LDR waterproofing?

Hi.
With the help fo this forum, I have now decided to go with a WeMOS 1D Mini, for my Wi - Fi connection in my Weather Station, while I am waiting for it to be delivered, my thoughts turned to powering it. I have numerous 12 vdc batteries, so I have decided to power my weather station with a 12 vdc 7.2 amp hour battery, a 10 watt PV panel and a 10 amp solar charger, I will of course reduce the voltage to 5 vdc for the Wemos 1D mini.
Scouring the Internet I noticed a lot of self built weather stations use a dual axis tracker for the PV panel to follow the Sun. This I can do separately from the Wemos Mini, again I have several spare Arduino UNO's + 2 servo's, but again I have come across a conundrum, are the LDR's one can get to track the sun (I like the look of the NORPS 12 LDR) how do you make them waterproof, as any member done this before?

UV resin/glue.

Just a SWAG: Try placing them behind glass or clear plastic. It should seek the sun but the levels may be a bit lower.

Hi, excuse my ignorance, but what is a SWAG?

Hi LarryD.

UV (Ultra vIolet) I understand, resin/glue ? are you referring to a mixture of some sort? if so are you talking about encapsulating the LDR in this mixture.?

you don't want to know :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Maybe not!

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Maybe this will help. :grin:

Isn't that one already encapsulated?
You could use hotglue (EVA) lined heatshrink for the wire joints and the back of the LDR.
Leo..

The Datasheet states it is "Moisture Proof", I hope that means it is protected against condensation, therefore waterproof.

Let me take a Super Wild Ass Guess
That SWAG
Is a Scientifically Well Assumed Generality

What else would you need for a
Special Waterproof Articulating Gasket?

A Simple Widemouth Acrylic Glass could suffice.

Me with a Silly Waving Arm Gesture and Stupid Wide-Assed Grin

Scientific Wild A** Guess! It is a best guess based on insufficient information.

The wire has 3 conductors and lots of air space to allow migration of moisture.
if the terminus at the DS18B20 is sufficiently epoxy embedded, the wires will be individually embedded in the epoxy.
The heatshrink at the metal cap should only be for stress relief.

the project appears to be soil temperature monitoring and to that end soil should have sufficent air so as to not be submerged.

In review, the should be a lot of may-be, and hope-to-be sprinkled liberally.
and will-be should be avoided.

for $1.00 you get what you pay for.

Dave, I think you posted in the wrong thread.
The question is about weather-proofing an LDR, not a DS18B20.
The LDR in question is already encapsulated, but the leads are not.
Leo..

You're right about my posting about the wrong item

Sorry With Altered Guidance.

But the principle is the same.
The wire cable is like a straw.
The entire thing needs to be sealed. Or all the enclosed bits need to be in a sealed enclosure.

Didn't you get that advice already almost four years ago from PaulRB ?
If you sleep the WeMos, then you don't need a big 12volt battery or a 10W solar panel with motors.
Leo..

Personally I would not use a LED. They tend to be inconsistent in operation and their peak sensitivity if not always matched to human vision. Which is probably what you prefer.
The tept4400 ambient light sensor is spectrum matched to human vision.
Plus is comes in a "LED" type package so it is waterproof. Stick if out of a correctly sized hole and it would be OK. You could always epoxy it or silicon seal on the reverse.

Thanks for reminding me.

The reason for the using a 12 volt battery and 10 watt solar panel, is that I have them on the shelf doing nothing, my mother used to say "waste not want not"

And my mother used to say that all problems you encounter will have many smaller problems that you have already solved. Work on them first.
You can easily protect an LDR by enclosing it in a rain shielding enclosure and using a mirror to direct the sun to the the LDR. A bit of geometry may be involved.
PAul

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