Sealing wires going out of a SubTech WTC

[craigf]

This is the type of WTC for the Albacore, with the soft rubber gasket seal. The wires are the 2 very small gauge ones that go to the PBU valve. I'm wondering if it's safe to just run these under the gasket seal, rather than drill a hole in the WTC and use silicone sealant. Seems to work OK in the bathtub... Thanks!

[JWLaRue]

Craig,

...by 'rubber gasket seal' are

Craig,

...by 'rubber gasket seal' are you referring to the gasket used to seal the two halves of the WTC?

If so, bad idea! You are not going to get a good seal of the WTC if you also run the wires across the gasket surface. It will leak. If you are looking to run the wires 'underneath' the gasket and then use silicone to seal it, you might as well go through the WTC.

I believe that the SubTech directions state to drill the hole through the WTC to run the wire through? I'd go with that and just make sure that before you apply the silicone sealant that the surfaces of the WTC and wire are very clean.

-Jeff

[craigf]

OK thanks. I meant running

OK thanks. I meant running the wires between the gasket and the bottom half of the surface it's meant to seal against i.e. the wires are loose when the cylinder halves are separated. The instructions for the PBU stuff don't mention details for running the wires, and I can't tell how it's done from pics I have of others boats. Presumed normally you'd drill a hole through the WTC and seal, but was hoping to get away from more holes there. Thought I'd ask because I don't much trust stuff that I test in the bathtub, and it seemed like a bad idea (though convenient).

[JWLaRue]

Craig,

Another way to consider doing

Craig,

Another way to consider doing it.....

Run two short pieces of threaded rod through the wall of the WTC, secure each side (of each rod) with nuts. Apply silicone before tightening the nuts. This will give you a solid, permanent seal. The (two?) wires from things like the PBU can then be run to these threaded studs and secured with additional nuts. On the outside of the WTC secure each wire to a stud with an additional nut.

-Jeff

[craigf]

Thanks again Jeff. I have

Thanks again Jeff. I have heard of that method from another thread, like what D&E uses. Anyway, it was too late as I already drilled/sealed a hole.