Hero 5 Session stopped working first time in a swimming pool

[mikemmm]

I tried my Hero 5 Session for the first time in a lap pool a few days ago. In less than a minute under water (at a foot or two deep) it went dead. I bought 5 months ago.

Turns out it let water in. I was able to dry it out and it seems okay now *.

So… my question is: What should I do now?

If I try to use it in the pool again I assume it may leak again and may not recover a second time. Is there something, somehow, I can do to prevent that? Is this a known problem? Does the orientation of the camera make a difference? I used it record button side down.

Also, will the dried pool water cause any future problems?

I am certain the camera was closed properly. I heard the pop when I first opened the door and no water was visible inside (until later*). There was no visible debris in the gasket or damage to the camera.

I hope someone can help. Thanks.

* The long version:

I put the Hero5 Session in water to a depth of, at most 2 feet (the pool is only 5 feet deep in any case). It was mounted on a selfie stick with the record button facing down. As I said, it stopped working within a minute. First I tried the buttons - nothing. I dried off the outside of the camera then popped the charging door. I didn’t see anything unusual. I removed the SDCard and put it back. Still wouldn't turn on. I thought maybe the battery had died

When I got home, about an hour later, I could see what looked like a water bubble under the edge of the LCD screen. I opened the charging door and now could see several water droplets inside the door (I hadn’t seen any water there when I opened it at the pool). I turned it door side down and gave it a shake. Water drops sprayed out.

I left the door open and facing down and put it in front of a fan for a day. It still did not start when I pressed the power button. Next I put it into a sealed container with a bag of drying compound for a day. It still did not start. Since it seemed to be as dry as it was going to get I plugged in the charger cable. Lights came on! The screen said faulty SDCard. I re-formatted the card and now the it seems to be working!

[aragon1006 · Accepted solution]

Hi @mikemmm

So long as all camera doors are closed, the HERO5 Session is waterproof down to 10m (33ft) without a housing. 

Kindly inspect your camera if there are cracks where the leak may have occurred.

It is a good practice to put your camera under running water after every use (make sure that the doors are closed), this is to remove any dirt/residue on the camera.

If something happens to the camera again, you may reach out to our Support Team to further check on the issue.

https://gopro.com/help/ContactUs

Thanks

Ej

[aragon1006 · Accepted solution]

Hi @mikemmm

So long as all camera doors are closed, the HERO5 Session is waterproof down to 10m (33ft) without a housing. 

Kindly inspect your camera if there are cracks where the leak may have occurred.

It is a good practice to put your camera under running water after every use (make sure that the doors are closed), this is to remove any dirt/residue on the camera.

If something happens to the camera again, you may reach out to our Support Team to further check on the issue.

https://gopro.com/help/ContactUs

Thanks

Ej

[mikemmm]

Thanks for the quick response.

Ok, I don't see any cracks. I'll try it again and see what happens.

I'll let you what happens. May be a few days.

Mike

[graytree76514]

Sure @mikemmm,

We'll wait for it.

Thanks,

-jay 

[mikemmm]

Well, I tried it again in the pool today and ...

...  it worked just fine!

The only thing I did notice is that previously I had the mounting case oriented the opposite way. So that the small containment edge, usually in the front, was pressing down on the joint where the back of the camera meets the sides. I wonder if it is possible that it somehow pressed the joint apart enough to cause a leak. That seems unlikely and I certainly don't want to try it again to see what happens.

So, I don't know what happened when it leaked the first time. I would have sworn I heard the door pop open after that attempt.

Perhaps something is cracked after all ... and I don't mean the GoPro ;} 

In any case, I'm glad it is working now. Thanks for suggesting I try it again before talking to the warranty dept.

Mike

[aragon1006]

Hi @mikemmm

We appreciate you getting back to us.

I am really glad that you were able to use the camera again!

Feel free to post back if something comes up.

Stay stoked!

Ej