So I am working on a project that will be outside quite a bit and am looking for guidance on a case or box that will be waterproof or at least water resistant that will still be able to have airflow. Basically inside the case will be the arduino, an RC receiver and a sabertooth 2x60 motor controller. I would like to put a temperature sensor in the case and turn on a 120+ mm fan as exhaust hot air or to bring in cool air. I though about just a water tight box from lowes. I have looked at some one way check valve style air vents but am not sure that they would allow enough airflow. I would rather not put a ton of these on the case but if I have to I will. Basically I am concerned about the heat of everything and want to keep everything safe and cool. I could always do some kind of water cooling system but I would rather not.
It might be easier to answer your question if we knew where your 'outdoors' is: The Sahara, Antarctica or Bangladesh in the monsoon season would each require different answers.
As far as where it is going to be operated it could be any of the above. I would like it to work in any environment from the deserts of Southern Arizona (both wet and dry season) to a wave crashing into it at the beach on the east coast.
I am not sure how much heat the sabertooth controller will put out yet as I am waiting on them to arrive. The sabertooth needs 4x4 inches, probably going to use a mega arduino and the RC receiver is about 2x2. The box doesn't have to be huge but I was going to get about a 9x13x5 waterproof case. Thinking about this one http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005UPC7Y2/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER. I want enough room for all of the electronics with room to grow as I might be throwing another sabertooth in it. And room for the wires to connect etc. The cable connections to the battery etc are pretty easy to waterproof it is the box air supply I am concerned with.
Ken, I think this is what he's talking about.
With 60A at 30V, that's 1800W, per channel. Anyway, that thing has a some serious aluminum heatsinking going on and a fan.
What exactly is it that you are going to use this for?
So you expecting your robot to always be upright, correct?
Then you don't really need to put the electronics inside the waterproof box, just under a "roof". Some conformal coating should provide enough protection.
I got this one figured out. I went down to HF and got a trailer tongue box. It houses my batteries, electronics including RC, arudpilot, relays, arduino etc and gives me a bit of storage space for the RC controller and anything else I want to keep dry.
