Before I have admitted that yes even there is a blizzard outside I still decided to walk my dog. He does not understand my reason behind why he cannot go outside just to lay. And I also believe that he has enough energy that if I do not walk him every single day, I might start to have replaced the windows because he just kept on bouncing off the walls. This is totally crazy. But I am very thankful because as a Labrador Retriever, he has a natural waterproof coat and it will keep his skin dry and warm. Even amidst a blizzard.
With this fact, it has led us to be the exploration of what makes a waterproof enclosure in order for them to avoid the formation of moisture inside. I have some customers that request information on how they can make standard enclosures to be waterproof. I also have some customers that shared some trade secrets with me. With this in mind, here are the potential workarounds the customers have previously mentioned and told me over the years.
- Use waterproof tape: before, I have some customers who told me that they can use double-sided tape to effectively seal the enclosure. When it is wrapped around the lip of the cover that meets the base, the waterproof tape can make a seal keep the solid and water from entering the enclosure. The additional benefit of this method is that the tape can also be applied to just any surface. This should solve the problem with the use of end panels, battery doors, and even the customized products together with the holes being protected.
- Use gaskets: as mentioned in the above example, there are some enclosures that have the record for having the gasket being molded in the enclosure. There are customers that suggested to have a machining track unto the walls of the case. This is a very extreme delicate procedure that personally I do not recommend. There is a very limited material that is widely available and the trick for this one is to machine precise the amount that would leave a robust wall thickness for strength. But this should be done on a large space that the gasket can totally move around. With the 1/10th of an inch of the thickness there is a real possibility that these walls will eventually break.
- Use epoxy/silicone: there is no need to get back to the enclosure or even work on the electronics side of it, the use of a silicone seal is already a great option.
One of the best approaches in making sure that you are having the waterproof enclosure you are planning for is to utilize a case that has been designed with the NEMA specifications in mind.
