Garmin 500 currently in the washing machine !!!

p1tse

My wife took my cycling top with my garmin 500 in the wash!!!

What's the likely hood if I out in bag of rice and in the airing cupboard it might come back to life?

If not what's the going rate for a used garmin 500 or does garmin do repairs/ replacement type offer?

Gutted especially lack of funds as it is

crescent

I don't have one but I'd imagine that, as it is designed to be used externally, it has a fairly good IP (ingress protection) rating - outdoor electrical equipment generally does. You might be lucky. Failing that, rice or silica-gel is the normal dehydrating method of choice. Possibly even use a hair dryer on it - you never know.
Good luck.

ElectronShepherd

The Edge 500, like most Garmin GPS units, is designed to get wet. It's rated to IPX7, which means 30 minutes underwater to a depth of 1m. Provided you stopped the cycle and drained the machine, it should be alright.

The problem you might have is that ingress protection against water works both ways - once the water's in, it will struggle to get out again. Rice and or the airing cupboard probably won't do it.

desweller

I don't know about the Edge (I have an eTrex), but if you can get the batteries out ASAP and get it in dry warm air then you might get away with it (assuming the sealing has been compromised). As other have said the unit is designed to handle immersion, but whether it will handle immersion while being rattled around in a washing machine is anyone's guess!

I'd leave it for a good week in the airing cupboard to be confident the humidity in the unit equalises the humidity in the airing cupboard. Rice is good, but you can also buy silica gel on the ebay - that stuff is great for this.

p1tse

Did a full wash cycle

Currently in bag of rice in airing cupboard but battery in, might try get it out

p1tse

Shall I try and open it up to get battery out then?

That's if I have the right tools?

ElectronShepherd

I'd wait and see if it still works once it's had a chance to dry out. I don't have one, but if it's like my eTrex, it will be a sealed unit and opening it up will probably break the seals, removing or at least compromising the ingress protection, which would rule out using it in the rain in the future.

ovi

this happened to a phone and I searched youtube for a solution. If soapy water got inside you need to take it apart and rinse the insides with di-ionised water (maybe some proper aerosol cleaner from Maplin)to clear all the soap residues of the circuitry and while it is apart it will help dry it out. Make sure you DO NOT POWER IT ON until it is clean and dry. I'm sure I've seen a video on youtube on how to replace a battery on a garmin 500

ugo.santalucia

This chap went to Dragons Den... if it works for phones, it works for a Garmin

http://www.reviveaphone.com/?doing_wp_c ... 2373046875

p1tse

Well I see there are 4 screws small star ones

That's what I was thinking if its a sealed unit

Think I'll leave in airing cupboard and rice then check it, but how long to wait

If not, will crack it open, dry some more with battery out, potentially breaking the seal?
I'll use some electrical spray cleaner on it then

WindyG

Don't worry about breaking any seals, it's just a rubber seal to stop water ingress. I would undo the 4 screws pop the case apart and leave it the airing cupboard for a few days, don't worry about removing the battery that will do nothing, the really important thing is do not turn it on until it is 100% dry out. Turning it on will do the most damage. The only other thing to watch out for is if you open the case it is easy to pop the ribbon cable out of it's connector not a major thing as it just pushes back in.

beinbhan

I did this to a 705 about a year ago do what you are doing and as Windyg said do not switch it on. My 705 still works perfectly now

p1tse

Darn haven't got a small enough tool

Will just have to leave as is, but will look at getting something tomorrow and open it up to ensure all dry before turning it on

Anyone know what size and where I can get a small enough tool bit?

ElectronShepherd

I have one of these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/45-in-1-Screw ... 1276822570

The eBay page has a picture of all the bits, so you can check you're going to get a match before you buy.

p1tse

Thanks

Maybe pop into maplins

WindyG

You need a Torx T5, Maplin or Machinemart should have them

IrishMac

I hope you stopped the wash ASAP!?

Just let it dry out on its own with the rice and what not, don't go anywhere near it with a hairdryer, you'll be liable to fry transistors etc i.e. keep it away from high temperatures. Ideally leave it in a green house for a few days, after that just plug it in and let it charge for a while, then try and turn it on

That's what worked with my phone

chris_bass

p1tse wrote:

Darn haven't got a small enough tool

its not all bad then

StillGoing

Did you get any PBs during the spin cycle though?

ednino

I've heard of this happening before & the Garmin was fine. Think you'll be ok

p1tse

The impatient side of me wanted to check

I didn't power on but plugged in the charger and it came on with garmin and charging percentage

However when the light came on I could see the screen wasn't perfect with maybe some moisture
So it's back in bag of rice in airing cupboard
Will be staying in there for a few more days to ensure before powering on

Finger crossed it hasn't affected it.
It was in my wind proof vest, so maybe not as soaked or the waterproof seal kept it at bay

Will report back

ctc

I did it to mine, it was fine after a couple of days in the rice

Initialised

I've repaired all of the following cheaply after being dunked:

Nokia N95 dropped in a coffee while showing it off to a mate, nipped to Maplin, got some switch cleaner (isopropyl) pulled the battery and soaked it.
HTC Desire in the washing machine until I realised, stopped the machine, pulled it out, removed the battery, dried it overnight, no problems since.
Samsung Galaxy Nexus on a water ride at a theme park, pulled the battery, dried it out, power button failed, £3 part to fix it.
iPhone4, dropped down the toilet, battery failed, replaced the battery.

Enclosed batteries are a problem but it has to be that way to get an IP37 rating.

Water damage really isn't as bad as all that so long as you pull the power/battery as soon as possible.

rolf_f

CTC wrote:

I did it to mine, it was fine after a couple of days in the rice

You just have to remember not to steam the rice while the GPS is still in it!

bigaac

Initialised wrote:

I've repaired all of the following cheaply after being dunked:

Nokia N95 dropped in a coffee
HTC Desire in the washing machine
Samsung Galaxy Nexus on a water ride at a theme park,
iPhone4, dropped down the toilet

I already feel sorry for your next phone

Iamnot Wiggins

At least it will smell nice now.

Colinthecop

And more importantly, how's your wifes injuries healing up...?

slowbike

I dropped a GoPro into the sea - well, I dropped a GoPro in it's waterproof casing which hit the sea wall, broke the clip and tipped the lot into the sea - battery and memory card out, washed the unit under tap water then put the unit in a bag of rice for 4 days - replacement clip from GoPro (FOC!), recharge battery and all good to go.

I don't recommend dunking them, but these units are reasonably resilient - especially if you can remove the battery (no power = no anode/cathode) - not a quick option for the Garmin Edge units though.

AdrianStuart

p1tse wrote:

If not what's the going rate for a used garmin 500 or does garmin do repairs/ replacement type offer?

Think your question should be "Whats the going rate for a used wife" after she put it in the washing machine!

ElectronShepherd

AdrianStuart wrote:

Think your question should be "Whats the going rate for a used wife" after she put it in the washing machine!

I think the question we should be asking is "Why can't you do your own laundry?"

Downward

Did well to get the wife to touch your dirty cycling gear to be fair. Swings and roundabouts though