waterproofing electronics

[Doug Smock]

No matter how good you seal your boat up, accidents can happen. Let me give you some reality.
1) cooling line pops off. Not common, but it can happen. Happened to me a couple weeks ago. It filled up with water. Hey, we are all human and we make mistakes. I didn't have the zip tie on tight and made a 90mph run. Had I just simply relied on the fact that my boat is water tight, and not waterproofed everything....well I probably would have lost all my electronics. Good thing I know better
2) what if your flex breaks at the motor? Say bye bye electronics again
3) you hit something by accident you didn't see....puts a little hole in the hull. Fills up with water. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

I could keep going, but you get my point you have a vessel out in the water. Water always wants to find it way in. You can take chances, but I'm not. There's only two reasons I can think of if you've never got water in your hull.....
1) your extremely lucky or 2) you just don't run your boats very often. I run mine pretty much every weekend.

Ain't no sense in arguing about it either, everyone has their own way of doing things. Keep on doing what your doing and I'll keep on doing what I'm doing.

Here is some more of your reality lol.

Well I took it all apart. It appeared to have a slight amount of moisture in the fet area. Guess I need a different sealant. I'm in the process of putting another one together. Didn't smell burnt tho. Guess that's a good thing it didn't smell up my boat as its about to go up for sale. I'm glad this happened now too! Make me look bad had it gone out after I sold it to someone. Now it will have a brand new esc and a new motor.

One could argue that you are taking chances. Just sayin.

[siberianhusky]

No KFX I don't get your point as I said over 35 years not a lost component due to water. Plenty lost due to other reasons but never water.
Even if I happen to lose an esc that's not a bad track record for the length of time I've been at it.
I'm just not worried about losing an esc, at 120$ for a Hobbywing 180 they just really aren't expensive enough for me to waste that kind of time on to put it bluntly. I consider them disposable, now if it was 500$ per esc for a Chinese one I would be thinking differently.
Seems odd to me it always seems to be the relatively new guys who obsess over this stuff, after a few years you just use the stuff, as you know it has a limited shelf life if your pushing things.

[montymike]

Limited shelf life on a esc.?

[RCBoaterGuy]

Thanks,
Saved me the hassle of a lot typing

There are numerous threads on this forum about the Seaking ESC's (+ Turnigy clones) like the one in post #9 not being water-proof.

Run your boat & any one of the things Travis pointed out happens, your ESC gets wet & fry's. Then everybody's gonna go... well moron why didn't you waterproof your electronics?? Plus of course the usual why didn't you tape it??

The only waterproof boat is the one that never see's water

No matter how good you seal your boat up, accidents can happen. Let me give you some reality.
1) cooling line pops off. Not common, but it can happen. Happened to me a couple weeks ago. It filled up with water. Hey, we are all human and we make mistakes. I didn't have the zip tie on tight and made a 90mph run. Had I just simply relied on the fact that my boat is water tight, and not waterproofed everything....well I probably would have lost all my electronics. Good thing I know better
2) what if your flex breaks at the motor? Say bye bye electronics again
3) you hit something by accident you didn't see....puts a little hole in the hull. Fills up with water. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

I could keep going, but you get my point you have a vessel out in the water. Water always wants to find it way in. You can take chances, but I'm not. There's only two reasons I can think of if you've never got water in your hull.....
1) your extremely lucky or 2) you just don't run your boats very often. I run mine pretty much every weekend.

Ain't no sense in arguing about it either, everyone has their own way of doing things. Keep on doing what your doing and I'll keep on doing what I'm doing.

[kfxguy]

Here is some more of your reality lol.


One could argue that you are taking chances. Just sayin.

I must disagree. I took measures to waterproof that esc. I didn't just rely on the fact that my boat is water tight. The design of the seaking allows you to no have to epoxy coat the board, but what I used to seal it from the outside evidently didn't stick well enough. So how was I taking chances? Had I not done anything at all I could agree with you, but I did try.

[kfxguy]

Kfxguy, do you actually pour thick epoxy into the open ends of the heat shrink?Or do you paint on thin epoxy?

Ive been stocking up on materials to reinforce all of my hulls over 20", this seems like a good way for me to use up all of the experimental batches of epoxy I mix.I'm just a little worried about the epoxy creating a contact issue like corrosion if I pour it in.The open end on a 200a esc is huge compared to the little heli esc in the video.

If it's an esc that's heat shrinked, I cut the shrink off and lightly coat the boards with clear general purpose epoxy. Most of the time I will spray plasti dip over that once it cures.

[kfxguy]

No KFX I don't get your point as I said over 35 years not a lost component due to water. Plenty lost due to other reasons but never water.
Even if I happen to lose an esc that's not a bad track record for the length of time I've been at it.
I'm just not worried about losing an esc, at 120$ for a Hobbywing 180 they just really aren't expensive enough for me to waste that kind of time on to put it bluntly. I consider them disposable, now if it was 500$ per esc for a Chinese one I would be thinking differently.
Seems odd to me it always seems to be the relatively new guys who obsess over this stuff, after a few years you just use the stuff, as you know it has a limited shelf life if your pushing things.

