View Full Version : waterproofing a receiver
BoatDoc
05-21-2004, 10:58 PM
is it okay to pull off the case of a RX and just coat the whole thing with epoxy??? i'm trying to save weight and space and looking for different ways to do it. as far as i know, epoxy is non-conductive, but i'd like to hear from someone with more experience if this is a good idea or not.
Hydro Junkie
05-21-2004, 11:26 PM
I wouldn't recommend it. You would be better off putting your receiver in a balloon and using a zip tie to close it. It would have much less weight than epoxy and wouldn't take any more space than the receiver itself. If you want to be doubly cautious, use some noncorosive silicon in the neck before you tie it.
HEADRIPS
05-22-2004, 09:48 AM
they sell a rubber tape at home depot in the electrical dept that has a mastic adhesive....I wrap the wires in this before the baloon and zip tie...bone dry!
Hydro Junkie
05-22-2004, 08:34 PM
I saw the effects of not protecting a receiver today. Went to a scale boat race and watched one of the fastest boats on the water come back to the pits and shut down. Come to find out, the radio box leaked and the receiver was wrapped only with foam. Upon pulling the receiver out, the foam was found to be soaked and the receiver full of water. It cost him any chance at the finals, but his boat is still in one piece :)
BoatDoc
05-22-2004, 08:41 PM
i may still try the epoxy. i talked to some electrical guru's today and they said it's ok to coat the RX in epoxy. the idea here is to avoid balloons and everything else required to waterproof it. on a boat that weighs under 2 1/2 lbs, every little bit counts. the esc is already waterproof, and i'll just make sure that i keep the steering servo stays as dry as possible. however, after some test runs today, i found that absolutely no water made it into the radio box, so i'm not too worried.
elecracr
05-23-2004, 07:15 PM
I have coated all of my recievers with epoxy with no ill effects.
BoatDoc
05-23-2004, 08:07 PM
i was told it would work...i just wanted to hear some more opinions! with such a small compartment in my boat, i feel that this will free up a little space, plus improve the chances of surviving a blow over. balloons and whatnot will only get in the way. thanks for all the tips guys!
Just use Corrosion-X and let dry and use hairdryer at first to get most of it out and let set with screws loose in window and leave open about a 1/16". Don't epoxy with crystal in it unless you have $70.00 to throw away. just use big balloons with roll towel inside and under rx , have all connections done and tie off. This is the only easy and common sense way to do it. To keep rx from moving around, use velcro for boat and balloon. it soundslike a lot of work and time and you know the rest of the story!!
gizmotxcop
05-26-2004, 06:55 PM
If you want to epoxy a receiver use 3M DP 270 epoxy which is rated for electronic use and won't hurt your reciever...
Otherwise, use Corrosion X and keep some rubbing alcohol and WD40 in your tool box at the lake...
I used to use balloons but they tend to hold in condensation and cause oxidation on the pcb of the receiver... That can get expensive as well...
Once you have gotten your receiver wet, disconnect everything from it and pull it out of the boat and take it out of the case... then spray wd40 on it let it sit for a a quarter hour then pour on some rubbing alcohol on it and let it dry for a day or two on the window sill... It has always worked for me... ;)
Gix, you're rumrunner with Mr. Foster. I don't know where you got wd-40 idea, don't use it. Also the balloons to cover rx is excellent idea if you put a piece of roll towel in with it. The only way condensation will collect, is when you don't take balloon off after a days usage so it ( rx ) airs out. There was an earlier post where i said how to care for the rx with Corrosion-X and hairdryer and let set in window for a couple of days so air can flow thru. Well Mr. Trent hare used to use wd-40 but since then he quit using it. I don't know where these items pop out but epoxy traps moisture including crystal and when you trouble shoot, i don't know. Wd-40 has a chemical in it which makes wires brittle and distort inter-most parts. Off course if you have money to burn, it is your choice. I feel a draft, it must be a cool breeze@@
Rubbing alcohol drys and makes rubber items brittle where corrosion=x leaves a film on or in to protect these parts. I think you and Don Wollard had better get together cause you're leading these young people astray. The wires in the rx and such are so fragile and cannot take abuse alone have rubbing alcohol poured on them. Well folks , this does it, i have heard of everything now. i wish you folks the best and good-bye!!!
