Help! I may have spoken too soon

philmorley · 06-28-2008, 07:55 PM

if it continues after drying I'd try seeing if I could do a firmware update.

**NaClH2O** · 06-29-2008, 04:35 PM

It's been several days and there has been no real improvement. But it has been very humid here during that time. As far as a firmware update is concerned, I already have 1.30 version firmware which is the latest posted by Pentax.

NaCl(but thanks for the tip anyway)H2O

christinelandon · 06-29-2008, 11:45 PM

Fingers crossed for ya, Salty!

little laker · 06-30-2008, 01:10 AM

How about setting it in front of a small electric heater, turned to the lowest setting.
I'd use a coffee filter between the camera and the heater, to hopefully filter out any airborn contaminates.

flyer · 06-30-2008, 03:23 AM

I think some mineral salts carried by the water are "shorting" the circuits in your camera. When water evaporates, those are left behind and some are able to carry voltage where it is not supposed to go. I sincerely hope after enough drying, your camera works again, but I wouldn't set my expectations too high. Good luck

nixcamic · 06-30-2008, 08:45 AM

I have had success washing out electronics with distilled water to remove any mineral salts that may be in them, but I wouldn't do it on a $600 camera/YMMV.

**ChipB** · 06-30-2008, 10:13 AM

Salty, since it's been quite awhile since the soaking, I'd *assume* the camera is pretty well dried out by now - you might get a can of spray electronics cleaner (the type that leaves no residue) and, sparingly, spray some on (into) the various controls that are having a problem. Do it with the camera off and vigorously "work" the controls. Give it awhile to evaporate and try the functions again. Hope it helps!! Good luck.

cygnet · 06-30-2008, 10:53 AM

I've always used a hair dryer set on a low heat setting for these instances. As long as the heat isn't hot enough to melt stuff, it can dry a camera pretty quick, cuz you can aim it into all the places you need to get to. The warm air is a lot dryer than just leaving it in the humidity of normal air.

lithos · 06-30-2008, 11:12 PM

The most important thing to do if something electronic gets wet is to remove all current flowing through the device.

Water, on its own, generally won't damage electronic components. It's when water hits a live electronic circuit and shorts out something that a problem occurs.

I speak in general terms, of course. The K10D is a humongously complex piece of equipment, and there may be residual current left in capacitors or memory that could still short it out. Water may even degrade the adhesives used in the camera.

But resist all temptation to power it up again, until you're convinced it's dry.

If you're desperate, you might try suspending it in pure isopropyl alcohol to displace the water, but if you've power it up already it may be too late.

And gods know what that'll do to the seals...

**barondla** · 07-01-2008, 07:09 PM

Bad luck, hope it gets better soon. Sure is a terrible feeling when it happens. The already mentioned contact cleaner might help in very small doses. Helped my glitchy DS thumb dial (it didn't get wet though).
Dad once drowned his Olympus OM4ti on a canoe trip. It is sealed to certain degree but water got in the lens and viewfinder. Grabbed the camera and removed the batteries (luckily it wasn't on). Took back off camera, removed lens and focusing screen. Wiped up as much water as possible then layed camera body on car heater set to low and dried it on the way home. Hot as heck in the car since it was summer time. Once home put it in zip lock bag with packs of the moisture remover. Left it that way for about 3 days. Cautiously put batteries back in camera and it worked ( I couldn't believe it). More than 10 years later the camera still works fine! Lens was trashed ( cheap zoom wasn't worth the rouble to fix).
Hope your camera works again

thanks
barondla

PS If you have to send camera in don't mention liquid damage. Many companies will think the worst and refuse to work on it! If they figure it out fine. If not - you get your camera repaired. This is true even if camera is sent in out of warranty.

Check out POINT & SHOOT CONTEST 7 WINNERS in P&S forum. Enteries for #8 end tonight. Any type camera except slr. Any brand. Any subject. Enter now.

jgredline · 07-01-2008, 09:46 PM

I dropped my K1000 in a stream about a foot of water or so. I blew out out with 2 cans of compressed air and was ready to go in an hour. Works like a good luck charm.

I hope you have the same luck

jani · 07-02-2008, 02:12 AM

this sounds like a nightmare

how did u get water in cam exactly?

06-28-2008, 07:55 PM	#16
philmorley Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: in a house in Armidale, Australia Posts: 472	if it continues after drying I'd try seeing if I could do a firmware update.

