost every one of them has at least one flood in their history. Is anyone else having this many problems with this light?

I have attempted to contact Fisheye in Japan with no response. Anybody know where I can get a good price on a Hartenberger?

Bonnie -

I have owned three Fisheye lights - two HG20DX's and a 48DX LED. Both of the halogen lights "flooded" because of water drips onto the electronics - same as you describe, water dripping in despite me standing with a towel at the ready. Very frustrating - same thing, $250 deductible, and not really worthwhile to get them repaired. The LED was actually a glorious, true flood, but it did have the same issue with water getting trapped into that groove, so I suspect it would eventually have had the same fate as the halogen lights.

After this last incident (and consultation with a few others I know who were equally PO'd at Fisheye), I gave up on Fisheye altogether and bought a (gulp, curse, curse) Hartenberger. It has about 20-25 dives on it so far, and I love it.

The HG20DX is truly an amazing light - but the Hartenberger gives off a similar light output, and the housing is flush so there is nowhere for water to get trapped. Also, you can plug it in wet in between dives, though the charge isn't quite is good.

Allison

Edit - wanted to add - these events occurred probably over 500 dives. Also, even though I opened the battery compartment facing down, sooner or later, you need to have it facing back up so your light can be used as a focus light! That groove just holds water.

Also - the LED actually flooded through the front twice - on the first dive, but I got it back to the surface and dried out and checked by a dealer - everything appeared to be tight, and I got the OK to take it back out. Then it flooded again, catastrophically - and again through the front, and once again, everything was tight, so I don't have any idea where the flood came from.

Hi,

Did you contact Ryan at Reefphoto ? He is exclusive supplier of Fisheye/Seatool product for US market

& he supports fisheye users.

I did not flooded the light yet but, found fine crack on battery cover after 3-4 years of use & changed it

with spare I purchased.

Sam

well over a hundred dives with my HD20DX and never a flood

does yours have the two seals on the battery door?

1. the main o-ring on the cap itself

2 and flat seal on the body that seals the gap where the cap meets the body?

well over a hundred dives with my HD20DX and never a flood

 

does yours have the two seals on the battery door?

 

1. the main o-ring on the cap itself

 

2 and flat seal on the body that seals the gap where the cap meets the body?

Yes, it does and both are clean. I think this light flooded from the front someplace. Perhaps through the knobs.

I own three of the HD20DX focus lights and have hundreds of dives on them. No flood or leak problems - knock on wood. If I remember correctly, the instructions that came with the light said to always point the light up when opening the battery compartment.

I own three of the HD20DX focus lights and have hundreds of dives on them. No flood or leak problems - knock on wood. If I remember correctly, the instructions that came with the light said to always point the light up when opening the battery compartment.

I'm one of those anal people who actually does read the directions for most things I buy, but the first light I bought at a DEMA show many years ago didn't come with any user manual at all. So I learned that one the hard way and only made that mistake once. I see they have since added this to the user manual. However, when you pay $420 for a light you should not have to jump through hoops to keep it from flooding. The technique I describe for opening the light is no exaggeration. In the case of the more recent floods, the flooding happened when the light was underwater, in both cases the first time the light was ever in the water. Once when it was brand new, and the second time immediately after it was repaired. The last two floods isn't related to the poor design of the back cap. That's another issue entirely.

When I sent in the light for the first time it was sent to Reef Photo and they happily repaired it for $200. Next dive it flooded again.

I don't expect for anyone here to provide an answer to why this is happening. I hope that I can get the attention of the people from Fisheye in Japan to let them know that this very expensive product needs a redesign. I cannot recommend to my students to run out and buy a light that has so many problems. I would really love to find another light that has such a nice beam, but doesn't have all the problems the Fisheye light has.

In the case of the more recent floods, the flooding happened when the light was underwater, in both cases the first time the light was ever in the water. Once when it was brand new, and the second time immediately after it was repaired. The last two floods isn't related to the poor design of the back cap. That's another issue entirely.

 

When I sent in the light for the first time it was sent to Reef Photo and they happily repaired it for $200. Next dive it flooded again.

This is exactly what happened with my 48DX LED light - at least I didn't have to pay for a repair in between.... And if you couldn't already tell - I totally agree - $420 is a lot to spend to be constantly sitting there with a towel, worried that a drop of water is going to get into your light.

We would welcome the opportunity to evaluate the light, since it was last repaired by our store. These are pressure tested after the repair, but it would still be enlightening to look for stress cracks in the housing or impact damage.

The new LED500 and LED1000 Lights have been designed to greatly reduce the possibility of user error. There is an o-ring preceding the threads, keeping them dry, and an inner battery cap that prevents errant water droplets from going inside the lights. The battery cap is now larger, and knurled, making it much easier to open.

User error? By the looks of the new design, I suspect they knew they had a problem.

This sounds very frustrating, most especially considering the moderate price of the light, extra battery, etc... Maybe I'm one of the lucky ones, but I've never experienced any problems with mine. I've completed many dozens of trouble-free dives with no problems, other than the occasional sputter with non-charging of the batteries when I put them in the charger, remedied by removing and replacing the battery once or twice. Other than the battery not lasting as long as my tank of oxygen, I'm extremely content with mine.

The new LED500 and LED1000 Lights have been designed to greatly reduce the possibility of user error. There is an o-ring preceding the threads, keeping them dry, and an inner battery cap that prevents errant water droplets from going inside the lights. The battery cap is now larger, and knurled, making it much easier to open.

A couple of weekends ago I got to fondle the new LED1000 on dry land. As I played with the cap taking it on and off I noticed that the inner battery cap was coming off with the outer cap. It came two of the three times I took the outer cap off. The inner cap has two orings - one seals the battery compartment while the other is on a small protrusion that seats into the outer cap. It was this latter o-ring that was causing it to stick. We figured the reason was because the o-ring was a bit dry and thus sticking. So I am not sure how much of a valid data point my observations are but none the less it did happen.

I would agree the new design is not an effort to reduce user error but to reduce user fustration. The damn caps are hard to remove I tried on a demo model and that was a no go.

Oh, I just bought a Hartenberger Mini Electronic which my dealer admitted is less prone to the droplet problem.

Looks like I have just joined you guys.

Fisheye 48led - flooded.

Fisheye Japan - no response.

Supplier - doesn't give a .....

= me no longer a customer.

off to see Mr Hartenberger.......

Touch wood, my two LED 48DX's have performed faultlessly. But I am seriously concerned by the stories in this thread, not only about the 'no user error' flooding but also Fisheye's apparent reticence to engage with the user. These are not cheap lights and, at the price, I expect first class support...

In regards to the "no user error" I can add that ;

I have been diving for 28 years and this is the first piece of equipment that has flooded.

I am a service technician - so am very much aware of the requirements of gear maintenance ie, O ring care and the like.

The torch has been used predominantly in a water depth of 6 -8 meters. I can also guarantee there has been no "impact damage"

The torch is less than 1 year old.

Finally no support, let alone any form of response, from Fisheye.