General > General Technical Chat
Outdoor enclosure for miniature solar panels
mvno_subscriber:
Hi,
I wasn't sure in which subforum to put this post, so if terribly misplaced -- apologies in advance!
I have been trying for some time to find an outdoor enclosure for 10x10cm solar panels that I use for different hobby projects. Something that can contain the cell, keeps water away, can be mounted and has cables going out of it.
I'd assume this was a very simple item to find, but I suspect (as with many other items), knowing the right terminology is key here. To myself I seem to have exhausted all options, without results. So I'm asking here.
Can anyone point me in the right direction?
josuah:
I wonder whether you found something by the time.
What about "waterproof DIY enclosure" as a search term? The use-case for custom outdoor electronic device exist.
Another helpful keyword is the IP-rating you expect: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_code such as IP55 for something reasonably splash and dust-resistant (a bit of rain, not all tempests), and IP67 for something immersible.
themadhippy:
This sort of thing?
https://cpc.farnell.com/multicomp/mc001106/enclosure-ip65-pc-grey/dp/EN85489?st=enclosure%20with%20clear%20lid
josuah:
For one-shot low-importance projects, I have also tried the lunch-box type, that I happened to have on my cupboard.
* Tight holes in the LID for getting cables through.
* Screw the board to the lid.
* Screw the lid to somewhere.
* Put a silica gel bag into the box (optional).
* Put the box back onto the lid.
This could provide better insulation than some commercial non-waterproof boxen.
This will obviously not work for a commercial appliance.
josuah:
Another thing to consider is old, dysfunctional equipment, from which the enclosure can be used, tossing the original PCB away (eventually scavenging the parts. Yum! Ferrite cores!).
Notes from NE555 about enclosure for prototyping: http://elm-chan.org/docs/case/sk5.html (japanese, but good diagrams)
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