JW Fishers MC-1 User manual
MC-1
MINI CAMERA
OPERATION MANUAL
JW FISHERS MFG INC
1953 COUNTY ST.
E. TAUNTON, MA 02718 USA
(508) 822-7330; (800) 822-4744; FAX (508) 880-8949
SPECIFICATIONS
DIMENSIONS/WEIGHTS:
• Camera Housing ............ 6”L x 2.375”Dia ............. in air - 16 ounces.
... in water -1 oz pos. buoy.
• Cable ....................... 0.4”Dia x 150’ - 1,000’L ............ in air 9-60 lbs.
......... in water 4-30 lbs.
PERFORMANCE/DESCRIPTIONS:
• Camera ------------------------------------------------------ Black & White CCD.
• Lens -------------------------------------------------- 4 mm 50 deg wide angle.
• Lights (optional) ------ 100/250 w tungsten halogen or LED light ring.
• Cable (basic system) ------------------- 6 conductor, Urethane jacketed.
• Operating Depth --------------------------------------------------------- 500 feet.
• Color ------------------------------------------------------------------ Yellow/black.
• Sealing ------------------------------------------------------------- O-ring sealed.
• Power Requirements --------------------------- 12 vdc, 0.2 Amps, 3 watts.
---------------------------- with intermal light ring - 0.4 Amps, 5 watts.
----- with external 100 watt light - 1.2 Amps, 103 watts (120 vac).
----- with external 250 watt light - 2.7 Amps, 253 watts (120 vac).
MATERIALS/COLOR:
• Housing ---------------------------------------------- High impact PVC/yellow.
• Cable ---------------------------------------------------- polypropylene/yellow.
OPTIONS
• 150-1,000 ft cable • Internal light ring
• 500 foot depth rated housing • External 100 or 250 watt lights
• Color camera • 120 vac
• PAL format cameras • 220 vac (Europe)
• Black & white or color monitors
9
INTRODUCTION
JW Fishers MC-1 Mini Camera is a low cost waterproof camera
system useful for a variety of applications where cost or size is a
major factor. The Mini Camera is so compact and lightweight it can
be mounted to a diver’s helmet or with internal light ring option can
be lowered into a pipe for internal inspections. The MC-1 can assist
the commercial diver performing underwater structure inspections or
be lowered into the water on a pole to perform shallow water inspec-
tions from the surface. The internal LED light ring is available for
applications where size is critical such as pipe inspection work. An
external 100 or 250 watt light is available for applications where high
powered lighting is required. The Mini Camera is surface powered
allowing unlimited operating time.
The MC-1 was designed for underwater use, however it can be used
out of water with some restrictions. When using the internal light
ring, out of water use is limited to one hour of continuous use or the
system will overheat. The SL-1 external 100 or 250 watt light cannot
be operated out of water for more than 5 or 10 sec (to test light
system), or damage will occur to the lights. When operating in the
water, the internal light ring, or the external SL-1 lights, can be oper-
ated indefinitely. The camera, without lights, can be operated indefi-
nitely out of water.
The base system includes a black & white camera, 250 foot depth
rated housing, and 150 feet of cable with a underwater connector at
the camera end. The system is powered by 12 vdc. The camera
produces sharp, clear video images that are viewed on a topside
monitor and can be recorded on a VCR. The MC-1 can also be
purchased with a color camera and monitor for those applications
where a color picture is required.
The Mini Camera housing is ruggedly constructed of corrosion proof
PVC making it an excellent choice for work in depths of up to 500
feet. The cable jacket is constructed of highly abrasive resistant
urethane. The external underwater light is water-cooled allowing
many operations between bulb replacement.
Options for the MC-1 include:120 vac system with ground fault breaker,
220 volt transformer, 500 foot depth rating, cable lengths up to 1,000
feet, color camera, and black & white or color monitors. Two different
light options are available, an internal LED light ring or external
light(s). The external light can be either a single 100 watt light, a
single 250 watt light, or two 100 watt lights with a mounting bracket.
MAINTENANCE
Your MC-1 was designed to be maintenance free. It is constructed
of corrosive resistant materials. As with most diving equipment it is
recommended that the MC-1 be rinsed in fresh water after use and
stored in a cool, dry place.
LIMITED WARRANTY
Your MC-1 underwent constant inspection during assembly to in-
sure many years of trouble free performance. The MC-1 is warrantied
for TWO FULL YEARS from the date of purchase. During this pe-
riod, your Mini Camera will be repaired free of charge should a fail-
ure occur due to materials or workmanship. The warranty does not
cover broken cables, or damage due to dropping or general misuse.
Should service be required, write or phone us explaining the na-
ture of the problem, and we will provide shipping instructions. All
repairs are made at our factory. Repairs by unauthorized persons
may void the warranty.
81
CONNECTING THE CABLES:
VIDEO - The camera coax cable can be plugged into a monitor,
VCR, or a TV. The TV can only be used if it has an input jack marked
“Video” . Note: most TV’s require selecting “Video Input” using the
TV remote or by the switches in the front of the TV. When attaching
the coax cable to the monitor, be sure to connect to the video input
jack on the monitor. If a VCR is used, connect as follows:
MC-1 hook-up to a VCR:
1. Attach the BNC to RCA adaptor to the video coax connector.
2. Plug the RCA connector into the video input jack on the VCR.
3. You will need a video cable with RCA connectors on it, to
connect the VCR to the monitor. Connect this video cable to the
video output jack on the VCR and the video input jack on the
monitors. It may be necessary to use a RCA to BNC adaptor
if you are connecting to a black and white monitor.
POWER - The power hookup depends on the power and other op-
tions purchased: See pages 4 and 5 for a cable diagram of each
configuration.
• 12 vdc basic system. The end of the power cable has a Red
and Black battery clip. The Red clip connects to the positive
(+) side of a 12 volt battery and the Black clip connects to the
negative (-) side.
• 12 vdc with internal light ring. The end of the power cable has
two Red, and one Black, battery clip. The Red clips connect to
the positive (+) side of a 12 volt battery and the Black clip
connects to the negative (-) side. One of the Red clips is for
the camera, and the other is for the internal light ring (clips are
marked).
• 120 vac. A small generator is recommended to supply power
for the 120 volt system. A 500 watt unit is adequate to power
the MC-1, lights, a monitor, and a recorder. Today's small
generators are quiet, lightweight, very portable, and produce a
"clean" 120 ac voltage. The second choice is an inverter. In-
verters convert 12 volts dc to 120 volts ac. To supply the "clean"
ac voltage required by video equipment it is necessary to use
a "frequency controlled" inverter. These inverters produce an
ac voltage that is consistant in amplitude and frequency, but
are typically more expensive than a generator. (continued on
next page)
BULBREPLACEMENT
To replace a bulb remove the two 4-40x3/8" screws from the rear of
the light housing (see figure 5). Pull the bulb out the rear of the
housing. Cut the wires to the bulb (about 1/2" from the bulb), strip
away a mimimal amount of insulation, and solder on the replace-
ment bulb. Clean the solder joint and surrounding wires with
denatured alcohol or laquer thinner. Form the wires into their final
bent position by Inserting the light bulb into the yellow housing and
positioning the black cap against the housing. Carefully remove the
light from its housing taking care not to unbend the wires. Coat the
solder splices and surrounding wires with several thin coats of
Aquaseal. Wait about one hour between each coat. Let final coat dry
overnight and reassemble light housing. If the sealed joint leaks
exposing the solder joint to water, it can cause the ground fault
breaker to trip.
CUT AND
SOLDER
POINT
BULB
REAR OF
BULB
HOU SING
CAUTION: The bulbs should not be handled with bare fin-
gers as oil from the skin gets onto the glass and will cause
the bulb to burn up. If the bulb is handled with bare fingers,
the glass should be wiped with denatured alcohol to remove
any oil from the glass.
