Virb Elite starts with magnet

Former Member
Former Member
Yesterday after charging my Virb Elite I laid it down on my money clip which is one that has a magnet to hold the clip down on the notes. My Virb was completely shut off using the power button and I noticed it started up with the green light visible.
I did several tests to duplicate it and every time I passed the magnet past the bottom (several times)(battery side) the Virb would start. It did not start while passing the magnet over the top and a small refrigerator magnet would not start it at all. I don't know if this is a big concern but it is a concern because there are many things nowadays with magnets in them that may effect the camera. I have tried to contact Garmin but sometimes I wonder if they know there a product called Virb.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 11 years ago
    Interesting, will try to replicate that when I get home.
    Yes the hardware and firmware people seem to live in a shielded world...
  • Think it is by design - that is how the waterproof dive case works, the slider switch on the case must have a magnet in it.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 11 years ago
    Ahh..that would explain it. I fooled around with it some more and yes once it was turned on with the magnet I could also start recording by passing the magnet near the bottom but the bottom only. It could be my imagination but it also seemed to mess up my other clips. But it is not my imagination that I had a very difficult time using the USB to open the files after passing the magnet across the bottom and it may be that it was turning off an on repeatedly.

    Just a note: I usually run my Virb Elite 8 hours a day directly off my hot point in my Jeep with the battery removed and the cover off to keep the heat down. I don't experience any problems and have filled my 64g card almost every day since I got it in Dec. I work on a huge construction site and this tracks my travels and records them.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 11 years ago
    They probably use a weak magnet, mine switches when I hold it about 10cm away from the magnet I have.
    The magnet I have is used for seperating sheets of steel from a stack.
    It's something to keep an eye on, keep the VIRB away from magnets.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 11 years ago
    That's my thought also.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 11 years ago
    the Contour and GoBandit cameras work the same way with the magnet slider. seems to be a standard build technique to keep the case water proof.
  • Just wanted to say thank you for raising this. My virb will be used a lot in my car, but obviously I don't want to keep it in there, so put it in my bag when I get out. My bag has two magnetic closures...
    I've found it hot and on with videos of the sock I'm using as a temporary case for now (!) and wondered how...