Flooding... not yet... but what if...

[robindotadams]

All,

any advice on the following...

1) Moisture alarms - heard and read lots about them, but are they worth it... whenever I got my C7070 oly damp (only once mind you), I knew quick enough to save it... and if they are a good idea... any recommendations?

2) Flood insurance - any comments/advice on best solutions? - people who have claimed and done so in a "hassle-free" manner would be great!

Cheers
Robin

[Cussy]

Robin,
The Ikelite housing is transparent, so I think you'll notice. I thought about a moisture detector, but decided it wasn't worth it. As Heather Hammond said to me "just make sure you don't flood it, buying a moisture detector may make you complacent"

Insurance is tricky. Most companies want a premium based on total value of kit, usually 8-10% a year and some insist on insurance for dive kit with it. When I totted up the total value of my kit it worked out to be about £350 a year. Now in most cases I can see failure will occur to only one part. So if it's one of my strobes and it dies I can pick another one up for £400. If the housing floods I may just kill a camera, again I can pick up another for £400. The only time I kill the whole lot is if I have to let go of it for any reason; this still wont be the whole set-up as I can't have macro and wide-angle on at the same time. My feeling is it isn't likely to make a claim that often. So I don't insure. That's a big risk I know, but I simply can't afford the insurance year on year. My plan is to get the housing serviced every other year and replace o-rings annually, that's my insurance.

Just my opinion,
Rob

[jackdiver]

1) My housing is Sea and Sea, so came with a moisture alarm, but it's not clear as your Ikelite is...worthwhile for me? I think so. For your housing? I think I'd not bother...


2) Insurance... I'm with Rob on this one. I don't have specialist insurance for my kit, but it is covered on my household insurance. For a fraction of the cost. And yes, it covers me whilst abroad...

[robindotadams]

I guess in my haste to "do the right thing" I forgot the main reason for moisture alarms was for housings you couldn't see in!... thanks for pointing it out... I'll remember when I get a 3rd mortgage and go up to an metal Housing!

[Cussy]

Originally Posted by robindotadams

I guess in my haste to "do the right thing" I forgot the main reason for moisture alarms was for housings you couldn't see in!... thanks for pointing it out... I'll remember when I get a 3rd mortgage and go up to an metal Housing!

Saying that though, a moisture detector may alert you to a droplet of water, whereas in an Ikelite housing you might not notice a slow leak until much later. If you can get one at a reasonable price then it wont hurt.
Rob

[DDT uk]

My Sea and Sea D70 housing did not come with a moisture alarm and so I have been periodically moving the housing around looking to see if I could see any water inside (as I have done more than once!).

Kevin from Aquaphot gave me a call the other day asking if I wanted one of his latest alarms for a decent price. It is both audible and visual. It simply stick to the side of the housing and has a ribbon that lays along the bottom. In terms of the cost of equipment is was peanuts and so I thought I would I would be mad not to get one.

In terms of specific camera insurance, I do not bother. I made enquiries of a couple companies and they wanted you to also insure your offer diving equipment up to the same value as well. Now you are looking at £6k of insurance, not £3k, and so the premuims were sky high. If it is not covered by my home insurance then I'll take the risk.

Dnaiel

[Cussy]

Originally Posted by DDT uk

MKevin from Aquaphot gave me a call the other day asking if I wanted one of his latest alarms for a decent price. It is both audible and visual. It simply stick to the side of the housing and has a ribbon that lays along the bottom. In terms of the cost of equipment is was peanuts and so I thought I would I would be mad not to get one.

What's a good price?
Rob

[DDT uk]

I'll try to dig the invoice out. Kevin does not advertise but works solely by word of mouth. In the past I have put a lot of work his way and so he'll often throw things in for me very cheap. Although that is not the reason I do recommend him. The reason I do is that he is cheaper than his competitors and if you say to him that you need something done tomorrow he will do it. If he can't then he will tell you so.

The other thing is that if you say to him that you want xyz and so and so are doing it for £x, he'll do it for cheaper or throw in a free service, etc.

If you are after one, let me know and I'll give me a bell.

Daniel

[aquakiwi]

I have a moisture alarm in my Ikelite, seeing as the cost was only $60, I think it a worthwhile investment. It is very sensitive to small amounts of water and would probably alert me before I sighted any water .

[whacky]

Slight thread hi jack, but does anyone use desicant to absorb moisture in their setups?

I dont have insurance and after reading all that you guys have said it appers that it's only worth it if you lose all your kit.