| Electronics > Projects, Designs, and Technical Stuff |
| Purpose of "sand" inside a solar charge controller |
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| DTJ:
Have a look at this short video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzyZCdmQqH0&feature=youtu.be It shows "sand" inside a sealed solar charge controller. I've read a few different opinions on why it is there: 1) Heat transfer. 2) Its not sand, its a polymer that helps to protect the electronics. Its also how it gets its IP65 rating. Is there any truth in 2) above. Perhaps they just use it as a very cheap filler to save on the cost of the epoxy by only having to put a thin layer on top to seal the unit. Perhaps they want to avoid rigid epoxy over the thermally stressed parts to prevent fracturing as they thermally cycle. Anyone seen this before? |
| floobydust:
Sand is a cheap filler in order to use less potting compound. It also helps extinguish any flames or sparks inside. I think it's just a cheap way to seal something big, chinese do that kind of thing. |
| Nusa:
Plus there's the whole "Feel how heavy it is...there must be some beefy components in there!" thing! Most people don't open the box. |
| DTJ:
--- Quote from: floobydust on April 17, 2019, 01:10:16 am ---Sand is a cheap filler in order to use less potting compound. It also helps extinguish any flames or sparks inside. I think it's just a cheap way to seal something big, chinese do that kind of thing. --- End quote --- Yeah I think that as well. --- Quote from: Nusa on April 17, 2019, 01:58:06 am ---Plus there's the whole "Feel how heavy it is...there must be some beefy components in there!" thing! Most people don't open the box. --- End quote --- I reckon that's a side benefit. I've also seen products before that have a short length of black finish steel flatbar inside just to add that heavy "quality" feel. |
| TERRA Operative:
--- Quote from: DTJ on April 17, 2019, 05:28:43 am ---I reckon that's a side benefit. I've also seen products before that have a short length of black finish steel flatbar inside just to add that heavy "quality" feel. --- End quote --- My Roku network video streaming thingo has a metal plate in it for this reason. Without the plate, it's a single PCB in a plastic box a bit bigger than the palm of your hand and hence weighs almost nothing. The plate adding weight does make it feel nicer, even though I know it is there exactly for that reason. :D |
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