Electrical connect to outside WTC

[cstranc]

What do people use to get electrical signals outside of their WTC?

I know the first time I tried I ran the electrical cables directly through the WTC endcap (one hole per wire) and tried using various adhesives to give me a seal. Did not work very well, the seal kept breaking as the cables moved (during installation).

People have said to use brass rod going through the wall. Does anyone have any pictures of this?

I was in an electronics store and saw the standoffs use to connect two PCBs. They are conductive and have male thread on one end, and female on the other.



I tried this. It seals nicely, but it's a very soft metal. I was a tad over enthusiastic tightening one and the metal failed...

I am also thinking that not all electrical connects are the same. We have low current connections to LEDs and Mouse valves that would ideally be nice and small. Then you have connects to the motors that need to have significant current going through them.

I guess the best thing is to avoid taking the connections across the water / WTC boundary where possible. That's why people put conduits between their WTC. Me thinks this is the only practical approach for things like servo wires.

What do people recommend?

[Guest]

Have you tried silcone sealant/caulking?

Andy

Have you tried silcone sealant/caulking?

Andy

[cstranc]

I used silicone sealant the

I used silicone sealant the first time. I had issues with is losing grip on the insulation for the wires.

I was using the "kitchen & bath" type silicone sealant. Is there better stuff?

[Guest]

Rather than using a brass

Rather than using a brass rod, a more secure technique would be to tap a 4/40 or 2/56 hole through the WTC, and screw in the same size brass bolt halfway through the hole, leaving about 3/8" projecting on each side of the WTC. Cut off the head of the bolt and use thin CA on both sides of the bolt, where it enters and exits the WTC. Using brass washers, lock washers, and brass nuts, secure the electrical wires to each protruding end of the bolt. That way, you can change receivers, or wires, without replacing the stud which remains in the WTC. If brass is too soft, you could use stainless steel.

[Guest]

I was using the "kitchen

I was using the "kitchen & bath" type silicone sealant. Is there better stuff?

You could try a polyurethane sealant, car body mastic or one of the sikaflex range.

http://www.sika.co.uk/tech-elseal-bond

[cstranc]

Thanks this is great info.

Thanks this is great info.

[Rogue Sub]

i prefer the way ART

i prefer the way ART does it. Its strong and reliable. A little silicone and your good to go aswell. I use aquarium silicone from the walmart pet section. It is 100% You can also try blue RTV Silicone at an auto hobby shop.

PS Where have you been!!??

[Guest]

I use for general sealing

I use for general sealing marine GOOP realy great stuf have used it for years and its removable yet very strong,also 100% silicone sealer clear but cheaper from hardweare stores used in cauking guns ,nice big tubes for 4 too 6 bucks.
Try Goop on the WTC wire passthough but use librally and let it dry flat so that it wont drip,also pull the wires about an inch in or out to get the goop in every place.
But the best method is amphenol connectors,mil spec,gold plated conection.

[mike dory]

Speaking from my own experence

Speaking from my own experence Guy's, the best way to take a wire through a WTC. Is just the way Art told ya, it works very very well.
Best Wishes on your projects. Mike Dory

[crunchyfrog]

Bolts with boots

I like how convenient that must be for maintenance. How many of these connectors do you typically use, though, and how far apart? Have you ever wanted to measure current drain through the water between your connectors? What do you do for corrosion resistance?

I use wet motors, so I use quite a few connectors. I typically use Latex because it goes on liquid so it can fill all gaps and mold to the wire like the marine goop. Latex doesn't adhere to the WTC well, though, so at the outside edge of the Latex I seal with silicone caulk. The Latex sounds redundant--but the idea is the flexible Latex will be forced to seal better the deeper it goes; and the more rigid, adhering silicone keeps water out at shallow depths where low pressure doesn't help with sealing.

Major Latex disadvantage: needs to dry overnight, so it's a long maintenance thing when a solder joint has come loose under the boot. I can't just swap wires. It was fun to think I had a tough sealed sub, but now I'm buzzin’ to get more practical, with Art's method.

[crunchyfrog]

>But the best method is

>But the best method is amphenol connectors,mil spec,gold plated conection.


Could you show me an example ?

[wingtip]

http://www.suresealconnections.com/index.html

http://www.agoenvironmental.com/Connector.htm

http://www.sportys.com/acb/showdetl.cfm ... ct_ID=1250

http://www.suresealconnections.com/index.html

http://www.agoenvironmental.com/Connector.htm

http://www.sportys.com/acb/showdetl.cfm ... ct_ID=1250

[crunchyfrog]

thanks

Wow. Thanks !

[cstranc]

Ditto, those do look amazing.

Ditto, those do look amazing.

[tmsmalley]

Instead of brass which corrodes,

Instead of brass which corrodes, I have used stainless bolts and nuts in the same way.

In the inch or so that the current needs to travel, the slight difference in conductivity doesn't seem to hurt a thing.

Tim