How to Waterproof A Servo

[rapttor4]

Great video! But i have one question.... the rtv silicone smels like vinegar right?I heard that its bad for PCB.Is that true ?

[palmisano]

@rapttor4 Some RTVs corrode electronics. You need to get 'electronics grade' RTV.

[MegaRallycar]

Thats the worst way to water proof a servo. Warrentys gone. Havnt you heard of plastidip

[palmisano]

@MegaRallycar Plastidip modifies the servo dimensions, which is bad for tight dimensions. That said, Plastidip doesn't waterproof the servo shaft - water can still easily get in. Also, servos don't have warranties =P

[MegaRallycar]

@palmisano Ya they do. Savox does. And the servo shaft is covered by a plastidip made seal and your suppose to put grease on the top where the horn is.

[MegaRallycar]

@palmisano Ya they do, like Savox. And there is a premade rubber coat and grease around the servo horn. look at djmedic2008 he has a better way

[m116252]

What kind of depth can you expect to reach successfully with this waterproofing method?

[palmisano]

@m116252 I never really tested depth, but I'd say a meter or so. I have a new method but I haven't uploaded the video - I've been too busy. It allows 3-4 meters (again, an estimate).

[m116252]

@palmisano Any ideas/other videos on being able to reach 5-6 meters? That is the depth my project needs to work at. Even if they only stayed operational for 15-20 minutes that would be satisfactory.

[manoan1983]

@palmisano

Is there any chance you will upload this video soon?

I really could use this ability of sealing in my project..

Thank you very much!

[bachkrabbler]

is it possible the mineral oil can leak out and pollute the water?

[palmisano]

@bachkrabbler Yeap. I actually developed a much better method than this, but haven't had time to post up the vid. Subscribe and stay tuned =P

[theskaneesh]

wat do u mean by a servo?

[palmisano]

@theskaneesh google 'what is a servo', silly =P

[electronicsperson1]

@theskaneesh ur a retard

[Phouenix77]

Hey cant you just use the black silicone, that is what i did and it works very well.

[ibm322]

you tutorial are very helpfull thank you very much!!

[vtuy]

good vid, thanks for update

[tekfui]

The silicone used in here does not appear to be "Nutral cure", as such, it will release acetic acid on curing and damage the internal components. However, it will take weeks to a few months to occur, as there is not much air access for the silicon to sweat out the acetic acid.

[palmisano]

An update I made to the tutorial a year or so ago points out that I should have bought 'electronics grade RTV', and I also list part numbers =)

[diegobobcat]

I follow this tutorial and now my RC Crawler go subamarine! :) many thanks for this Palmisano! Regards! Diego

[EndoCloudz]

do you have to top off the mineral oil once in a while?

[palmisano]

probably, but I'm too lazy . . .

[alphaman1101]

why do i get the feeling that this method would burn the servos out fairly quickly? i mean, they are already slow enough, and now your going to throw o rings and crap in the path of travel.. well, at least its waterproof

[palmisano]

Its underwater, and water sucks away heat significantly faster than air.

[njaln]

can you also do that to bigger servos, i mean you´ve got a heli servo, and i´ve got normal rc car servos?

[palmisano]

yeap

[ELITEFLEET03]

traxxas makes waterproof ones already made

[EmmMacken]

Hey again. Cheers for buying that link. I'd actually put through an order just before you added that. Realized I need to look for dielectric. Ended up ordering Dow Corning 732 rtv silicone. It has a dielectric strength of 24kV/mm. Don't know much about the 24kV rating as I haven't read up on it yet. Does that sound ok to you? Thanks for being so helpful.

[palmisano]

buying a link?

24kV/mm - I think that means it can handle 24kV/mm before burning? Do you plan to use that much voltage? =P

[EmmMacken]

Heh - it was the cheapest available. So that rating defo means it's won't conduct then?

Or does it just mean it's capable of surving a jolt of electricity.

[palmisano]

That rating just means capable of surviving electricity. The rating you want is a resistance. And better yet, it should say 'electronics grade' =P

[EmmMacken]

Hi,

Would two stoke or gear box mineral oil be ok aswell and what is the name of the website where you buy your o rings - can't get it from your voice.

Thanks.

[palmisano]

Whats a 'two stoke'? The o-rings are from mcmasterDotCom

[EmmMacken]

Two Stroke engine oil.

[palmisano]

no idea . . . but sounds really messy if it leaks so I wouldn't recommend it . . .

