Don't plug in (or unplug) firewire when the camera is on!!!

DavidBeier

DavidBeier

Veteran
Since there are apparently still a lot of people who don't know this:

At any point when connecting the camera to a PC or other firewire device don't plug the firewire in WHILE THE CAMERA IS ON? This is BAD!!! I've seen this fry numerous firewire ports in the past (including my poor little deck camera). Barry's book even has a warning about this. When plugging a firewire into the camera, plug it in when the camera is OFF, then turn the device on and then turn the camera on. When you are done, first turn the camera off and then unplug the cable. Not doing this can destroy the firewire port. Panasonic also will no longer fix this under warrenty (tired of people making the same mistake I guess) so it can cost you a pretty penny.

Sticky please?
 
Where have you confirmed that Panasonic "no longer" will fix this?

And where has the company expressed that any procedure is the correct one?
 
I believe I just read it in the manual the other day. In my HVX manual. Coulda been Barry's book I am thinking about. But regardless, I have come across that info. several times before I even got the hvx's.
Also, about 4 pin to 4 pin being much less risk of this happening.
There was a thread today, a guy was saying that he did it to his camera and that he had to pay for it. It was not covered by warranty. It would be somehwere in the neighborhood of 600 u.s. if I remember correctly. He wasn't from the states, but panasonic is panasonic.
It makes sense not to cover the warranty, but there is an exception. What to do when the firewire cable falls out of the camera or gets "jerked" out while recording accidentally, rather than ignorantly?
It might be a nice thing if firewire ports and cables had a little clip or something to help keep them more secure. A little flexible teet on the camera and a notch on the cable or something.
just an idea.
Jason
 
David S. said:
Where have you confirmed that Panasonic "no longer" will fix this?

And where has the company expressed that any procedure is the correct one?
Click to expand...

That's what was reported to me on another thread and I've had countless professionals tell me that this is the proper way to do it. I'm pretty sure Barry mentions it in his book.

The initial lack of people discussing on the previous thread indicates that a lot of HVX users don't apparently know abou this risk. I'm not trying to attack Panasonic. I'm not trying to shake the boat in any way. I'm just trying to get the info out so some poor bastard doesn't fry his deck like I once did (and many of my friends have) or have to spend $600 getting his HVX fixed.
 
Okay.

So the BEST PROCEDURE is:

Both device and cam are powered off.

Connections are made.

Device powered.

Cam powered.

Turn cam off.

Turn device off.

Unconnect?
 
When IEEE1394 was first introduced it was touted as hot pluggable. I learned the cold truth when I hot plugged the firewire from my Tascam control surface. They were kind enough to replace it for me OUT OF WARRANTY. I can understand a problem if plugging it in incorrectly, but it should be able to be hot plugged without consequence. (Whimpy driver chips)
Just my $.02
 
Ya, i know someone who already had this problem, it was earlier in the year, a few months ago, he didnt mention having to pay for it though. But well aware of this, even though ive been living dangerously on all my shoots, it still works. *knocks on wood* i will be taking all the precautions from here on out though
 
David S. said:
Okay.

So the BEST PROCEDURE is:

Both device and cam are powered off.

Connections are made.

Device powered.

Cam powered.

Turn cam off.

Turn device off.

Unconnect?
Click to expand...

That should give you 100% protection, I would think.
 
Just in case I will also add: be careful about STAT!C ELECTR!C!TY. Be sure to ground yourself and your equipment for a moment before you connect it when humidity is low. It could be dangerous to electronic equipment even if it's turned off.
 
ksteiger said:
but it should be able to be hot plugged without consequence. (Whimpy driver chips)
Just my $.02
Click to expand...
Well, there's the problem, that word "should". We all know that it SHOULD be able to do that. But the reality is that there's blown firewire ports all over the place to testify that it just can't be relied on.

That said, I've done it a thousand times on 4-4 connections, so I think it's only something to worry about when one of the devices has a 6-pin port.
 
Blown firewire port can destroy port in any device connected to it. It may end up with bunch of broken decks and camcorders before people realize what's going on. We have to be careful, esp. with 6-pin ports.
 
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