06-29-2008, 04:35 PM	#17
NaClH2O Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bronx NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,631 Original Poster	It's been several days and there has been no real improvement. But it has been very humid here during that time. As far as a firmware update is concerned, I already have 1.30 version firmware which is the latest posted by Pentax. NaCl(but thanks for the tip anyway)H2O

06-29-2008, 11:45 PM	#18
christinelandon Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Seattle, Washington, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 812	Fingers crossed for ya, Salty!

06-30-2008, 01:10 AM	#19
little laker Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,697	How about setting it in front of a small electric heater, turned to the lowest setting. I'd use a coffee filter between the camera and the heater, to hopefully filter out any airborn contaminates.

06-30-2008, 03:23 AM	#20
flyer Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ste-Anne des Plaines, Qc., Canada Posts: 2,013	I think some mineral salts carried by the water are "shorting" the circuits in your camera. When water evaporates, those are left behind and some are able to carry voltage where it is not supposed to go. I sincerely hope after enough drying, your camera works again, but I wouldn't set my expectations too high. Good luck

06-30-2008, 08:45 AM	#21
nixcamic Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Guatemala Posts: 354	I have had success washing out electronics with distilled water to remove any mineral salts that may be in them, but I wouldn't do it on a $600 camera/YMMV.

06-30-2008, 10:13 AM	#22
ChipB Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Eau Claire, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,701	Salty, since it's been quite awhile since the soaking, I'd assume the camera is pretty well dried out by now - you might get a can of spray electronics cleaner (the type that leaves no residue) and, sparingly, spray some on (into) the various controls that are having a problem. Do it with the camera off and vigorously "work" the controls. Give it awhile to evaporate and try the functions again. Hope it helps!! Good luck.

06-30-2008, 10:53 AM	#23
cygnet Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hill Country Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 104	I've always used a hair dryer set on a low heat setting for these instances. As long as the heat isn't hot enough to melt stuff, it can dry a camera pretty quick, cuz you can aim it into all the places you need to get to. The warm air is a lot dryer than just leaving it in the humidity of normal air.

06-30-2008, 11:12 PM	#24
lithos Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Brisbane, QLD, AUS Posts: 3,261	The most important thing to do if something electronic gets wet is to remove all current flowing through the device. Water, on its own, generally won't damage electronic components. It's when water hits a live electronic circuit and shorts out something that a problem occurs. I speak in general terms, of course. The K10D is a humongously complex piece of equipment, and there may be residual current left in capacitors or memory that could still short it out. Water may even degrade the adhesives used in the camera. But resist all temptation to power it up again, until you're convinced it's dry. If you're desperate, you might try suspending it in pure isopropyl alcohol to displace the water, but if you've power it up already it may be too late. And gods know what that'll do to the seals...

07-01-2008, 07:09 PM	#25
barondla Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: midwest, United States Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,714	Bad luck, hope it gets better soon. Sure is a terrible feeling when it happens. The already mentioned contact cleaner might help in very small doses. Helped my glitchy DS thumb dial (it didn't get wet though). Dad once drowned his Olympus OM4ti on a canoe trip. It is sealed to certain degree but water got in the lens and viewfinder. Grabbed the camera and removed the batteries (luckily it wasn't on). Took back off camera, removed lens and focusing screen. Wiped up as much water as possible then layed camera body on car heater set to low and dried it on the way home. Hot as heck in the car since it was summer time. Once home put it in zip lock bag with packs of the moisture remover. Left it that way for about 3 days. Cautiously put batteries back in camera and it worked ( I couldn't believe it). More than 10 years later the camera still works fine! Lens was trashed ( cheap zoom wasn't worth the rouble to fix). Hope your camera works again thanks barondla PS If you have to send camera in don't mention liquid damage. Many companies will think the worst and refuse to work on it! If they figure it out fine. If not - you get your camera repaired. This is true even if camera is sent in out of warranty. Check out POINT & SHOOT CONTEST 7 WINNERS in P&S forum. Enteries for #8 end tonight. Any type camera except slr. Any brand. Any subject. Enter now.

07-01-2008, 09:46 PM	#26
jgredline Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: LosAngeles, Ca. Photos: Albums Posts: 10,628	I dropped my K1000 in a stream about a foot of water or so. I blew out out with 2 cans of compressed air and was ready to go in an hour. Works like a good luck charm. I hope you have the same luck

07-02-2008, 02:12 AM	#27
jani Forum Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 63	this sounds like a nightmare how did u get water in cam exactly?