Re: [Paddlewise] Filling battery compartment with vaseline?

Jack Fu wrote:

> I use my gps with a waterproof bag with a transparent window.
> That works fine, but sometimes it's hard to read the gps screen
> through the window. That's why I thought I'd try the silicone
> grease, so I can use the gps without a bag. [snip]

> The reason why I think FILLING the compartment with grease might
> work is that then no water can get in at all. Of course, changing
> the batteries would be messy, but that's a price I'm willing to
> pay for using the gps without a bag.

I have no direct experience with greasin' battery compartments, but I am
skeptical that it would work to keep water out.  Reason:  as the unit warms and
cools, the grease will expand and contract.  Silicone grease expands quite a
bit with temp, for some reason.

When the grease expands, most likely it will ooze out through the "seal" (note
oxymoron), and get transferred to something else.  Then, when the GPS cools,
perhaps as a result of going under water, the grease will contract, creating a
void for water to enter.  After a couple cycles of this sort, you will still
have water in your battery compartment, albeit not much.  'Course, it does not
take "much" salt water to short out a battery!

If you are serious about preventing water intrusion, perhaps a tight-fitting,
elastic rubber enclosure that slips over the end and up far enough to cover the
battery compartment but leaves the screen unobscured will work.  'Bout the only
thing that comes to mind in that department is the ubiquitous condom.  And,
actually, one of those might be clear enough that even if it did go over the
screen, you could still read the screen.

When you go shopping for that, make sure there are no videocams to record the
"Candid Camera" conversation ... Professor Inverbon, where are you?

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR

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