Compact Flash Cards Waterproof? - AGAIN!!!

Marc

Marc

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It would appear so. I left one in a trouser pocket on wednesday and the ever efficient missus put them in the wash. Just recovered it and tested it, all photos present and correct, works fine in camera and uploads OK. :thumbs: Whether the trauma will increase the chances of it failing in the future, I don't know so will probably keep it to one side for non vital shoots.
 
Thats pretty impressive! Which card was it?

I think Samsung have just brought out a range of shockproof and waterproof cards, but it seems it may just be a marketing ploy ;)
 
fabs said:
It would appear so. I left one in a trouser pocket on wednesday and the ever efficient missus put them in the wash. Just recovered it and tested it, all photos present and correct, works fine in camera and uploads OK. :thumbs: Whether the trauma will increase the chances of it failing in the future, I don't know so will probably keep it to one side for non vital shoots.
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Most cards have gold or other plated holes/pins so that should not be a problem. Water/heat can make the outer plastic break open. No particular reason why it shouldn't work though so long as it is completely dry. Good news about the card though!
 
justinitus said:
Thats pretty impressive! Which card was it?

I think Samsung have just brought out a range of shockproof and waterproof cards, but it seems it may just be a marketing ploy ;)
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Sandisk Extreme III

andrewc said:
I did that once and the card has been fine ever since, but I don't really trust it, so its bottom of the pile of the cards!
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Pretty much my thinking but I'll give it a good run out at some point no doubt.
 
cowasaki said:
Most cards have gold or other plated holes/pins so that should not be a problem. Water/heat can make the outer plastic break open. No particular reason why it shouldn't work though so long as it is completely dry. Good news about the card though!
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Oh it's dry alright, went through the tumble dryer for 2 hours as well. :D
 
There aren't any moving parts so as long as no fine crud got in the contact holes and the casing is intact you'll be fine I'm sure.

I managed to leave a USB memory stick and a cheapo 2GB SD card in the middle of the lawn for a week with rain showers and very dewy mornings and everything was fine. This was three years ago and they're still running A-OK!
 
Several of mine have been boil-washed in the 'Choggie' laundries in both Basrah-COB and Lashkar Gah MOB while on tour...no harm done at all.
A mixture of Calumet-Pro cards and Sandisk Extreme IV cards for those who might care...
 
I have a cheap Dane-Elec one which went in the washing machine. Apart from the front label fading a bit and the back one coming off completely, it has continued to work ok and I don't distinguish it from the others, even though it's easily recognisable now.

However, during the wash cycle it was treated with fabric conditioner. The photos are a little soft now.

:exit:
 
I once left one in my pocket and forgot about it. I then went swimming for a few hours going down numerous slides. Bout 600 pics on it. After a night spent on the radiator it was good as new. All pics are fine to this day. So Yes. CF cards are somewhat waterproof!
 
Did the missus wash it with flash?!!! Well it is a compact flash card!!!!
 
I can see washing machine manufacturers advertising in photographic magazines now!!
 
ChrisJ_SLH said:
If you think about the process a CF will go through in manufacture, (basically an oven hot enough to melt solder), then a washing machine is fairly benign.

Making sure the thing is dry before having power applied is going to be the most important thing.
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yep, Its not uncommon to then wash the boards, I know a company that uses a domestic dishwasher, the key is to then wash the impurities off with distilled water/ isopropanol Alcohol. The problem comes with impurities that may settle on the board, and if you pass power through it as then you get electrolysis stuff happening which causes stuff to build up on the board. So i you ever get electronics wet pull the battery off it straight away.
 
get a card case, and just get in the habit of putting them in/out of it.... card label one up side for free to use, label the other side up for used... the lowepro one is good for 4 cards, thinktank do a roll for millions :)
 
fabs said:
It would appear so. I left one in a trouser pocket on wednesday and the ever efficient missus put them in the wash. Just recovered it and tested it, all photos present and correct, works fine in camera and uploads OK. :thumbs: Whether the trauma will increase the chances of it failing in the future, I don't know so will probably keep it to one side for non vital shoots.
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there is no reason why it should not work any thing electrical can get wet and as long as it is dry when you use it, it should be all OK the small down side to it is what you might have use to wash with, if it was a harsh cleaning product it might have had some effect on the connections but not so as to stop it working.
In my day in radio communication we get two way radios that got drooped in the toilets (the problem of clipping them to your belt) all they need was a clean and all worked fine apart from the battery
 
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