[jinspade16]

would any silicon sealant work? i went to the hardware store, and there were many different kinds... there's one Goop Marine silicon sealant.. would that be good?

[palmisano]

You want electronics grade, or it could corrode your electronics. If it doesn't say, then its not electronics grade. =P

[jinspade16]

thanks for the info :)

[jinspade16]

can i ask, is the Hitec HS-645MG servo waterproof?

[palmisano]

There is no such thing as a waterproof servo, unless you custom mod it yourself.

[patrickfort123456789]

IS THAT BLUE SHIT LOL JOKE

[insanekch]

This lil bitch needs to shut the fuck up. You're a fucking joke. Learn to fucking read moron.

[ryansleis]

Get a life MORON!!! Fuck your mom or Suck ur Dog's Ass!!!

[makoshark40]

whats a servo? lol

[bradyhpifirestorm]

also when you burn a motor out you cant put a new one in? i have a mini lst2 and its almost 3 months old with maybe 6 runs of in-house use and ive probabally blown like at least 6 or 7 losi p.o.s servos and so how much are these servos and are they good?

[palmisano]

ummm I didn't understand that last sentence . . . The expensive Hitec servo has not fried yet after a year of underwater service, but the cheap Futaba ones gotta be replaced often.

[Cnr01ex]

That is the life of a mini lst2 unless you do a single servo conversion. That is a very difficult conversion for a beginner though so unless you have building experience I would stick to mini servos. Use metal gear servos at a minimun though. Exotech is the company that does the conversion fyi.

[Cnr01ex]

I meant standard servo conversion not single. sorry!

[SHAWEAGLEBOI]

at 1:22 it sound like he shocked himself

[rcisme1]

and what is the website u got the o rings

[rcisme1]

can u just tape the crease half way up the servo?

[matts6887]

Pretty good video and seems like a good way to waterproof a servo from the looks of it!!! :)

[Phaltline]

Tnkz, that was really helpful:)

[TheCheezBurger]

That's a pretty good way. but it's easier to just fill the top and bottom halves with non conductive grease and then use the o-rings

[palmisano]

nope won't work . . . the servo casing often comes in two or three parts with not that great of a seal . . .

[cbrian4]

Another good method is to use pvc primer (usually purple) on the edges of the servo when its apart and quickly screw it together, it will melt all the edges together then just put the o rings on the top like in the video.

[filmsfiveroses]

Do you think a servo modified like this could be used underwater for a long period of time?

[edraiders1]

where can I get an electronics grade RTV? Does locktite make it?

[edraiders1]

what o-ring part number is that so I can order some. Also what lub do you put on o-rings before installation. Thanks

[awsomeness73]

if i put an outside coat only will water still get inside?

[palmisano]

check the link in the info box

[awsomeness73]

cant you use plasti dip?

[palmisano]

You mean for the inside coating? I'm not sure if it corrodes electronics, but if not, sure.

[deo1deo]

looks messy...I use corrosionX on mine its a spray much cleaner. Never thought about the oil trick good show. nice vid.

[americanmadeZ06]

if it says sensor safe on the package does that mean that i can put it inside my servo without it corroding i got the blue RTV

[bestsellerseries]

how much heavier is it?

[bujnos]

silicon is the WORST thing to use with any electronics - when it hrdes ("drys") it prodeces a corrosive acetates! so dont use it near copper or any other precise or elctric stuff!

[palmisano]

Yea I learned that the hard way . . . Now I use an electronics grade RTV. It claims to not corrode electronics, and works just the same.

[NitroCaya]

where did you buy that rtv

[Floatsfast]

Being an RC boater, I used sprays such as Aero-Plate, The Stuph or Corrosion X. All you have to do is pop open the bottom cover and put a few shots of one of these in there and you're done.

I've emptied out radio boxes full of water and ran the boats right afterwards with no problems.

If you use a sealant, make sure that it is does not have an ammonia smell to it otherwise it will ruin the circuit board.

[amaoagou]

Really useful tricks, thanks for sharing.

[jdknighted]

Great video! Thanks for putting this up!

Reading through the information page! Thats greatly organized too!

[6650roger]

goop. Nice vid. But wont the o-rings put strain on the servo

[palmisano]

Yea it does put some strain on it. I forgot to include this part in the video, but I also added a lubricant oil to the o-rings. Check the link in the info box, scroll to the bottom, and you will see pics of the lube being added.