2 7
CABLING THE MC1 SYSTEM CABLING THE MC1 SYSTEM
Black-12vdc
Red+12vdc
VideotoMonitor
150’ to 1,000’ Cable
Unterwater
Connector
MC1
Camera MC1 with no lights (12 vdc System)
Black-12vdc
Red+ 12 vdc (Camera)
VideotoMonitor
150’ to 1,000’ Cable
Unterwater
Connector
MC1
Camera MC1 with Internal light Ring (12 vdc System)
Red+ 12vdc(Light Ring)
120vac
Transformerfor
CameraPower VideotoMonitor
150’ to 1,000’ Cable
Unterwater
Connector
MC1
Camera SwitchforCameraPower
MC1 with no lights (120 vac System)
120vac
VideotoMonitor
150’ to 1,000’ Cable
Unterwater
Connector
MC1
Camera SwitchforCameraPower
MC1 with Internal light Ring (120 vac System)
Switchfor Internal LightRing
150’ to 1,000’ Cable
Unterwater
Connector
MC1
Camera MC1 with External light(s) (120 vac System) 120vac
Transformerfor
CameraPower VideotoMonitor
Switchfor Light(s)
Light(s)
If using 220 vac Power
120vac
Transformerfor
CameraPower VideotoMonitor
SwitchforCameraPower
220vac
220vacto120vac
Transformer
ToCamera
If using 12 vdc Inverter with 120 vac system
120vac
Transformerfor
CameraPower VideotoMonitor
SwitchforCameraPower 12vdcto120vac
Inverter
ToCamera Black-12vdc
Red+12vdc
120vac
Transformerfor
CameraPower VideotoMonitor
Switchfor Light(s)
If using VCR or DVD to Record Video Output
VCR or DVD
VideoIn Videoout
Monitor
ToCamera
4
5
POWERING UP THE SYSTEM:
The MC-1 system comes complete and ready to operate. It is
recommended that before deploying the MC-1 into the water the
cables should be connected, the power turned on, and the lights and
video picture checked for proper operation.
CAUTION: Before plugging the main power plug into 120 vac, be sure
the light switch on the side of the ground fault box is turned off. The
light housings will be damaged if lights are operated out of water for
more than five seconds.
Connect the cables as shown in the diagrams on pages 4 and 5 based
on the configuration and options purchased.
Turn on the power.
After a few seconds a picture will appear on the monitor. The monitor
may require some adjustments to optomize picture quality. The
camera lens was adjusted at the factory for proper focus in the water.
Turn the light switch on just long enough (five seconds or less) to make
sure the lights are working.
PUTTING THE MC-1 IN THE WATER
If all tests are successful the MC-1 is ready for use. Allow 5 to 10
seconds for the lights to cool before putting the MC-1 in the water. Be
sure check all connectors and make sure they are locked into place
before submerging the housing. When the MC-1 is not in use keep
all connectors dry and well away from water.
Always have the camera turned on before submerging the housing. If
a leak should occur, moisture in the housing will activate the leak
detector and scramble the picture.
With the 120 volt system a GFI circuit breaker is built into
the cable. The ground fault box plugs into 120 vac. Should
voltage ever come in contact with the water, the GFI breaker
will trip shutting power off at the surface. To reset the breaker
push the read button back down. Never reset the breaker until
the cause of the fault is discovered, and never bypass the GFI
breaker.
Power to the camera is either supplied through a switch
mounted in the side of the GFI box or by plugging the camera
transformer into the GFI box depending on the system con-
figuration. See cabling diagrams on page 4 and 5.
• 220 vac. The same as for 120 vac (above), except a 220 vac
transformer is also supplied. The ground fault box plugs into
the 220 vac transformer which then plugs into the 220 vac
power source.
CAUTIONS:
• Care must be taken when handling the underwater connec-
tor. Do not bend the cable as it extends from the connector,
bending the cable can cause the connector to leak.
• When installing the connector, turn the outside ring until its
tight, then turn it “a little bit more” until you can feel a de-
tent or stop.
• Do not let camera housing sit in the hot sun.
• Do not operate the external lights out of water (will damage
the light housings).
• Do not operate the internal light ring out of water for more
than 1 continuous hour (case will overheat and could dam-
age the camera).
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