Bullet Camera zapped when starting Engine

[skyenet]

I seem to have zapped my Archos bullet Camera when I started my engine yesterday. Camera was on bottom of vario pannier and Archos 605 recorder in small padded pouch on rear seat. (so no vibration or cable stress issues). Set the system recording and climbed on bike and started engine and went for a short test run.

Came home and checked the video. Everything fine until I start the engine. The video stops showing, but sound continues for the rest of the recording. Tried the camera off the bike but still getting no video, though sound still works. Tried a friends Archos Camera through my 605 and it works fine so its obviously my Archos bullet camera that is at fault.

The system was not connected to the bike's electrical system and I would have thought starting a bike would not have affected my bullet camera. Hopefully Archos will repair the camera but won't have the confidence to use it again with the bike until I find out what happened. I have used an Archos bullet camera system on the bike before but reckon I started the system recording after starting the bike.

Anybody any ideas of what might have happened or had any other problems with electrical equipment and bike starting?

Cheers Iain

 

[pablo666]

IMHO if the camera was electrically isolated from the bike's circuit then this is pure coincidence. I do not believe for a second that RFI from the bike would be strong enough to fry a chip in the camera

 

[skyenet]

this is pure coincidence.

I do not believe for a second that RFI from the bike would be strong enough to fry a chip in the camera

I have edited out the short section just before I start the engine and the video stops the moment I start the engine but sound continues fine

http://idisk.mac.com/Skyeweb-Public/Archosproblem.mp4

 

[Uinneag]

Mind and get some WD40 for the non plastic bits

 

[Fanum]

I'm with Pablo.....coincidence.

I've been using an Archos 500 series unit and bullet cam on my GSA for 18 months with no problem- and I've got many clips that clearly show me starting the bike before riding off.

There's no interference or flicker that you might expect if there was any sort of RF peak and I've run it attached to the bike itself but mostly stuck on my helmet with a velcro patch.

Like Pablo, I can't see that starting the bike would cause the sort of EM/RF radiation that would damage a bulletcam

 

[skyenet]

I've been using an Archos 500 series unit and bullet cam on my GSA for 18 months with no problem- and I've got many clips that clearly show me starting the bike before riding off.

Well thats good to know. Just wonder what happened to mine, certainly an amazing coincidence when you view my video clip. Only used this camera a couple of times and this was the first time on the bike.

I had a similar problem with a 4th Gen Archos player and an identical camera last year when I bought my GS. Worked for a while one day on the bike but at the end of the day video stopped working. Supplier replaced camera that time but not sure what they will think this time.

Do have access to my friend's camera to try out but can't afford to risk anything happening to it seeing two cameras have already lost video output while being used on my GS.

 

[Fanum]

Don't forget these things have hard drives in them.......they're tougher than those in your PC (rubber mounted etc) but give them ta knock (or indeed a vibration at the right frequency..perhaps like when your bike starts?) and the recording arm is going to be skipping across that platter- or just (and maybe this is what happened in your case) maybe getting knocked just out of sync so you get sound track but no video

For on-bike use, I have mine in a pouch that goes on my stomach....and that's pretty well isolated


How is/was yours mounted?

 

[Deleted account 220427002]

while i would say 100% it has to be a coincidence when you see the video it makes you think otherwise
(i know that's a contradiction but I'm thick that way)



Anyway I'm wondering if an EM pulse off the starter or coil could actually affect the thing, I would have really bet against it... but that clip looks too big a fluke to have the thing pack just at startup

 

[pablo666]

I see what you mean when viewing the clip. I would ask the manufacturer to comment. As another possibility, maybe a dry joint etc, which was just waiting for a minor jolt to disrupt the cct?

 

[MattW]

Hmm, spooky.

My guess would be vibration rather than RF, but it looks just too perfectly timed to be coincidence....

M

 

[skyenet]

Don't forget these things have hard drives in them.......

The 605 Archos player I was using has 4GB Flash memory so no moving parts. Had problems with a 30GB Hard drive model 404 in the past hence why I moved to a Flash memory system. Even so the player was in a padded bag sitting on a sheepskin cover on the rear seat so doubt a single vibration could reach it, Unless I farted Plus the 605 is working fine still with video input from my friend's identical camera. Hopefully this also rules out any problem with the DVR travel adaptor which the camera plugs into and then plugs into the bottom of the Archos 605.

However my bullet camera still does not work on my 605 or his 405 player so my camera is goosed and has been since it stopped working in the video clip. I have visually checked the connections and don't see a problem. This is also the second camera I have had problems with when using with my R1200GS in May 2007. Can't remember exactly what happened but the video stopped working while out on the bike. Couldn't get the camera working again and dealer swapped it over. That was when they said there might be a problem with vibration in the 30Gb player though player worked fine with replacement camera.

The Bullet camera was attached to the bottom of my Vario panniers as in photograph. I have used an identical bullet camera with an older Archos player successfully in that position before.

I have attached a photo of the system components for anybody unfamiliar with the Archos system.

1. 605 WiFi 4GB Player/recorder
2. DVR Travel Adaptor
3. Helmet Camera with wired remote

 

[Spikehammer]

A voltage spike CAN blow these cameras as can a constant 12v feed if it's not properly regulated.

 

[davedyer]

Originally Posted by Spikehammer: A voltage spike CAN blow these cameras as can a constant 12v feed if it's not properly regulated.

The system was not connected to the bike's electrical system and I would have thought starting a bike would not have affected my bullet camera.

I think the only way to answer this is to return the camera to Archos to see what has failed.

If nothing else, have you discovered a way of disabling speed cameras as you pass them?

 

[skyenet]

I think the only way to answer this is to return the camera to Archos to see what has failed.

Well I would if I could contact them. Their site has gone down worldwide today "Coming up soon ..." Apparently or should I say, hopefully

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

Be interesting to see what the problem was. It could be a fault within the camera or somewhere in the connection point or cables, a dodgy connection or something, and the vibration of the bike starting has bust it.

I've been considering a bullet cam for recording on the bike. I currently use a camcorder mounted on the bars , which is OK but a little bumpy at times. It also cuts out briefly whenever I rev past around 5,000 rpm, which I put down to electrical interference somewhere along the line.

 

[RadioActive]

I'm not sure looking at your photo if the camera power connection is directly to the Archos. My on-board camera uses the cheap coaxial type power connector and I had a problem on holiday and thought it was the camera but when I got home I discovered that the inner pin was slightly smaller on one connector so it didn't "make" all the time. It's obvious how I got it wrong when you look at this link! http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?TabID=1&ModuleNo=43091&doy=19m8

I use a voltage regulator for my on-board camera to prevent damage from voltage spikes.

Cheers,

Chris

 

[jeffers]

skyenet

to change the subject a little, what are those clips on your panniers?

 

[skyenet]

skyenet

to change the subject a little, what are those clips on your panniers?

Bungee tie down brackets from Hein Gerricke. Pack of four was around £7



Archos Site now back up so will contact them to return camera.