Static electricity blew my firewire port!

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David W. Richardson

Chapelgrove Films
I've always been VERY careful with how I connected my HV30 to the computer via the 4-pin to 6-pin firewire cable. Always connected it to the computer first, then to the camera, because I knew doing it the other way around could blow the firewire ports on the camera, the computer, or both.

Well last night I went to connect the camera to the computer. Just before the camera's port touched the cable, there was a ZAP of static electricity. (Humidity's been 28% in the house, so static has been a problem.)

Sure enough, that blew the firewire port on the PC. I know for sure the PC's port is blown because it won't recognize a DVX100a connected to it now. I can't be sure if the port on the HV30 is also blown until I try to connect it to some other firewire port.

So be careful with the static, my friends. It can bite you.
 
Oh yeah, static is for real. I have real issues with it at my place. Not so much humidity, but carpets. Walking around in carpet for 20 minutes then touching just about anything conductive results in a significant discharge. I have to have a little discharge protocol before plugging in or turning on different video or music equipment. Literally, I have these little Buddhist prayer bells (I'm not Buddhist, although I appreciate the culture) which I touch to discharge any static I may be carrying. Then I touch the objects I'm going to use, prior to turning them on. Not sure if the latter is just superstition, but better safe than sorry, I suppose.

David, I'm sorry to hear about your FireWire ports! I've been there before, so I can relate. I hope it's just your computer and not both.
-Best of luck!
 
Lost a couple of Firewire ports on some Lacie drives the same way. The USB port still works fine... but you could literally smell the Firewire port went it blew.
 
David W. Richardson said:
I've always been VERY careful with how I connected my HV30 to the computer via the 4-pin to 6-pin firewire cable. Always connected it to the computer first, then to the camera, because I knew doing it the other way around could blow the firewire ports on the camera, the computer, or both.

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Click to expand...

This is a good notice for everyone. Connecting to the computer first certainly will help, but it's not the best procedure. The computer is grounded. So when plugging in that end, it is hoped that the static discharge will occur from your body or the cable to the computer's ground on the computer connector. But that might not happen and damage may occur anyway. A better procedure is to discharge yourself to the computer chassis first, while holding the camera. Now all three items are at the same potential and no discharge will occur. Of course, every movement you make may charge you up again. So as a strict procedure, your body should be in constant contact with the computer from before you make the connection until the connection is complete. If you see or feel the zap, it's up around 10,000volts or more. Many static discharges occur that are never noticed.
 
This was a constant discussion topic on the old hv20.com (now hddv.net). The ONLY safe way is to power down both computer and camcorder before grounding oneself and making connections. Then power up the computer followed by the camcorder.

Same for disconnecting. Power down both computer and camcorder, ground yourself and then unplug the cables. I followed this procedure religiously with Panasonic GS500 and Canon HV20. Never had a problem with blown ports.

This was one of the things that drove me to jump on the Canon HF100 when it first came out in 2008.
 
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