I may still be fairly new but I'm no dummy. I don't proclaim to know everything either but I do prefer the extra insurance of making an effort to protect thing. I'm not too worried about the cost of the esc's, I just usually have a lot of time in each one I wire up because of the fact that I add cap banks and upgrade wires and add a bec to each one. Just have better things to do with my time than constantly redo esc's if they wet.

[tlandauer]

I fail to see what the big deal is in an epic manner....
I take pride to seal my boat and also I spend a lot of time testing for leaks statically in a pool before the boat ever sees water the first time. So, in this regard, I am not too worried about the components being 100% water proof, sure, I will be much happier if they were.
I too consider these Chinese ESC disposable items, were it for my Shulze 40.160 in my 45" Sniper, I would generously treat it with the GREEN label CorrosionX.
On the other hand, as KFX said, he doesn't want to take chances and with the know how of potting the ESC, then why not? Also, he is in that league that if the tube is not secured with any additional means, at that speed, there is just enough pressure from the water pick up to pop those connections loose, I have been told by a SAW record holder personally that is exactly what would happen.
I am a sport boater, so I don't clamp the tubes down, but that is with the knowledge that my speed would not do the aforementioned deeds.
Do ESCs have a shelf life? I have not been into this long enough to give an educated answer, but from experience I know the capacitors definitely have a shelf life.
And, last but not least, as Siberianhusky pointed out, it is a misconception sometimes among new boaters ( I certainly do not mean Travis!!!!) that the fixation of water proofing the ESC takes a more important role than truly learning how to keep the boat dry inside.
That also has to do with all the "improvements" the RTR manufactures have made in the last few years. More and more components are being lauded as water proof.
Another reason why people who have been in this hobby from a longer span of times will always say "make sure your boat is dry inside first"
How many young drivers ( automobile that is) still know how to read the Thomas Map???!!!
Hate to say it, it is a "generational" thing....
There, this concludes my weekly rant!

[kfxguy]

I fail to see what the big deal is in an epic manner....
I take pride to seal my boat and also I spend a lot of time testing for leaks statically in a pool before the boat ever sees water the first time. So, in this regard, I am not too worried about the components being 100% water proof, sure, I will be much happier if they were.
I too consider these Chinese ESC disposable items, were it for my Shulze 40.160 in my 45" Sniper, I would generously treat it with the GREEN label CorrosionX.
On the other hand, as KFX said, he doesn't want to take chances and with the know how of potting the ESC, then why not? Also, he is in that league that if the tube is not secured with any additional means, at that speed, there is just enough pressure from the water pick up to pop those connections loose, I have been told by a SAW record holder personally that is exactly what would happen.
I am a sport boater, so I don't clamp the tubes down, but that is with the knowledge that my speed would not do the aforementioned deeds.
Do ESCs have a shelf life? I have not been into this long enough to give an educated answer, but from experience I know the capacitors definitely have a shelf life.
And, last but not least, as Siberianhusky pointed out, it is a misconception sometimes among new boaters ( I certainly do not mean Travis!!!!) that the fixation of water proofing the ESC takes a more important role than truly learning how to keep the boat dry inside.
That also has to do with all the "improvements" the RTR manufactures have made in the last few years. More and more components are being lauded as water proof.
Another reason why people who have been in this hobby from a longer span of times will always say "make sure your boat is dry inside first"
How many young drivers ( automobile that is) still know how to read the Thomas Map???!!!
Hate to say it, it is a "generational" thing....
There, this concludes my weekly rant!

Thanks and well put. And yes the water hose will pop off past 70-80 (of course these many things that effect this, there are some hose that fit so well and tight there's no need to clamp them) if not secured. I've noticed that on the hrc water jackets that the hose nipple is smaller than most other fittings on my boat. I make dang sure to secure those well.

[RCBoaterGuy]

Not all of us have the luxury of access to a swimming pool to test our boats.

Some of us live on fixed income's and cannot afford a Hydra Ice or similar.

Not all of us can afford to spend $105 on an out of production ESC because we failed to take proper precautions with the first one. $105 may be a drop in the bucket to you, but to me it's not. I'm a sport boater not a racer.

Tupperware lid - check

Tape the canopy \ hatch - check

Unexpected water jacket leak - check

Am I "fixated on waterproofing my electronics"?? No, do it once & forget it. If something unexpected does happen, I don't have to replace parts due to laziness.

I didn't just start this hobby yesterday or the day before, nor did I just fall off a turnip truck.

Try reading some of Travis's other posts. He does the right things, but the unexpected still happens, it's just the nature of R/C boating, that was his point (and mine in follow-up post). Unfortunately, some members would rather nit-pick, instead of excepting facts. More power to you, still doesn't change the facts.

