Is conformal coating a good SOP for general purposes?

Other Hardware General Electronics
1

Recently I've been working on a power supply for an RC car. I am considering using this conformal coating on it:

I do not anticipate much moisture exposure aside from humidity but I'd hate to see that hard work corrode and I'd like to protect against short circuits too.

In general is it a good practice to seal a board with this conformal coating or another type of coating?

Also, I would like to brush it on but the datasheet says:

422C can be applied by brush for rework or touch-ups.
Thinning is not required for most brush applications.
Desired coating thickness can be achieved in a single
application. Applied coating can be cured immediately.

Otherwise it looks like spraying or dipping are preferred for the primary application.
I'm not set up to spray where I normally do this work and I'm concerned about gumming up buttons and such by dipping. To that point is there a similar conformal coating that can be brushed on? I have a heat gun on my bench so I can cure it or I can get a UV solution if need be.

2

I have used spray on conformal coating many times for boards in moist dirty environments.

The only caution in use is to make sure heat dissipation doesn't become a problem.

3

I’ve meant to use that, or another type that is similar.

It is fashionable and defensible, I just never get around to it.

Meanwhile it’s OK as nothing I have lasts so long that it would make a difference.

I avoid wet grass and rain &c.

Do also mind your connectors and pushbuttons if there are on your board.

a7

4

Have you seen the car?

I would love it to last indefinitely. and it screams to go outside.

I think I'll try brushing it on lightly and hanging it to dry, avoiding the connectors and buttons as you said.

5

For small boards brushing is fine.

The most important step is to clean, clean, clean before coating.

I use alcohol and then blot it with a paper towel. Unless you spray with alcohol and let the foreign material flow off, the blotting is needed. Usually several cycles makes it clean enough to overcoat.

As for needing a conformal coat. Any electronics kept inside can forgo coating. A PC motherboard is not coated, you TV is not coated etc.