My first project is a couple of boards I will place under the plastic fairings in the back of my motorbike. I plan to use sponges and cling wrap.
Is this sufficient for a simple prototype? Are there better and yet simple ways? Space is irregular and somewhat limited. A plastic box will not fit.
Thank you
I would be concerned about damage from a) static electricity from the cling wrap and b) moisture from the sponge, which will soak up moisture from the environment like, well, a sponge.
@van_der_decken
Maybe replace cling wrap by rigger tape? Rigger tape will not attach well to sponge but to itself if you wrap one turn around.
Try large diameter heat shrink (50mm).
Leo..
@Wawa
@LarryD
Thank you. Very good idea. I have some lying around. I believe the smaller diameter tube could even be glue lined. I just didn't know what it's called. I used it for brake lines. I'll buy bigger of that.
The Bluetooth card already has some of that from factory.
The cards will hopefully withstand some hot "hair dryer" air blow.
EVA encapsulation (looks like cloth) for solar panels is basically a sheet of hot glue.
Never tried to line big diameter heatshrink with it, but it could work.
Leo..
What does your board do?
Protecting electronics from the elements can be tricky.
If it's not done thoroughly, it can make matters worse by trapping moisture.
If this is just for testing, then the heat shrink will work.
If it goes wrong, are you going to repair or replace with a new unit?
How much space do you have?
Plastic boxes or enclosures go down to quite small sizes and shapes. A key fob case, for example is flat. Potting boxes, small diameter tubes plugged at each end?
@tigger
Thank you. This is just my very first project to learn. No board costs more than about $5.
I will pack them one by one and fit where there is space. All in one lot would be too big.
So heat shrink or a plastic tube will probably not trap heat.
The reason I chose sponge was to minimize vibration. The components will rattle around in the bike. But maybe shrink tube will do. I don't know how to fixate with screws and that will be overkill. Also vibrations.
Thanks for good ideas. Maybe plastic tubes with cloth around to avoid shaking around. (Or a plastic bag around the sponge?)
I still use an Arduino Uno so that is the biggest board.
I just received 90 degree DuPont connectors. I hope that will help fit the Arduino Uno. I will just angle them from the Arduino Uno female connectors back in over the board.
Before Arduino I experimented with relays in a rear box on the bike. But now I will leave the box. Then I had good experience of 3M Velcro and also a new plastic Velcro from 3M. Not hooks and loops but only one type of layer of small plastic "mushrooms". 3M "Dual Lock".
There are many ways to solve this.
If you are strapped for space, a Nano board is smaller but has the same functionality as the Uno.
By plastic tube, I mean tube like 20-mm electrical conduit. That comes in oval shapes as well. You can also flatten round tube with heat. Seal the ends with plug of sealant. Don't use bog standard silicone as it gives off acetic acid. By sealing the ends, you won't need special connectors for cables.
With transparent tube, you could add self-indicating silica gel to keep it dry and indicate moisture levels.
As for vibration, any non-conductive foam inside or out.
Don't overlook the issues that can affect electronics in a vehicle environment.
Thank you for many good suggestions, I have followed several advice. It is my first project so it has many flaws. I will see if there is space to put this in the bike.
If I use insulating foam, will it stick to the comparment I use in the bike, and I must line the compartment with a plastic bag or something first? And maybe a plastic bag between the foam and the components or I can never adjust anything again?
Any advice suitable for a beginner appreciated.
Most loose ends are Ground or 5V that will go to a 12V -> 5V transformer.
E-bikes made for recreation (not Paris-Dakar) use the small cavity between the (removable) seat and the frame without padding. The off-the-shelf devices have waterproof connectors and the electronics are inside an enclosure to avoid physical damage.
I performed quite a bit of testing of common (in United States) consumer glues for selectively bonding non-adhesive polyolefin and vinyl heat-shrink tubing to glass. I found "Barge All Purpose Original" to work the best for that application:
