What I want to do
I want to keep electronics dry while wired to underwater sensors. I did a short test of a simple system of caulk filled tubes stuck through rubber stoppers in the tops of pop bottles. I did a test submerging it half a meter (18") down in a trashcan full of water.
previously:
My attempt and results
New additions to the design:
- I used clear plastic tubing instead of brass tubing (3/8" OD (outside diameter) PET tubing)
- I ran wires down the length of the tube before filling with silicone caulk to simulate running sensors
- I filled the bottles with rice both to act as a desiccant (pulling moisture out of the air) and because it makes the bottle less compressible and I think will help maintain shape at depth. Also, rice sticks to moisture and I can use that to tell whether the bottles leaked.
I could fit four wires off a 0.1" ribbon cable through the tube.
Throwing it in the River
I threw it in and dragged it out three times just to be extra rough, then I tossed them about four feet (120cm) down.
I threw it in the water on the 16th of february and just picked it up at almost low-tide on the 25th (at 5:40pm). It was submerged under about 5' (150cm) of water at least some of last week.
NOAA Willamette River water levels:
here they are tied up at low tide when I retrieved them.
;
Questions and next steps
Go deeper-- attach real electronics and sensors.
Why I'm interested
$1 waterproofing
6 Comments
Have you tried using heat shrink wrap yet as a sealant?
Electrical tape also works as shrink wrap - just apply some stream/heat to it and it tightens up.
Great for making seals on wine bottle...etc...
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i've tried heat shrink tubing in other projects-- I don't find that it provides a perfect seal and it has difficulty sticking to glues since its usually a polyolyfin material. it is very useful at reducing the stress on a wire around a waterproofing joint though.
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