Electrical Questions

[danl]

Our cold Minnesota water caused quite a bit of condensation inside my WTC. So...
1. Does anybody use dessicant packets inside WTC's to prevent condensation and keep electronics dry?

2. Is there a grease, spray or coating to put on plugs, wires, etc that protects them from moisture?

3. I've used Dean's plugs for connections - small and sturdy. Anything comparable in size that is more moisture resistant?

4. Scotchguard fabric spray repels water, dirt - everything. Has anybody used it to spray electronics/wires/connectors to provide moisture resistance? Label says not on plastic, bu a small test indicated no problem.

Thanks

[bigdave]

I use Stuph. It is

I use Stuph. It is a great product. The Deans are gold plated, you won't find much better than that. Moisture is always a problem. Hard to keep out if the air is humid. Never used the packs. Give them a try!! BD.

[stevel14]

I use the packs and

I use the packs and they do a good job of reducting the moisture in the WTC. I recommend them even if you aren't living in a high humidity area.

Steve Laubmeier
#2442

[bob the builder]

I use the packs, too.

I use the packs, too. Certainly can't hurt anything, and I've never seen condensation in my WTC when I use them.

[chuck chesney]

Over the years, I've used

Over the years, I've used them too, with good results. Bone dry inside the WTC. I've usually scrounged them (the small silica gel packs) from various items that were purchased with the packs included as part of the package material. Does anybody have a source for the silica gel packs to be purchased? I suspect that a couple of dozen would be a lifetime supply, because they are just baked in the oven for a half hour or less (on real low heat), and the moisture is drawn out them. They are just like new.

[wlwilson]

Silica Gel

I also scrounged the little packets of silica gel until I got about a pint. Earlier than that I researched a chemical supply house and found two varieties. One with a cobalt blue which turns pink when laden with moisture and the other without. The price difference was about 5X with the cobalt blue. The smallest available was in gallon sizes.

Recently I'd been looking at "Purina TidyCats Crystals" on the pet section of my WAL*MART. A 3.5 pound container of about 3 to 4 quarts was a little under $8.00. I finally bought a jug. This product has crystals which are dyed blue, but don't change color. Bummer impersonation of colbalt blue.

Just a little bit of cobalt blue would be useful to detect moisture and again when the batch is dry.

Silica gel is essentially expanded glass and can be dried and reused many times. I use about 150 F.


Warren

[wlwilson]

Sealing Electrical Connectors

I've used "liquid tape" with excellent success over connectors by W. S. Deans and other types.

It is available in different colors. Home Depot in the electrical department or Harbor Freight in the automotive area.

I apply several coats. To separate the connectors I remove the liquid tape from around the joint with Xylene solvent with swabs.

I my boat I leave connectors joined between outings and am able to charge batteries with a special connector.

As a P.S. to the earlier silica gel posting I have a pint jar with silica gel in it and pump air through the jar into the WTC via a small hole (8-32) after I remove a sealing screw. An aquarium air pump works well. I'm considering heating the air just before it enters the WTC but haven't yet.

Warren

[danl]

dessicant packs

I found these:
http://www.preservesmart.com/products.h ... Desiccants

Seem expensive at first, but a couple little packets, at 22cents each, should keep a WTC dry for a couple outings at least. Convenient little packets to just drop in the WTC.

Also, I found something called Bullfrog anti-corrosion spray for electronics- link below. I couldn't find "Stuph" anywhere on the internet or around here.

http://www.zap-enterprises.com/catalog. ... prevnext=1

The Bullfrog product really cleaned up the discoloration and the bit of corrosion from my Seawolf's first one-way dive.