Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Water Models / November 2006

I do R/C warship combat, in which ships get sunk all the time, servos &
all.  Being able to recover, drain, patch, & get back into battle is a
big part of the sport.  Motors themselves are not a problem & handle
getting dunked with no problem.  Most trouble is with the feedback
potentiometer.

My own favored technique is to paint both sides of the control board
liberally with ScotchKote.  Also, it doesn't hurt to drill a couple of
holes in the case - 1 down low to drain & another up high to vent.
Even so, sometimes they'll get a little squirrely.  Often, even without
ScotchKote, they can be recovered by taking them apart & a dipping the
electronics into a cup of rubbing alcohol for awhile - kind of like a
tea bag.  The alcohol displaces water, & when you dry it out again,
they're good to go.

I've also found that some micro servos are pretty tolerant/resistant to
water, as-is.

JM

Miem;31 Wrote:

Most model power boats use a waterproof radio box to house the servos
and receiver pack.  Rubber boots are used for the servo control rods to
keep the water out of the box.

Do you actually plan to submerge them or do you just want them resistant
to splashes? (That would be water resistant, rather than waterproof.)

To make them resistant, you could probably just apply a sealant to the
seams and wire opening of the case, then use some thick, plastic-
compatible grease around the shaft. That might even do for light immersion
as well.

-Wm

Seem to remember an advert (or was it a report on some Expo)in a
modelling magazine (early to mid 80s)in which servos etc were working
immersed in water (in a fish tank) so it is obviously not outwith the
wit of man to make a waterPROOF servo.  The motor itself will work
totally submerged (at least this will work with main drive motors so
would imagine that the small motors used in servos would be ok ).
 This does seem counterintuitive but I seem to remember an article on
bedding in a motor talked of a stage requiring immersion whilst running
the motor (tried this it does work with '560' size motors). Take none of
this as gospel try experimenting. The control electronics however will
require waterproofing perhaps coating with a non conducting varnish
(watch for heat issues though). Just had a thought the running the motor
immersed thing was in tap water, typical pond water may cause damage.

Any good? For adaption or possibly you could write to them and ask if
the motors are allowed to flood but the electronics are waterproofed :-
http://www.empiremagnetics.com/