I'm rolling a project round in my head at the moment.. To measure a series of LED's on a device with photo cells, relay this information over wifi or have it that I can log in and check their status..
But, before I try putting this together I'm wondering if I use a weatherproof enclosure will it last in the field.. Are they practical as a long term monitoring device ?
Sounds like it's an always-on kind of device, not very low power
Easiest solution is an inverted bucket. You basically just have to cover it. Or put it in a case that has holes in the bottom. The heat from the electronics will always keep the inside temperature above ambient, so no condensation can happen.
A fully battery powered super low power device needs a full weatherproof enclosure, preferably still with vent (with gore-tex seal) for pressure equalisation as otherwise you start sucking in water.
If continuously powered outdoors, or other humid environment, a PCB will eventually corrode unless the entire board is "conformally coated". You can use a commercial coating, but nail polish works.
Condensation and freezing are "the worst". Even if you seal it on a "dry day" there is still some humidity that can condense when it get's cold.
If it is truly sealed, some desiccant packs should take care of that.
Even when sealed - short of molded over, which means no way to change batteries, and even then - moisture has a way to get in. It gets cold, temperature drops, pressure drops, moist air or even water (rainwater that makes the box wet) is sucked in through the tiniest of leaks.
That's how moisture does continue to build up. Desiccant packs help, but are not perfect.
Which is why I prefer to NOT seal it, and allow moisture to simply run out. When there's any heat source (0.5W of electronics is plenty) there's no condensation due to the additional heat; if there's none, use a vent. A goretex seal allows air to pass through to equalise pressure, and allows excess moisture to be expelled. it's generally the best way to keep your project moisture free.
Conformal coating is also a good idea indeed. Such coatings come in spray bottles, rather inexpensive.
A goretex seal
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You probably mean an ePTFE membrane as there is no reason to use a laminated fabric unless you have an old jacket lying around.
I agree that allowing water to escape and conformal coating works adequately in practice.
It will be powered on continuously (if it works)
Like I say I’d like to have 5 photoresistors monitoring led’s and have access to their state over wifi, maybe an email alert if there was no activity for a period of time.
I have a router running outside on the farm in a sealed unit with descant and it works well, I may try something similar.
I’ve only used the arduino along with my daughter as a teaching aid, it will be interesting to try it in an actual project
I’ll open a separate thread when I’m ready to start
I've had a mkr-1010-wifi in an IOT Carrier outside in a waterproof job box with a small fan moving air in 105+ Texas heat running an automated irrigation system with a solenoid and 12v pump, and it's been working since last june or so, with no apparent issues. Before I placed the fan, it would get flaky at about 120 degrees F. The fan keeps it below 115.
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