I got a email from a gentleman to disregard something, and with that i reconsidered my leaving the board. I won't hog the board but will look in to helpout guys and gals if i cAN. I know for sure , one of these days i will own a wooden El Lobo II, i have a fiberglass but like wooden boats better.
Pagemaster
05-27-2004, 10:46 AM
check the articles section for how to do this
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/articlesmain.htm
Pagemaster=the only thing i see is using Andy's 270 on esc but nothing on rx's, so why the post i don't see any connection.
i see it now but when a rx cost over $60.00 and you open it up and etc, doesn't that void your warranty, so why not just give the rx just a small shot of Corrosion-x without all the hassle you have put on your board. The average joe can't afford to many rx's and gets by on 1 or 2 rx. I'm not trying to hassle you but point out cold facts that really happen and really do!! you are a vendor, so your price and mine are not in the same ballpark, just the facts!!
Pagemaster
05-27-2004, 02:01 PM
i see it now but when a rx cost over $60.00 and you open it up and etc, doesn't that void your warranty, so why not just give the rx just a small shot of Corrosion-x without all the hassle you have put on your board. The average joe can't afford to many rx's and gets by on 1 or 2 rx. I'm not trying to hassle you but point out cold facts that really happen and really do!! you are a vendor, so your price and mine are not in the same ballpark, just the facts!!
The facts are that Corrosion X wont work while submerged! Which leads me to believe that the receiver is being shorted out while under water. I'm no electrical expert but that cant be good for keeping your receiver working for a long time. We have run a esc and rec. submerged in a bowl of water for 2 minutes with dp-270, try that with corrosion x. I have sunk many esc/rec's and back up and running in 5 minutes. Take a look at your rec.'s warrantee and check what they say about water. If its corrosion x or dp-270 its most likely void. Not to say corrosion x isn't good, it has its place also, we use it on our servos sometimes.
I forgot to add to my first post to BoatDoc, be careful with regular epoxy. Some will conduct. Call the manufacturer before applying.
Steven Vaccaro
Pagemaster
05-27-2004, 02:10 PM
Rubbing alcohol drys and makes rubber items brittle where corrosion=x leaves a film on or in to protect these parts. I think you and Don Wollard had better get together cause you're leading these young people astray. The wires in the rx and such are so fragile and cannot take abuse alone have rubbing alcohol poured on them. Well folks , this does it, i have heard of everything now. i wish you folks the best and good-bye!!!
We are all trying to help people also. Someone who ruins hiss stuff time after time will give up!
Steven Vaccaro
Regardless like you it all has its place but when submerged to long is generally considered davey jones equipment except Andy's esc.
BoatDoc
05-27-2004, 06:50 PM
i think i'll try the dp-270 treatment for my Rx. the warranty's already void and blah blah blah. if i smoke it, oh well. i've done worse! not that i've got tons of $$$$ but experimentation is half the reason i play around with this hobby. if i didn't experiment, i wouldn't be getting into fast electrics. and my nitro boats would still be slow. if i had props, i could test it out this weekend...but the friggin' postal service is out to stop me!
ahab2
06-02-2004, 01:49 AM
Guys, ever think liquid electric tape I havent tried it but sound good.
Liquid red tape, what a mess that would be. I have found out , no 2 cans are the same. If means to me the quality of mixture is poor or old.
dhutch
06-02-2004, 08:41 AM
Epoxy willl work fine, i have done it many times, no problems at all ;)
- also, Mtronics do do a water proof two chanel FM Rx
daniel
BoatDoc
06-02-2004, 10:53 AM
my speed control is an Mtronics tempo. it's water proof, and i added cooling to it. anyone else ever used one?
dhutch
06-03-2004, 04:20 PM
I've use the mk 1 Mtronics Digisport RV (the ones in the yellow non w/proof box)
and the mk 3 Eco 20, (one of the new w/proof ones) which i still use, i might get one of thos water proof RX soon as well, wet radio gear suxs :(