How To Waterproof RC Receivers Using Silicone Conformal Coating

In this video I show the steps I took waterproof a Futaba R202GF receiver using Silicone Conformal Coating. This will work to waterproof any RC receivers and is quite a cheap mod as the Silicone Conformal Coating only costs around $20 (aud) and a small bottle will do a LOT of receivers. I don't know exactly how many receivers a bottle will do, but it would be a lot haha. Hope this video help you to waterproof your RC receivers. Enjoy!
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[@outbackrcaustralia4895]

Genius 👍 I bet your the 1st person on earth to deliberately drop an rc receiver into a jar of water to show its now water proof! I'm definitely buying a bottle so I can waterproof my crawler. Thanks for sharing another great idea Mick👍🦘🇦🇺

[@RCHobbyShed]

Thanks mate! Oh no, many have done this before and dropped them in water...Yep, many have done it but this is my video! 😂 Yeah it's a great idea and easy as. Whenever I drive after it's been raining I'm always paranoid about puddles, and then I somehow get drawn to them. So I figured I better start going waterproof. lol Thanks mate! 👍

[@Chris-sd6os]

You’re a brave man Mick! Not for the faint hearted. I think I’ll just avoid driving through puddles.

[@RCHobbyShed]

Haha thanks Chris. I try to avoid puddles but I'm somehow drawn to them. I'm one of those who reads a "wet paint" sign and has to touch it to find out. 🤣

[@ericwood2790]

Wow , I wasn’t expecting you to submerge the receiver in a jar of water like that . You weren’t kidding it’s totally waterproof. Another good trick and video Mick .

[@RCHobbyShed]

I figured I should show proof that it works, I might get some hate if it doesn't work and others try it 😂. Thanks Eric, glad you enjoyed it. 👍

[@jone7940]

Brilliant! Got a bit nervous when you dropped it in the water. Unreal!

[@RCHobbyShed]

Haha me too! I figured I should prove it works. 😁👍

[@petergoodwin2465]

I need to do this to the boats as well, water always gets in somewhere. I've killed a few receivers from mud and water already. Thanks Mick, love your work.

[@RCHobbyShed]

Oh yeah, especially important for boats. You're right the water always seems to find a way in, no matter how careful you are. Thanks mate, have a great weekend! 👍

[@MrCaprinut]

You can also use clear nailpolish. I've done that to my receivers. Works like a charm and cheap :-)

[@mattiasrc]

Great stuff, might try that if i can find it. I just use the old ballon trick.

[@RCHobbyShed]

Thanks mate. This way can be handy for a cleaner look, but the balloon trick is also good. 👍

[@madsrcbuggy]

You run through the puddles with that car, it'll be far beyond driven! That's a good tutorial and you had the courage to show, on camera, that it works, great! I actually had some conformal coating I had bought off eBay a while ago, but it was all dry! 3 bottles, solid silicone inside, even the ones I never opened, damn... I guess apparently there is a quality difference in these as with everything else... But I'm also realising, I might actually have a waterproof receiver on one of my cars already, just gotta figure out which it is, ha ha!

[@RCHobbyShed]

Haha, maybe by demons it will be driven, straight into a puddle 😂. Thanks mate, yeah I figured I should prove it worked. Oh bugger, 3 dry bottles!! Maybe it was a bad batch or not stored properly at the warehouse. That sucks, hope you got your money back! Haha that reminds me, I should mark this receiver so I know which one is waterproof. 👍

[@jstro-hobbytech]

I just got a bottle for a non rc project. If you're coating a board with a robust port then you can use it because it'll just rub off a tall molex contact or such. Good video brother

[@RCHobbyShed]

Nice one Joey! Great info mate. 🙂👍

[@thatoneguyyouthought]

Doing this tonight. My receiver doesn't like water gets a little twichy until it dries off again. Probably breaking it a bit but hopefully it isn't to messed up this time.

[@mad-beerc3818]

Great stuff Mick and that works a treat but l must confess mate! l do it the old fashion way still! The good old Balloon😉 Cheers

[@RCHobbyShed]

Thanks mate. A balloon?! That's soooo Tamiya 1983! 😂 Cheers mate. 👍

[@mad-beerc3818]

@@RCHobbyShed lol sure is mate😉👍

[@simonblackwell7906]

Great information and tips 👍. Seen a lot of talk about dying wheels? But never seen it done 🤔

[@RCHobbyShed]

Thanks Simon! Dying wheels is really simple but they must be Nylon wheels. I may do a quick video about it soon. 👍

[@markgreenhalgh8344]

Super video Mick. Didn't know you could do this. Learn something new everyday 👍

[@RCHobbyShed]

Thanks mate. Yeah it's pretty handy. This idea has been around for several years, but I figured I'd do my own video. 👍

[@andrewmagro7703]

Cheers Mick thats going to be a nice Cleaner modern upgrade from my old "balloon & zip tie" trick , awesome thanks for sharing that mick :-)

[@RCHobbyShed]

No problemo mate! The balloon trick is good too. This way can be done on ESC's too, but prolly just as easy to buy waterproof. 👍

[@gbraadnl]

Had to do with silicon kit glue. I am currently on holiday near the beach and nearly killed a receiver. The opposite room had their toilet fixed and they misplaced their tools. Hahaha, immediately squeezed my receiver full. It is not as good as conformal coating, but any protection is better than nothing.

