Keeping Garmin 800 water/sweat-proof

neeb
neeb Posts: 4,473
edited June 2013 in Workshop
I killed my Garmin 800 by regularly sweating all over it on the indoor trainer during the winter. Fortunately it was still in warranty and I got a replacement, but I'd like to avoid the same thing happening again.

The problem is that the little rubber caps that go over the USB and memory card ports are rubbish, they are a very loose fit and quite easily let moisture through. Is it possible to use some sort of grease (or Vaseline?) to help seal the rubber caps, or will that just make them fall out even more easily?

Comments

  • foiegras
    foiegras Posts: 18
    Why not try an out front mount (there are plenty to choose from). I use one for turbo sessions and there is never sweat on my device ( and its not because I don't sweat)
  • neeb
    neeb Posts: 4,473
    I actually have one already, but I still sweat over the garmin... I think it's all of the out-of-the-saddle stuff that does it...
  • wishitwasallflat
    wishitwasallflat Posts: 2,927
    I heard tell of someone putting a Condom over theirs - what about cling film, stretch it tight and bet you don't even notice it's there through the haze of suffering?
  • tincaman
    tincaman Posts: 508
    I put a very small amount of plumbers silicone grease under the rubber seal, being careful not to get any in the socket. Needs to be done about every 8 weeks
  • neeb
    neeb Posts: 4,473
    A might give the grease a go. Today I just stuck the garmin in a small zip lock poly bag, which doesn't stop it slotting into the mount. Fine for indoors, but for rain outdoors the grease sounds better.
  • lef
    lef Posts: 728
    theres a rubber case available which will probably do the trick
  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    The silicone case has cutouts for the USB and SD Card slots.
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • apreading
    apreading Posts: 4,535
    Never had problems with mine in the pouring rain - would be a dumb design if you did... See the tests here: http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2010/12/feel ... tests.html

    Sweat should be no different in this respect - unless you have a faulty model where the seals havent been set properly.
  • neeb
    neeb Posts: 4,473
    apreading wrote:
    Never had problems with mine in the pouring rain - would be a dumb design if you did... See the tests here: http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2010/12/feel ... tests.html

    Sweat should be no different in this respect - unless you have a faulty model where the seals havent been set properly.
    This doesn't fit with my experience at all. In both units I have had, the seals are a very loose fit. You have to really push them in and hold them for a few seconds to get them to stay in, and if you open up the seals after the unit has been exposed to moisture you can see that some water/sweat has got around them.
  • apreading
    apreading Posts: 4,535
    I think the seal is not the waterproofing and moisture in the socket is not neccesarily a problem. I read somewhere that the two sockets are isolated and waterproof in themselves. The potential problem is if the cable or card are inserted when wet, and the contacts are carrying current which is shorted by water in the socket - I think you would have to be unlucky for this to actually break the device though.
  • neeb
    neeb Posts: 4,473
    apreading wrote:
    I think the seal is not the waterproofing and moisture in the socket is not neccesarily a problem. I read somewhere that the two sockets are isolated and waterproof in themselves. The potential problem is if the cable or card are inserted when wet, and the contacts are carrying current which is shorted by water in the socket - I think you would have to be unlucky for this to actually break the device though.
    Actually that could explain a lot - with the previous unit I was always plugging it into the USB port to download the data straight after doing an indoor turbo session... Maybe the trick is to open up the seals and let it dry out before doing that, or give it a quick blast with a hairdryer.
  • apreading
    apreading Posts: 4,535
    I guess if you really want to be careful, and want an extra precaution (and based on what DC rainmaker says) could be to remove the SD card during turbo sessions - you presumably wont need the maps while you are in the dungeon!
  • cattytown
    cattytown Posts: 647
    neeb wrote:
    apreading wrote:
    Maybe the trick is to open up the seals and let it dry out before doing that, or give it a quick blast with a hairdryer.

    How about finish the session, quick wipe, go shower then look at stats?

    Paul.
    Giant Defy 2
    Large bloke getting smaller :-)
  • neeb
    neeb Posts: 4,473
    cattytown wrote:
    neeb wrote:
    apreading wrote:
    Maybe the trick is to open up the seals and let it dry out before doing that, or give it a quick blast with a hairdryer.

    How about finish the session, quick wipe, go shower then look at stats?

    Paul.
    Whatever.. :wink:

    But obviously the thing not to do is jump straight off the trainer and plug it into the computer when the usb socket is wet..

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