Waterproofing ESCs or damaging them?

[DISAR]

Waterproofing single board ESCs is easy, just brush conformal coating (epoxy,silicon etc...) on both sides and for better results do not coat the top part of the FEts but put heat sink compound and then add the heat sink for better heat transfer.

I had a Himodel 200a esc which has 3-4 boards like a sandwich and decided to waterproof it by tottally encapsulating in DP270. I sealed all sides and pour DP270 in it. Looked Ok and worked in test bench. But when tried it in my boat (MM, 9XL,4s, m440) burnt in less than a minute without any water in the boat. This makes me believe that the total encapsulation in epoxy caused the failure.
Has any one tried this? What is the best way to waterproof sandwich ESCs? Please describe also the materials used.
Waterproofing the ESC is my greatest concern since I have burnt 3 of them, and it is way much cheaper than buying the equivalent factory made ones.

[Flying Scotsman]

Try Corrosion X. It has worked for me.

My thoughts are with total encapsulation with I presume electronic grade epoxy/silicon that temperature retention is your problem.


http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/products.php?cat=79

Douggie

[Doby]

Qty 1, CC120 Hydra,
Qty 1, Cc 189 HV Hydra'
Qty 1, X-Power 100A

All coated (encapsulated) in Great Planes 30 minute epoxy with no heat issues at all.

[Dr. Jet]

Here is something I tried on smaller ESCs and worked quite well. Make an oval-shaped balsa "plug" for each end of the ESC, roughly the same size as the ESC's cross-section. Drill some holes in these plugs for the wires and tubes. Slide the plugs in place, silicone the wires and tubes in place on the balsa plugs, and put shrink-tube over the whole mess. When it is done, water-proof the balsa with whatever you have (I use Plasti-Dip).

Your ESC is now housed in shrink-tube with sealed ends. If you need to get at the ESC, an X-Acto knife does the job, and with some work, you can bust-up the balsa and peel the silicone off of the wires.

[DISAR]

Thank you guys for your replies. I will try Dr.Jet's idea or similar, but as Doby stated he had no problems with his own ESCs however these are already waterproof. I still believe that total "home-made" waterproofing of "sandwich" type ESCs by total encapsulation with epoxy can cause heat probems. Has anybody done that on Himodel 200A? I am not an expert in electrics-electronics but this is my guess.

[DISAR]

Corrosion X must be great for the job but It cannot be shipped overseas. Is it similar to WD40? or any electrocleaner?

[txboatpilot]

Hi have had great success with the HM-200 by waterproofing it with Spray Silicon Conformal coating.. Got it at Fry's electronics, made by MG chemicals.. has worked on all my esc's that were not factory waterproofed.. Also can be found here..http://cableorganizer.com/mg-chemica...e-coating.html

I use the corrosionX on my receivers in all my boats.

[DISAR]

Thanks for sharing this info.