I haven't tried to waterproof anything, but have some experience working for the old HP in a Reliability Physics lab, where I did a lot of work seeing how water entered things in very tiny parts.
Most silicones are not conductive so it could help make it resistive to water.
The real problem with trying to make something water proof is this little catch.
If there are any air pockets at all, even little ones, this is what happens.
Let's say the air in those air pockets is at ambient temperature. When the part hits the water, it's much colder, which causes the air in the air pockets to cool down fast, which causes a suction. Since the part is in the water, it causes water to get sucked into the parts. It's very hard to stop this action, the greater the temp difference, the greater the suction.
When people try to waterproof a box, they try to seal it, but, there is a big air space in there and the seal usually won't hold for any length of time when submerged in cold water.
There is also a problem with condensation in a sealed box. If any water at all gets into it, it can't get out and will eventually fail because there is no place for the water to get out of the box.
It's actually easier to make something water resistant, than it is to waterproof something.
I think the silicone would make your part at lease water resistant with a good job of applying the silicone, if there are no moving parts on the part, which I don't see?
Since the part is only sixty bucks, it's worth a try and I think the part would last longer this way, than not doing it.
Bob Noble
Blog: http://www.bobseyes.net
Blog: http://www.bobseyes.net
From: tommy033107@gmail.com
Sent: Friday, February 07, 2014 3:32 PM
Subject: [Electric Boats] Encapsulating Electronic Components
I am thinking of getting a "Watts Up" meter to use on my solar canoe project. I can't seem to find a waterproof meter? So I am wondering if its possible for me to encapsulate the Watts up meter in lets say Sylgard 184 Silicone Elastomer ? I have access to it for free from a friends solar panel build.
Does anyone have any experience to share on waterproofing circuit boards etc. ???
Watts Up meter:
http://www.amazon.com/Watts-Meter-An...watts+up+meter
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