Anyone here have or used the Garmin StreetPilot III

[Smiler.]

I have one which I bought some time ago. I always intended to use it on my bike, but never got around to fitting it (I used in in the car a few times). Anyway, I recently decided to get it out of the box, buy all the bits & fit it.

Problem. The battery cover does not fit properly & I'm sure will definitely not resist water as per the claimed IPX7 rating.

The cover or battery compartment doesn't have any type of gasket or seal.

I'm hoping someone might be able to advise their experience with this unit.

Thanks.

[Smiler.]

Bump.

[rsv gone!]

I can only give my experience of a Garmin Vista handheld GPS from the same era. It was supposed to be waterproof, although the battery compartment definitely wasn't. I guess it was sealed around the battery terminals, leaving the batteries themselves outside the waterproofed zone. Seems like a recipe for corroded battery terminals.

[ATG]

On a +ve note, fresh water is really a pretty lousey electrical conductor. A bit of moisture across the battery terminals shouldn't really matter unless it causes things to corrode, hence why good quality contacts tend to be made of gold. If you do start to get a build up of crud on the contacts, a pencil rubber will ususally clean them up nicely.

[THX138]

Smiler. said:

I have one which I bought some time ago. I always intended to use it on my bike, but never got around to fitting it (I used in in the car a few times). Anyway, I recently decided to get it out of the box, buy all the bits & fit it.

Problem. The battery cover does not fit properly & I'm sure will definitely not resist water as per the claimed IPX7 rating.

The cover or battery compartment doesn't have any type of gasket or seal.

I'm hoping someone might be able to advise their experience with this unit.

Thanks.

Just looked at mine, no gasket but there is a small lip type rubber? seal moulded into the removable cover.
My cover secures with a 'D' ring you twist through 90 degrees. Not particularly robust but fits well enough.
Used mine on the bike in some horrendous weather and no problems ever.

As an aside, just got a 'Nuvi 770' and its fantastic,light years better (but not waterproof) so plan to get a 'Zumo' as well for the bike.

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Thanks chaps.