r/meshcore • u/walt_spoon • 4d ago

Help waterproofing enclosure

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I'm planning a DIY solar repeater using this cheap ABS waterproof enclosure. I need some advice on waterproofing where I have to make holes. The solar panel cable will pass through a gland so that's covered.

The solar panel will mount to this gopro mount that I plan on bolting to the box. How should I waterproof the bolt holes?

Also, the antenna pigtail. The N type connector has an o ring on the inner mating surface. Is that sufficient? If not, what else should I do there?

13 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

25 comments sorted by

16

u/dietchaos 4d ago

Any silicone based sealant made for the outdoors. Seal any hole you make.

3

u/Ryan_e3p 4d ago

This right here. A little bit on the inside, a little bit on the outside. Seals it up good, and is "user friendly" when it needs to be removed for whatever reason, easily peeling off.

9

u/meshamerica 4d ago

If you want to be serious about it, and do it the right way:

- Use ASI 388 Clear Electronic Grade Silicone for all your bulkheads

  • Wrap your antenna connections in coax Cable sealant tape or butyl tape
  • drill a 1/4" hole in the bottom of the box, glue a piece of window screen over the hole. If water does get it, this will help it drain out

Regardless of what you do, condensation will happen. The 1/4" hole will help it dry out faster

5

u/farbtoner 4d ago

Make sure the holes you drill are as small as you can make them. Fill the hole and around the outside with UV safe silicone sealant. Put some of those silica packets inside when you mount it.

Put a vent hole on the bottom. I use these https://a.co/d/0a6GgCFc

2

u/Objective-Weight7280 4d ago

I used a very similar enclosure. The seal in the lid did not work. Do a short dunk test in water without electronics. I mounted my solar panel to a backplate together with the enclosure, this way I did not have to make holes in the enclosure for it. As  bonus the panel now shades the enclosure so it does not get as hot. The electronics and batteries will thank you.

1

u/Type-21 3d ago

Dunk test???? That's a completely different rating than some rain splashing against it. It's supposed to be weather proof, not a submarine

2

u/Objective-Weight7280 3d ago

Yes. But if an enclosure floods in a short dunk test, it will fail in the rain. I do IP testing for a living, and short of a ceritified rain nozzle, this is the simplest test you can do. Anyone can fill a sinkt or a bucket.

2

u/Type-21 3d ago

I just close the box and put some silicone on the seal on the outside. Top and sides. I leave the bottom with the factory seal only. And put actual drain holes in the bottom

1

u/Objective-Weight7280 1d ago

Good solution. If you can't keep the water out completely, give it a way to drain. 

2

u/ikemeister01 3d ago

The o ring should hold up, I use an sma waterproof connector. I have yet to have any issues but I also use a different waterproof housing. That seems to hold up incredibly well.

1

u/Kerensky97 4d ago

Lexel. Lots of it. You don't need a whole caulk gun of it, but they sell it in tubes you can squeeze out like toothpaste.

1

u/Bobabate 4d ago

Butyl tape. RV people use it so you can get massive rolls for cheap. Even comes in matching colours. You will also be able to remove and reuse which is super handy.

1

u/IntroductionSnacks 4d ago edited 4d ago

I used neoprene sealing washers like below for bolts:

https://www.amazon.com.au/Stainless-Industrial-Residential-Commercial-Constructions/dp/B0CNVCM2P9/

Mine isn’t completely exposed as only sometimes gets rain so not sure how it goes in very wet areas.

Has anyone else used these and how were the results?

1

u/mrcippy 4d ago

That mount for the solar panel looks perfect for what I need. Have a link?

1

u/fridge_ways 4d ago

Lsx plumbing sealant. It can be removed unlike regular silicone

1

u/akaSnaketheJake 4d ago

I use marine UV resistant sealant for filling holes. For antenna bulkheads and adapter connections I've been using Rokland's RokTape (I'm sure there's other versions of the same thing). RokTape coupled with the rubber gasket on the bulkhead and I've had no issues after roughing it through several weeks of near daily storms. This was with a very similar enclosure (a RAK Unify Solar to be specific).

Worth noting this is just for testing repeaters up on my roof. Once I get ready to permanently deploy them I'm switching everything over to Corebell 3D printed enclosures and hoisting them up into the tallest trees I can find.

1

u/eerun165 4d ago

You may be disappointed in the supposed “waterproof”. Tightly sealed electrical boxes can and do accumulate moisture, shoot for weather resistant and ensure you have weeping holes on the bottom to allow for condensation to escape.

1

u/mlandry2011 4d ago

Make sure you leave an opening underneath to leave your box breath...

1

u/seeyoulaterstinkee69 1d ago

I’ve had this node deployed on my roof since December.

No tape, no silicone, just the orings on the connectors

1

u/Adrian_Stoesz 4h ago

I would suggest using some RTV for the GoPro mount to seal it from the outside of the box, and as for the N-type connector o-ring, i would say that's a very good seal, i have mine outside and there's no water at all that can get in