[@RCHobbyShed]

Haha nice work! Excellent holiday fix, I think you did well! 👌👍

[@DoubleClutchProductions]

Great info 👍

[@RCHobbyShed]

Thanks mate! 👍

[@sustorres765]

Nice one dude great tip episode 👌

[@RCHobbyShed]

Thanks mate! 👍

[@otisskopik1400]

Good Video

[@RCHobbyShed]

Thanks Otis. 👍

[@JF-RC]

Hi Mick, hope you’re keeping well. Now that is what I call extreme! I suppose you could apply the same principle to the control board in a non water resistant servo? Take care, keep well and all the best. 😊😉

[@RCHobbyShed]

G'day John! All good here mate, hope you are doing well. For sure, the same can be applied to servo boards. Thanks mate, you too! 👍

[@OTWRC]

I see the receiver board is coated, but it doesn’t matter if the channel pins on the receiver and esc/servo connectors aren’t waterproofed? I would think if water got to the pins on channels being used it would mess up the reception/function of them, but doesn’t look like it from your video? Just want to confirm. Thanks!

[@RCHobbyShed]

No you don't need to cover the pins. The servo plugs themselves also have places where water can get it so sealing the pins would be pointless. It only really matters that the board and it's electronic components are covered. If you buy a waterproof receiver you'll also notice the pins aren't covered, they wouldn't provide a good connection if they were. Hope this helps! 👍

[@OTWRC]

@@RCHobbyShed Cool - thanks ..makes sense about factory made waterproof receivers having pins exposed 👍👍👍

[@PeteWylieRC]

Good stuff Mick. I didn't know about that stuff. I've been using glue from my hot glue gun to waterproof the receivers. Works well but you need to get the case back together quick while the glue is still liquid. After that you will never get it apart ever again! How goes life over there with lockdowns or not?

[@RCHobbyShed]

Thanks Pete. Yeah hot glue would work great too. Haha yeah could be tricky taking it apart later, although leaving it in the sun for a while would work. I've had hot glue sticks melt in my toolbox in the shed... Quite messy! lol Urgh, we're in lockdown number 5 now. Until the end of next week (so far). Apart from that everything is good. Hope you're going well mate! 👍

[@PeteWylieRC]

@@RCHobbyShed oh yes hot glue not for components that get hot. Oh dear I had heard that lockdowns have been happening in Australia. I do follow what's going on and you guys have had very low cases so far but you've also got a very low vaccination level. Have you had yours yet? We have got huge numbers of cases and an even bigger surge on the way but they are unlocking everything on Monday and hoping that the high percentage of people vaccinated will be enough that the hospitals don't fill up again. Opinion is divided as to what will happen. I think that once this wave is over then pretty much everyone will have had a vaccine or the disease and we'll be ok. That's the theory anyway! I've had both jabs a while ago and I'm feeling ok about it all I think. Good luck over there 😃

[@RCHobbyShed]

That's right mate, our numbers are lower but there plan with the lockdowns is to nip it in the bud before it gets out of hand. I haven't had my vaccination yet but will get it very soon. That said, I rarely leave the house, only to play with my toys lol. I'll be getting it for sure though, kinda silly not to. Hopefully if enough get it it might end the lockdowns. Good luck over there to mate! 👍

[@raylansall4434]

Thanks bud 👍🇨🇦🤪🤡✅😁✌️😀👊👍👍

[@RCHobbyShed]

Cheers Ray! 🙂👍

[@GTMatukka]

If you are manly enough, buy clear nail polish 👌🏻

[@RCHobbyShed]

I'll show you mate. I'm so manly I'll buy pink nail polish, maybe with glitter in it! 🤣

[@GTMatukka]

@@RCHobbyShed Make a video about it!

[@RCHobbyShed]

@@GTMatukka If I do, I'll be sure to tag you and give you a big shoutout! 😂

[@GTMatukka]

@@RCHobbyShed Ofc you do, for the SHOW 😉🤣

[@RCHobbyShed]

@@GTMatukka 🤣👍