Wax as waterproofing?
 

I recently tore down a Radio Shack (I think maybe a Nikko), and found that the circuit boards had been coated with what appears to be paraffin wax, sprayed on.

I run Losi receivers (DSM) and they don't separate the connector area from the rest, so crud builds up in there quickly. If the crud is moist... you know the rest.

I just finished testing the first one, filled with very soft candle wax to the top of the connectors base. It works well.

Does anyone know why these things aren't potted during manufacture? It's not like they can be economically repaired.

Has anyone here tried this? Tips?

Because they're not intended to get wet and 99% of them never do so it's an added cost with almost zero gain or selling point. IMO

I'm gonna guess you primarily race (the name's a clue)?

I'm just a basher, and the more places/times I can play... the better.

Traxxas went to some trouble to waterproof, and some money to make it well known. Seems to be working out for them.

Here's a diff take on waterproofing - series of them, this is the rcvr one -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxM4L...eature=channel

ekd, valid point and I wasn't bashing on you:sneaky: Traxxas also uses a sealed radio box because to be water proof they need the servo plugs to be sealed as well. I see what your trying to do and I'm sure it'll work fine, I just see the Traxxas radio box as an easier way to do it if I were taking my stuff swimming. Which I've seen a Slash or 2 do before:lol: Have fun!

Hell, the wax thing seems like it work great... I've seen people use liquid masking tape before but it looks real messy not sure though since I've never used it. I dont know what the difference would be between candle and paraffin wax would be but you can buy paraffin wax at wal-mart or just about any grocery store that sell canning supply's.

Thanks for the link, I would have never thought of tool dip.

:D Those boxes are sweet. My receivers are tiny though, and fit a lot of places those won't. I'm thinking of soldering lead extensions to the pins, potting it all, and using electrical tape or shrink tube to seal the connectors. I need to be able to unplug easily, and sometimes bind.

:ha: Something I actually know a little bit about. Candles.

Tapers and other small diameter candles are typically paraffin with stearic acid added to make them hard enough to keep the melted puddle small and prevent meltdown (like cheap birthday cake candles do). As you get into bigger diameters, you need to use softer wax to allow more to be added to the melted fuel puddle, and keep it from quickly tunneling down.

The harder the wax, the more likely it is to shatter when cold... and the cheap, fat dollar store candles are as soft as it gets. They almost feel greasy. And, if I do smoke something, I have chosen to emit a vanilla scent. :)

Liquid electrical tape works well also, easy to remove for repair too

That's worth a try, too. Thanks.

If you ever need to remove wax, just freeze it, and it crumbles away easily and cleanly. Even from clothes.

i go old school and use balloons. how we used to do it back before the turn of the century..:lol:

:D Geezer? I remember when we had to use catgut (:rolleyes: No.).

I went ahead and waxed up another one. I used a bit of light synthetic sponge around the pins, filled the bottom, mounted it up, and hit it with a heat gun until the seams leaked wax.

When it is wired, I'll put a pinch of crumbled wax in the socket, and hit it with the heat gun. 1 last pic... if it works.