Digital Camera Explosion Proof

Hi there!!.... Well, if budget it is not a problem probably you will find high-end equipment that fits your requirements but, maybe a normal camera with subacuatic shell could do... If you want to take pictures with flash for bigger distances than 3-4m (and depending greatly of the subject) it can be a good idea to use an slave flash (it is triggered by the flash of the camera but can be located several meters away, giving an extra light) Best regards, Abel

<EXPOLSION PROOF>

An EEx d camera. Wow! So a high-voltage discharge into a flashgun isn't going to pose an explosion risk?

Good luck!

<...IN VESSELS...>

Aaaaaargh! It gets worse! The inside of vessels is usually designated Zone 0, and only EEx ia equipment can be used in Zone 0 apart from EEx s equipment.

It may be worth considering clockwork cameras instead of electronic, and pipe the light in from somewhere else. The Zenith EM is totally clockwork, being 35-year-old Russian technology and still producing perfectly good images on 35mm filmstock <usual disclaimer>. It can still be had for a few tens of £GB in some places. That would work, and it would be safe!

I agree with the "EEEEK" of being inside a pressure vessel containing flamable vapours, but if, as the first post said, its enclosed in an aquatic enclosure, then presumably if water can't get in, then neither can any flammable vapours.

Not so sure about the slave flash though.......

There are ways to deal with hazardous locations. Vapparo, if you cannot find a commercial device, you should talk with one of the enclosure manufacturers. You may be able to make your own fairly simply (but not cheaply).

You cannot take an unapproved device in such an environment, so a simple underwater enclosure would certainly not fly. Being waterproof in no way assures that the enclosure is vapor proof.

The intrinsically safe camera listed below would be interesting, However, there is no way that you could make a flash intrinsically safe.

Tad

Could someone show me in the orginal post where we are dealing with an underwater hazardous vapor enclosure???

Dear sir, I agree with you about the quality of the old Zenith cameras but I think it will need anyway the proper light. Flash light, not a torch from the manhole, unless you use higly sensitive film (with the known quality losses) and a good support for the camera with cable trigger. We know this places do not use to be top of the clean & comfortable, are they? Here have a camera, but I do not think it will do............ http://www.norex.no/iCAM500%20Digital%20Stills%20Camera%20Data%20Sheet.pdf............ It is really a piece of wood. No flash, "macro" 150mm, no ISO sensitivity adjust, no flash or other light. Regarding the flash issue inside vessel of possible EEx (we do not know the size, type or content of the vessels but, as you said, better consider it EEx) I think that the waterproof (understood as submersible) camera should do the work. Certainly, the slave flash should be also inside a hermetic shell too. I have an Olympus 725sw, resistant to 5m depth. (Already tested many times, also salt water)_____ If the water can not come in about 0.5barg pressure, the gas at 0barg should not be able to do so. Also it will be important the material of the camera body not to be sparky. If you add the submarine shell it will be 4barg resistant. All this, regarding Olympus but also, I have NOT FOUND EEx or ATEX compliance references in their specifications. This is a real point for Mr PWslack. What do you think sir? Best regards, Abel

You can contact following supplier. cost is around Euro 7100 FOB Netherlands. My contact email is kvsameer@rsl.az

Marijn Teeuw

Top Side Offshore Technology B.V.
Radarstraat 12, 2901 AV Capelle a/d Yssel
The Netherlands
Tel +31(0)10 - 451 56 55
Fax +31(0)10 - 458 58 28

Top Side Offshore Technology b.v.

Part of the Rolloos Holding

The Netherlands

Tel. : + 31 (0) 10-4515655

Fax : + 31 (0) 10-4585828

www.topsideoffshore.com

marijn.teeuw@topsideoffshore.com

If you use the underwater camera you may consider a nitrogen purge on the case as a safety extra. Still it would depend on the rules of your locale.

The camera mentioned by the guest ________http://www.exloc.com/camera.html______or the mentioned by myself _______http://www.norex.no/iCAM500%20Digital%20Stills%20Camera%20Data%20Sheet.pdf________are the same I think. Price here in spain is about 900EUR__ Specs:II 2G EEx ia IIC T4__ If you want to take close pictures of cracks, weldings...etc, I do not think it will be able to do it. You can contact with:__María José Díaz__TAEX S.A.__Phone: +34 985 132 627__Fax:+34 985 133 143__tecnico@taex.net.__ Best Regards__Abel

if you cannot find explosion proof digital cameras you may want to use explosion proof video cameras which can record up to 180 hours, they are built in stainless steel housing and can be filled with Nitrogen, they run on 12v in colour and infrared and range from less then 1" to 7" , you can also buy explosion proof 24v ligths, I have been doing catalyst change outs under inert (N2) for last 18 years and this is what we use, they are great for inspections between trays and as safety monitors as well for workers inside any confined spaces.

we are a very small company custom building ex proof cameras especially for confined spaces while vessels are under inert (N2) and Tower work,

Hope that helps

Flash photography in zoned vessels is a no no.

I have been doing vessel inspection for over 25 years - the equipment you need is Explosion proof cameras and lights and or fibre optics.

We have a wide range of different systems depending upon access etc, as from a health and safety point of view you don't really want to be going inside such vessels

I work on a shipping company and i was thinking of using such cameras on our managed vessels (mostly tankers). Would you say that would be a good idea?

Flash photography in zoned vessels is a no no.

I have been doing vessel inspection for over 25 years - the equipment you need is Explosion proof cameras and lights and or fibre optics.

We have a wide range of different systems depending upon access etc, as from a health and safety point of view you don't really want to be going inside such vessels

Jhon

Absolutely - it is what we do - not only EX cameras but lighting as well - flash is not a good idea for many reasons.

have a look at www.inspectahire.com, they have ex merchant Navy engineers there who can talk shipping

It's only EEx ib. It's fine, though it cannot go into Zone 0!

The inside of many process vessels is designated zone 0, and that is where the original post intends it to be used!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_Equipment_in_Hazardous_Areas

These cameras do exist, in fact I just ordered one online from this company, www.cordexinstruments.com (CorDEX Instruments)

Their Centurion XPG is a 5mega pixel EEx d (flameproof) digital camera, which includes a strobe flash, movie & still capture etc.

Correct its for Zone 1 - all we needed - but when managing risk vs requirement it might fit your need also.

Hope this helps!