Electrical Engineering Stack Exchange
Electrical Engineering Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [potting]

The processes of completely containing a PCB or entire electronic device in a compound designed to protect it from vibration, moisture, etc.

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How do you build a machine in a solid block?

I'm aware that a number of mass produced electronics are embedded in a solid thermal resin of some form. How reasonable is that for the home hacker? What materials are used? How do you do it? Are there resources and examples available on the…
Suni
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What's the best way to protect a board from corrosion in a hot/moist environment?

Some of my projects need to live outside for long periods. Sometimes, moisture gets into the enclosures. That means that a circuit board might be sitting around in contact with water for hours on end at upwards of 100F. I've noticed that solder…
edebill
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Does this exist: Insulating material to cover circuit

For example when you build a circuit you have the board and the components between them is air. Is there a clay like material that will act like air does? Application: you could bundle simple circuits into a ball, attach adhesive to the outside and…
stuckie27
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Pebbles in potted electronics

I was recently taking a look at a failed power supply for 12V halogen lighting and noticed an unusual texture in the potting compound. I tried chipping some of it away with a screwdriver and got a nice surprise: Yes, pebbles. But why? Are they…
user125881
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Pour-and-drain conformal coating as an alternative to potting

Is there a standard process to pour conformal coating, similar to potting, but then drain the excess? The benefit of draining the excess is to reduce weight and get better cooling. From my limited experience, potting usually involves pouring a solid…
JimFred
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Can you tell me more about "re-enterable" potting compound?

I heard the term "re-enterable potting compound", which is a gel-like (possibly hard?) material that can be used to fill electronics enclosures for water intrusion protection and other things. What is meant by "re-enterable", exactly, and what forms…
Steve
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Potting Connectors

I work for a company manufacturing electronics. We have a few products where we pot boards into enclosures. Where it is done the incoming connections are always soldered for fear of condensation inside pockets in connectors and bad connections after…
Steinar
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Why are some relays not completely sealed?

Here are some of the pictures of PCB relays I found online. One may notice there are these opening/holes on the top or bottom of the package. What are the purposes of these 'air vents'?
HYQ
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Best-practices for potting a high-voltage circuit

Can someone recommend best-practices for potting a passive DC high voltage (<20 kV) circuit? I'd like to eliminate a micro-discharge problem we are seeing. Details of our use-case follow: I have a a DC high voltage system (<20 kV) which passes…
Adam V. Steele
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Waterproof enclosures

I have a simple farm gate monitor which I'd like to put in a rugged waterproof enclosure to keep it dry enough to operate outside for approximately ten years with no maintenance other than the occasional change of battery. Electronically, it's a…
Richard
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Potting a board with SMTs

I am trying to find the correct potting compound for a device that will sit on top of lead acid batteries. It will have SMTs, and we would like it to tolerate temperatures as low as -40. Because of this we need to make sure whatever compound we…
Danniard
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Removable/soluble potting compound?

Are there removable/soluble potting compounds that are moisture-proof yet removable without damaging electronic components? I've been able to plunge-mill potted devices to get near enough to components or test points to take measurements. A potting…
JimFred
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USB Circuit Failure After Potting

I'm experiencing a strange failure of electronics after potting which I'm hoping to get some more insight and explanation to. The device is a custom, rugged USB drive in an Aluminium/Titanium body (see www.viud.net for pictures and more details).…
uesp
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Is there a cheap thermally conductive, electrically insulating potting compound?

I've got some some ready-made 12v LED units. I wanted to pot each and put it in a metal container for robustness and to try and dissipate some heat. I'd like to pot the circuit but was hoping to avoid expensive potting compound. Is there something…
Joe
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Potting microSD card inserted in slot with epoxy resin

I would like to know whether it is possible to completely cover/pot a microSD card inserted in a slot (which is soldered on a pcb) with an epoxy resin. Will the sd card continue working properly? Will the card's contacts work without problem with…
Kozuch
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