Aqua-Vu camera disassembly ?

[jtroop]

A friend of mines Aqua-Vu camera cable has an intermittent open/short in the cable somewhere within a couple inches of the camera end. On most electrical equipment it's easy to tear apart and remove the damaged cable portion and re-do the electrical connections. I've pulled the clamps and removed the exterior plastic "lens" but the camera unit doesn't seem to want to come out of the rubber housing. Any special tools needed ? Anyone have any tips/suggestions ?

[RobertELee]

Before I got my Aqua View I had a Fisheye camera that had the same type of problem. I don't know if the internals are similar but when I took mine apart I had to remove the clamp that was holding the cord and while trying to pull the camera out push the cord at the same time. Be very carefull because the cord is in there tight, I had to use a little vaseline to get it to slide freely. Another hint when and if you can get it disasembled solder the connections and when reasembling the camera use good quality epoxy to seal the housing where the cord goes in. Just some hints to get you started.

Maybe another reason the camera is not coming out is it may be epoxied or glued into place.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I personally would not do it myself... Send it back to Aqua-Vu.

[jtroop]

I called the manufacturer (which, I guess, I should've done to begin with) and they said the camera can't be removed as it is epoxy'd in place during manufacture. Obviously that seriously hinders field repairs. Send it in and they'll replace it for $85 (which includes return shipping). Thanks for the response, guys.

[Surface Tension]

So you have to buy a new camera. What do you have to lose by slicing the cable now, nothing right. Solder the wires and use a waterproof connector. Add a piece of braided wire to the joint and tape it on so your not pulling on the joint.

[ChuckN]

I had the same problem with a camera. The power wire somehow broke inside the cable and I was lucky enough to find where the cut was. I repaired the wire, however, no matter what I did I could not get that unit to stop leaking and I could not pinpoint the leak. All it took was a little water inside and the camera shorted out and was completely shot.

Spend the $85 and get a new one. To replace my unit would be over $100.

[jtroop]

The only thing I lose by cutting it apart is more $. I didn't mention that the Aqua-Vu rep said the entire unit has to be returned to them in-tact to get the "discounted" camera replacement. Kinda sucks for those of us that have the ability to fix this stuff ourselves (normally). Ack.

[Surface Tension]

What am I missunderstanding here. If everything is sealed in epoxy and can't be serviced then why not slice the cable? Won't cost you a penny, right? Is there an exchange your being charged? If so how much.

[jtroop]

I'm having a hard time remembering the exact conversation now but the impression I got was that I do not get a "discounted" replacement camera if I've modified my original hardware. That would include "modifications" to the original cable/camera assembly.