GPSr not warrantied for water damage

[Uncle_Fun]

Was using my Garmin 60CSx this past Saturday at the All A Glow event, in the rain. After the event I noticed water under the screen. I laid it open the last few days and it didn’t clear. The unit turned on but that was all.

I called Garmin the morning and was told that water damage is not covered under the warranty. I questioned this due to their claim of water resistence to 1 meter. (It rained a lot, but not that much). He indicated that if it is going to be used in the rain, it should be in a dry bag.

They finally agreed to repair/replace as a one time exception.

So now I am GPSr less for the next 2 weeks. Boy does that bum me out.
Uncle_Fun

[Bushwhacking Queen]

Dave, no need to be without a GPSr! I’ll be more than happy to loan you my spare Magellan Meridian Gold. It is waterproof and floats! Not, er, that I know from experience and all. 😆
Diane
B.Q.

[EnergySaver]

Sorry about your GPSr …. I saw your log entry on the event, somewhat near my log entry indicating that might GPSr bit the dust too … actually dust was not the problem, just the opposite.

However, in my case I have an old Garmin eMap … which is NOT suppose to be water-resistant. It worked fine at the event, but when I powered it up at home to check my battery life, it powered up but none of the buttons would do anything. 😥

I tapped the unit on my palm (my human palm, not my Palm) … about a half a teaspoon of water came out around the keys … then I put it by the wood stove overnight (next to my coat, next to my WGA hoodie, next to my pants, next to my insulated underwear, next to my hiking boots, next to my socks) … and ta-dah, on Sunday the thing worked fine, I cached with a youth group in the Kettle Moraine with it for about 3 hours. 😕

My conclusion … the non-water-resistant units are better in the rain … because they let the water get back OUT 😯

[hogrod]

I had all the rubber come loose on my legendC after using it in the rain for a few hours awhile back, garmin replaced it no questions asked. I sent it to them postal priority mail and they returned it DHL next day air, it took exactly 7days to have my new gpsr.
one thing I forgot to mention to garmin when I sent it in was that I had city select, so I had to spend another 30min on the phone to get the new unit they sent unlocked for my software(since I had used both my unlock codes already). I have heard if you tell them when your sending it in they will inlcude an unlock coupon when they return you a new unit.

check out the picture below of the case we now use the legendC in the rain to to stop any issues. its a lexan floating waterproof/crushproof box, there is a few silica packets in the bottom to get rid of any moisture that does get in when we open the container.
I haven’t had any issues with my 60cx in the rain and hope not to, I wish I could find a similar container that would fit a 60series.

[EnergySaver]

I have a theory on how the water got into Uncle Funs GPSr … but I might be full of beans 😳 since I don’t have the same unit to look at …

If one was to drop the unit in a creek, you wouldn’t be pressing any buttons at the time it enters the water. But when geocaching in the rain, one is pushing buttons. It could be that the buttons only seal out water when they are not depressed … that pressing a button creates a short-term gap between the rubber button and the case. If this is the case, it would explain why USING the GPSr in the rain is a no-no; while dropping it in a creek is Ok (sort of) to do. If this is the case, the simple act of putting the thing in a ziplock bag would go along way in protecting the unit … and at the same time means that putting the unit in a nice waterproof case (as shown in the picture) would have not helped much.

I get this information from the water-resistant Timex watch I have … the warn you to not press buttons underwater, for that very reason.

[Jeremy]

Most Garmin units are rated to IPX7/IP67, for accidental immersion in water up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. Because it is only for accidental exposure, they probably don’t actually test it in operation underwater (i.e. by pressing buttons as Ron said). I know when we water test IP67 modules where I work we have the units powered up but are not plugging/unplugging connectors, opening covers, etc. That being said I’ve used many a Garmin unit in some really bad rainy and snowy conditions and never had a problem (knock on wood).

Waterproof units are not completely sealed and have a vent covered with a membrane (like Goretex) that allows gases to pass through but keeps water out… so even if a little water made its way in it could leave as water vapor. Heating the unit a little (with a hair drier? or Ron’s wood stove? :)) may speed the drying process.

http://www.gore.com/MungoBlobs/1004/348/membrane_vents_BPC.pdf

Ron, when I saw your eMap and yellow duck cover at the event I almost commented to you about it definitely not being waterproof. Glad it survived the downpour! I nearly killed an eMap using it on a motorcycle in rainstorm, but as in your case it recovered after it dried out for a day.

[kbraband]

Here’s what I use for my eMap if I geocache in the rain and for kayaking.
The advantage over a solid case is that you can operate all the buttons while it’s safely inside the waterproof pack. I got mine at Rutabaga paddle store in Madison.
http://www.aquapac.net/usstore/erol.html

[TyeDyeSkyGuy]

One of the first things I did with my Magellan Meridian Color was test it’s water resistance. One of the very forst caches I did was while it was snowing. Every time I looked back down at the GPSr, the face was cvered in snaw. And, when I wiped the snaow away, fog would form, but on the outside of the lense.

As soon as I got home I checked the unit over, and it was dry inside. So, I tested it further. I filled the kitchen sink and sunk it. I hekld it there for a minute, brought it up and it was fine.

Since then, whenever the unit gets dirty from a llong day on the trails, I wash it with dishwashing soap and water.

[CinemaBoxers]

Wow.. you are one brave soul…. Mines also a Magellan, and said to be waterproof – but with MY luck, Im putting off testing that one! LOL

[Ray]

Try a Zip-Lock Freezer bag. The one quart size is great for most units. It is waterproof, you can work all the buttons, it is cheap (disposable) and available at any well stocked grocery store (usually in the isle near the Oreo Double Stuff).

[EnergySaver]

@tyedyeskyguy wrote:

… the face was cvered in snaw … the snaow away … I hekld it there for a minute …

by any chance did you drop your keyboard in the sink with your GPSr?

[EnergySaver]

@Jeremy wrote:

That being said I’ve used many a Garmin unit in some really bad rainy and snowy conditions and never had a problem (knock on wood).

Ahhhhhh …. but we’re you at an EVENT (ie. pressing buttons for a whole bunch of caches) or doing regular caching (ie. pressing buttons every so often) … it’s all about accumlative exposure (which is the reason The Beast and I always wear shirts while swimming outside).

[TyeDyeSkyGuy]

@EnergySaver wrote:

@tyedyeskyguy wrote:

… the face was cvered in snaw … the snaow away … I hekld it there for a minute …

by any chance did you drop your keyboard in the sink with your GPSr?

No, just my brain. 😆

[Team Deejay]

@EnergySaver wrote:

@Jeremy wrote:

That being said I’ve used many a Garmin unit in some really bad rainy and snowy conditions and never had a problem (knock on wood).

Ahhhhhh …. but we’re you at an EVENT (ie. pressing buttons for a whole bunch of caches) or doing regular caching (ie. pressing buttons every so often) … it’s all about accumlative exposure (which is the reason The Beast and I always wear shirts while swimming outside).

I think Energy Saver might be onto something. We have been out in heavy rains a lot, but it was always for non-multi caches where we set up the GPS in the car and then headed for the cache. The constant button pushing you would do at an event would definitely contribute to the problem. If you were actually entering a bunch of coordinates in the rain, well, you are more persistent than me! Maybe we can get Jay to put his GPS in the sink and then push the buttons until it fails as a test. I’m sure that the boys in Paris would be glad to replace the unit after the test.

[TyeDyeSkyGuy]

Uhm… NO!

[Author]

Posts