I fail to see what the big deal is in an epic manner....
I take pride to seal my boat and also I spend a lot of time testing for leaks statically in a pool before the boat ever sees water the first time. So, in this regard, I am not too worried about the components being 100% water proof, sure, I will be much happier if they were.
I too consider these Chinese ESC disposable items, were it for my Shulze 40.160 in my 45" Sniper, I would generously treat it with the GREEN label CorrosionX.
On the other hand, as KFX said, he doesn't want to take chances and with the know how of potting the ESC, then why not? Also, he is in that league that if the tube is not secured with any additional means, at that speed, there is just enough pressure from the water pick up to pop those connections loose, I have been told by a SAW record holder personally that is exactly what would happen.
I am a sport boater, so I don't clamp the tubes down, but that is with the knowledge that my speed would not do the aforementioned deeds.
Do ESCs have a shelf life? I have not been into this long enough to give an educated answer, but from experience I know the capacitors definitely have a shelf life.
And, last but not least, as Siberianhusky pointed out, it is a misconception sometimes among new boaters ( I certainly do not mean Travis!!!!) that the fixation of water proofing the ESC takes a more important role than truly learning how to keep the boat dry inside.
That also has to do with all the "improvements" the RTR manufactures have made in the last few years. More and more components are being lauded as water proof.
Another reason why people who have been in this hobby from a longer span of times will always say "make sure your boat is dry inside first"
How many young drivers ( automobile that is) still know how to read the Thomas Map???!!!
Hate to say it, it is a "generational" thing....
There, this concludes my weekly rant!

[kfxguy]

Not all of us have the luxury of access to a swimming pool to test our boats.

Some of us live on fixed income's and cannot afford a Hydra Ice or similar.

Not all of us can afford to spend $105 on an out of production ESC because we failed to take proper precautions with the first one. $105 may be a drop in the bucket to you, but to me it's not. I'm a sport boater not a racer.

Tupperware lid - check

Tape the canopy \ hatch - check

Unexpected water jacket leak - check

Am I "fixated on waterproofing my electronics"?? No, do it once & forget it. If something unexpected does happen, I don't have to replace parts due to laziness.

I didn't just start this hobby yesterday or the day before, nor did I just fall off a turnip truck.

Try reading some of Travis's other posts. He does the right things, but the unexpected still happens, it's just the nature of R/C boating, that was his point (and mine in follow-up post). Unfortunately, some members would rather nit-pick, instead of excepting facts. More power to you, still doesn't change the facts.

Thanks. As I said earlier, I run my boats a lot. I went today and ran three of them. Two of them stayed dry. My mini Rivercat got water in it today. Why? Because my gps wasn't reading (carbon hull, fiberglass top and it in the battery tray well) and I moved it. Where I moved it to, evidently it kept the hatch from sealing fully. But guess what? Shook out the water, went to running it again. Everything is either water proof versions or it's been epoxy coated. I have no worries. Guess I'd rather be safe than sorry. I dont see esc's as consumable items. Not to mention a v3 seaking 180 won't fit in my boat so I'd have to track down a v2 so it'll fit.

[tlandauer]

I agree with you 10000%

Not all of us have the luxury of access to a swimming pool to test our boats.

Some of us live on fixed income's and cannot afford a Hydra Ice or similar.

Not all of us can afford to spend $105 on an out of production ESC because we failed to take proper precautions with the first one. $105 may be a drop in the bucket to you, but to me it's not. I'm a sport boater not a racer.

Tupperware lid - check

Tape the canopy \ hatch - check

Unexpected water jacket leak - check

Am I "fixated on waterproofing my electronics"?? No, do it once & forget it. If something unexpected does happen, I don't have to replace parts due to laziness.

I didn't just start this hobby yesterday or the day before, nor did I just fall off a turnip truck.

Try reading some of Travis's other posts. He does the right things, but the unexpected still happens, it's just the nature of R/C boating, that was his point (and mine in follow-up post). Unfortunately, some members would rather nit-pick, instead of excepting facts. More power to you, still doesn't change the facts.

And I will repeat:

I fail to see what the big deal is in an epic manner....
.............

[siberianhusky]

"Not all of us have the luxury of access to a swimming pool to test our boats."
No bathtub either? I sure don't put my boats in my hot tub to test for leaks, don't want to scratch the acrylic.

[tlandauer]

"Not all of us have the luxury of access to a swimming pool to test our boats."
No bathtub either? I sure don't put my boats in my hot tub to test for leaks, don't want to scratch the acrylic.

Lucky for me that I don't own a hot tub, heaven forbid that such luxury items are in my possession. I could not imagine how much flak I would be getting for owning this IN ADDITION TO A SWIMMING POOL.
All the bandwidth would then have been used to denounce the bourgeoisie.

[montymike]

Wow