I think I broke my cam...any advice?

Thanks.. Very good insight indeed. Did you see my post about the camera stuttering ( a few posts up) Do you think I should bring it somewhere to get it checked out? Thanks again so much everyone for your help. Tim.

khmuse said:
The fundamental problem isn't necessarily the AC adapter, it is two connections that have ANYTHING common to the AC mains. Here is what can happen.

If the camera is connected to the computer via its 1394 interface and the camera is connected to a DVD player there is the potential for the camera acting as a conduction path for any leakage currents that any of the other products have. Consider if the DVD player is also connected to a TV. TVs are notoriously cheap in their design. They very often use a concept named double insulated as opposed to real power transformer. The TV connected to the DVD player, connected to the camera, connected to the computer puts the camera's electronics in the path of any event on any of the following devices:

Cable TV (or any of the miles of lines connected to the cable box)

Antenna (and any environmental events)

DVD player, which will likely have a switching power supply in place of a real power transformer (to save manufacturing costs)

Now the only path to a real ground (3 wire mains cord) is through the camera to the computer.

Mythfit, is correct, use batteries whenever possible, but not for the reason he stated, it is to lessen the conduction path by one node (elimination of the AC adapter).

If you want to be safe when you are capturing an analog source (such as the DVD player) capture to tape while running the camera off of a battery. Then disconnect everything from the camera, before connecting the 1394 interface to transfer the contents of the tape to the computer. This will keep only a single mains related connection to the camera at any one time and therefore preventing the camera from becoming a conduction path.

Hope that this very abbreviated explanation is sufficient.
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Hey Tim,

Glad that my explanation was coherent enough to be comprehensible. I am often accused of not making too much sense (except to other tech nerds like myself).

If you have any concerns over your camera's behavior, then you should certainly consider having it looked at. Modern electronics can be partially wounded by an event and subsequently exhibit atypical behaviors. If this is a problem for you, then get it corrected. If it is just a behavioral idiosyncrasy, then you might want to live with it and save the expense of a service charge. In all likelihood, it will not progress.
 
Thanks so much. You're in Orange, any recommended places to get my cam checked out at if I do have to? Once again, I can't say thanks enough, you've been great.
 
rlm7189 said:
So, your best bet, stock up on batteries and only use batteries. NEVER EVER EVER use a plug, if you can help it.

Rick
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I remember reading a post a while ago from Jan that says that you should use the charger once in a while because the battery that powers the time/date clock gets recharged only from the charger, not from the regular camera battery.
 
Sumfun said:
I remember reading a post a while ago from Jan that says that you should use the charger once in a while because the battery that powers the time/date clock gets recharged only from the charger, not from the regular camera battery.
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This is correct. You will need to charge the internal battery about every 4 - 6 months. Just use the adapter but leave the camera off (and disconnected from any other mains connected piece of equipment).
 
Slimothy said:
Thanks so much. You're in Orange, any recommended places to get my cam checked out at if I do have to? Once again, I can't say thanks enough, you've been great.
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Hey Tim,

I have always serviced all our camera's in house, but I know that the factory facility in Laguna Hills has a great reputation. Their telephone number is 949-855-1082.

Keep us posted if you decide to have it serviced or choose to use it as is.
 
Okay, I was using my cam to film some family and it just shut off. Thought I had a dead battery, but now it won't turn on again. Looks like I'm re-entering hell. I left a message w/ the people you recommended KH.
 
I talked to the people, going to send it in. Has anyone sent their camera before? Any recommendations on wrapping it? Tim.
 
Sumfun said:
I remember reading a post a while ago from Jan that says that you should use the charger once in a while because the battery that powers the time/date clock gets recharged only from the charger, not from the regular camera battery.
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If you don't use time/date on any of your stuff ... as in EVER, is this a big deal? I've probably not had my cam plugged in for, well I don't remember the last time it's been plugged in. But, I've never had a need nor will I for the time/date.
 
Envision said:
If you don't use time/date on any of your stuff ... as in EVER, is this a big deal? I've probably not had my cam plugged in for, well I don't remember the last time it's been plugged in. But, I've never had a need nor will I for the time/date.
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I guess if you never use the time/date function it's okay. I've never used it either, but Jan was recommending charging the battery, so I thought it couldn't hurt.
 
Surge Protector

Surge Protector

If you absolutely have to use a plug to power the DVX, would it be a wise idea to use a surge protector; or would that only make matters worse?
 
UPDATE: My camera problem did not have to do with the plug, but rather a disconnection of something within dealing with the power.
 
Sounds like yet another reason to spend a couple hundred on a beater cam. Not only for this type of work, but for capturing too.

kh, this power issue seems like something folks have known about for some time, something which should be addressed (especially with the costs of the electronics potentially damaged). Is there ANYTHING which can be done to clean up/filter/regulate power and/or potential surges between units? Something like a surge protector built into a firewire, or a power supply with capacitors or something to store and evenly relase a consistant flow of power?

If not, there is one hell of a market for one. Spend 100 bucks for a power supply, a hunderd for a firewire is a very small investment to protect your equipment.

By the way kh, thanks for the info you provided in this thread. You have certainly saved me from potential disaster, and many others as well. You get a beer from me too. Hell, I may even spring for three beers.
 
you can always buy another from that scam place...broadway photo and after you get it send back the broken one and cancel the order. :)

On a serious note, the way you stated it, it sounded like you switched the cameras function button WHILE it was recording off the DVD. Is that what happened?
If so, I dont think its an electrical problem. It may have corrupted the software that runs the camera but im not sure if that would effect it from turning on.
Just my 2 cents.
 
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