JVC HD100 No Power

C

Cielo

New member
Has anyone with a JVC HD100U run into a "no power" problem? I have used the camera about a dozen times, shut it off after a shoot, then tried to turn it on again two days later. Nothing...it's dead. Batteries are charged...AC works... but the camera just won't turn on!
There is a little sticker in the battery compartment that reads "caution replace with same type fuse" Well... there is no fuse there....or anyway to get to one.
I shoot extensively in the developing world (Africa, Asia and Latin America) and have an XL1, working flawlessly for 4 years. I just replaced it with this JVC, sold the XL1, and the day the new owner took it away, this happens!!
I'm afraid I may not be able to rely on this camera.
Can anyone help!
Thanks
Cielo
 
As far as reliability goes, we use six of them now with another 6 to be possibly ordered after NAB and we've never had an issue. I'm certainly not defending JVC but if we owned 1 and it didn't go TU, that'd be one thing but we've found them to be exceptionally reliable across the board and right from the rack...and we're pretty hard on equipment. They are mechanical devices and mid-priced devices at that so there will always be some issues somewhere. We look as carefully at customer service as product assuming it's going to break down from the git go and so I'd say give JVC a chance to earn your respect. If they don't respond accordingly, chuck'em and this forum is a great forum for influencing the buying decisions of alot of people. I'm not saying badmouth them but certainly keep the Board apprised of your progress or lack thereof.
 
Thanks jlames, I got a speedy response from Bob Mueller at JVC. It appears to be an internal fuse problem.... that can occur putting on or taking off a battery... or who knows what else. They solution was to send it back to JVC for service when it happens (but there aren't a lot of serice centers in Uganda, Cambodia or even Brazil.) I'm hoping I can learn to fix it myself, take some spare parts on the road with me and hope for the best. Or sell it and go back to something that I can depend on. Wanna buy it?
Cielo
 
For those of you that encounter the JVC GY-HD100U Power problem... the response I got from Bob Mueller was actually quite extrordinary. Here's a senior guy with a large manufacturer... taking the time to help a costumer with a problem. I might by another JVC camera just because of this dude! Anyway, expect the internal fuse to blow on your camera if you are not use an after-market power supply with it's own fuse. The JVC problem is internal and appears to be repairable only at a JVC service center. (Where I shoot that about 5000 miles away). Anyway, I'm hoping they will supply me with the parts and some direction on how to fix it when I'm in a jungle somewhere.
Bobs reply to me is below....with the part number.
Rick Castiglione
www.cielopictures.com

******

Dear Rick:

Thanks for your message. As a new and important model, GY-HD100U reliability data is very closely tracked at JVC by Product Engineering, Service Engineering and Factory management. Overall, the GY-HD100U has established a remarkable reliability record. Once the fuse failure is corrected, I believe you will enjoy a long and very successful ownership experience.

I'm told the part number for the fuse is #NMFZ020-3R-15X-S, though you may wish to double-check this.

Many GY-HD100U owners opt for IDX or Anton Bauer power solutions. If you're planning an extensive shoot, you may wish to consider these alternatives.

Thank you again and sincere best wishes to you.

Bob Mueller
 
Well, what more can you say. JVC's got problems like any big company has but, as I said, give them the chance to earn your business and respect. If they don't, chuck 'em. For us, I have to think of the livelihoods of everyone who works on our productions so I don't buy the camera or rack of cameras, I buy the company that makes them so to speak which is why we selected JVC. Yeah, it's a good camera which right now is right for our production needs. But we have to know that we'll get a response when we need it; immediately because Sh%# breaks; it's as simple as that.

Bob's an incredible guy who's always done what he said he would and stands by his word irrespective of anything else. 1 or 6 cameras, NAB week or not, quarterly ending or not. What more can you ask of a camera or a company?

I'm glad it all worked out for you. It may not be an option for you but we never take just one camera on location with us, especially out in the elements like you do. Even though people like Andrew Young take one into the Madagascar outback and beat the bejesus out of it, drop it in a river, have it get rained on and have to put it over a fire to dry it out where it miraculously came back to life and allowed him to complete the shoot, that's unlikely. Again, as I said, they're mechanical things that, quite frankly, I can't figure out how they don't give up the ghost more often. And they're mid-priced at that which means that, no matter the manufacturer, the tolerances just aren't cut as closely as they are in, say, a 930 or 950 costing upwards of $100,000 outfitted. Anyway, too many words. Glad you got a response and you're considering staying on the team!!!
 
Indeed... I was a little shocked at the speedy response... Bob seems like a unique "Corporate Leader" It still means I have to ship the camera to California for repairs (and rent one to take to Yemen) but at least it will be done. Interesting to note... I have tried three times to contact JVC Canada, and they have yet to return my calls or email. Ultimately, that's why I bought the camera in the US...because I couldn't find a good dealer in Canada or get information here.
As for the "fuse" ... it's about a 6 dollar item... that can be ordered and thrown in a kit bag. It's about a 30 minute repair job (if you get a lesson from a good engineer)... but it will void the warranty if you open the camera yourself. I'm letting JVC do the first one then throwing a screw driver in the camera bag with a bunch of fuses.
I usually take a second (smaller) camera with me...just in case.
Cheers..
Rick
 
I'm glad to hear that and for what it's worth, we do the same thing just in case. We've been shooting nonstop down here in Tunica for the past three days, so much we had to put the Internet site off a week because there's just not enough time to do it justice, and we've not had one problem with the cameras; that's six of them. So hopefully that'll be that when your fix is done.
 
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