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DVX100 power failure
I have mixed feelings right now of livid rage and sheer broken heartedness. My DVX100 has had a massive power failure for the SECOND TIME. The first time I sent it out and the power board was replaced. I asked the guy about it and he had never seen it happen before. Now it has happened again! Here are the circumstances of the two failures:
1. Bar Mitzvah. July 2005. Crowded room. Not too hot. I live in Maine! I’m shooting testimonials. My camera shuts off. I think it’s the battery. I change batteries. No dice. End of story.
2. Wedding. Sept 2007. Rainy day. Under a tent. VERY HUMID. Not hot at all. Shoot the whole wedding. Leave the battery on the camera for the drive home. Eject the tape at home. Leave the battery on the cam. Next day. No power. No eject. Nothing. Numerous batteries and ac power. Nada. Dead.
I’m not looking for too many answers here but I want it on public record in these forums. I feel so let down. How can I possibly continue to work with a camera that randomly develops an aversion to power?
Panasonic if you frequent these forums please look into this. I have been a faithful user of this camera since it came out. In fact I persuaded my TV station that I work at full time to purchase no less than FOUR of these cameras for their own Back Pack Journalists all of which seem to be working fine.
I feel like someone looking for a lost puppy here! “If anyone has any information as to the where-abouts of the answer to all my problems please call… etc. etc.”
Your help, even your commiseration is deeply appreciated.
Regards,
Nate
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7 Replies
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Sounds possibly like a dud unit or perhaps there is an environmental issue where you operate- i.e. too much humidity. Maybe add some desiccants to your camera case and make sure you are using something pressurized like a Pelican case.
-Noah
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Thanks Noah,
Good idea. It is in a soft case right now. I’m sending it off to have it fixed tomorrow. Incidentally I checked out the power board in the service manual (we have the manual at the station) and apparently there are two power boards on these cameras. My question now is which one went in the first instance and did the same one go again or is it the other board this time. Perhaps I’ll post again when I get word.
Nate
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OK I’m following up on my own post here for the public good! It was the main fuse, not the power board. Again the repair guy said out of THOUSANDS of units (his words) that he’s worked on he has NEVER seen a power board failure other than mine the first time it failed. Gee aren’t I lucky! He said that 99% of the time it is the main fuse and it is blown by people hooking up their anton bauer brick batteries wrong, getting the polarity reversed. Well I don’t own any anton bauers but he didn’t have a good answer for why the fuse blew. It is the original fuse but still that is unclear. But anyway he replaced the fuse and ran the cam for quite a while before packing it back up to return to me. Incidentally the tripod screw plate inside the cam was cracked in half. Oops. Take it easy on that mount! I have read in one other posting here that this plate is prone to cracking and flaking and sometimes results in internal damage. Could this be it? I mentioned it to the repair guy and he didn’t think so. He did mention that he’s seen little flecks of metal from shattered mounting plates get lodged in the zoom gears causing hitching in the zoom but never power issues. Hmmm….
Well that’s all. May you never have a power failure like this!
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Hey,
I probably have the same fuse problem with my Panasonic DVX100A. How much did the new fuse cost?
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Well I had it professionally repaired so it was around $150-200 with parts and labor. The fuse itself is not expensive but I think you need to take it apart to get to it. I’ve only taken mine apart once and it was very un-nerving! Good luck!
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Thanks for the answer. I was worried that it would cost much more than 150-200.
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I am back again with the SAME PROBLEM! POWER FAILURE ON MY DVX100!!! It has been about 9 months since the last failure and now I’m practically ready to ditch the camera!
This time was similar to the last time. After using it I powered it down and it never came back. I had been using it in my basement. I do have a dehumidifier running down here and it doesn’t feel too damp. I never did put desicants in my camera bag. Perhaps it is related to humidity. I do keep the camera down here in it’s case. Bad idea? Maybe. I’ll post more when It comes back from the shop.
Nate
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