mcompanik Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 What is everyone doing to waterproof their strobes? I went through mine this past weekend, and out of 50 of them, 26 aren't working this year. I found some with quite a bit of moisture in them, and some that look perfectly fine don't work. My strobes hang, so the clear part faces down. Should I drill weep holes in them? I want to make sure that my remaining strobes, as well as the new ones I bought last. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownjm74 Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 One thing I found last year is that it wasn't the strobe that was bad it was the C-9 socket. The "clip" looking thing in the bottom was not making contact with the bottom of the strobe. So I just got a small screwdriver and bent the blade up then re-screwed the strobe in and it worked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcompanik Posted August 10, 2011 Author Share Posted August 10, 2011 I tried all of the non-working strobes in known working sockets and still had the same problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfing4Dough Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 mcompanik wrote: I tried all of the non-working strobes in known working sockets and still had the same problem.I would still bend the metal contact up further just in case. I have found that 2 strobes seated differently in a single socket.You can't "moisture proof" strobes since they aren't vacuum sealed. They are waterproof already (at least the ones from CLS/Darryl are) since they are submerge tested. It isn't liquid water/snow that gets in though, but rather water vapor (humidity) that later condenses from a gas to a liquid (think of it as a mini-greenhouse). So the main focus shouldn't be on trying to keep moisture out, but instead allowing it to get out once it is in (i.e. weep holes on the side that is pointed down).Darryl's strobes the past 2 years have had a coating on the circuit board to provide extra protection, and I haven't had a single failure in 2 seasons now (with weep holes). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Roberson Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Check out the second paragraph here.Also some information/links here about repairing strobes.Poke around on the site. Lots of other information there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 I'm not deploying real strobes, just using pictures of someone elses..so no worries about waterproofing..:cool:(Hey, if I didn't say it, someone else was going to...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wbottomley Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 DonFL wrote:I'm not deploying real strobes, just using pictures of someone elses..so no worries about waterproofing..:cool:(Hey, if I didn't say it, someone else was going to...)+1:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Ancona Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 I drilled weep hole to alow some air flow. Attached files Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbzeus Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 I am surprised to see weep holes in the sides of the strobes. Before now I thought the weep holes were in the bottom or top of the strobe.Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcompanik Posted August 10, 2011 Author Share Posted August 10, 2011 The ones I have are from Darryl and I will be putting weep holes in all of the working ones as well as the new ones this weekend. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfing4Dough Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 jbzeus wrote: I am surprised to see weep holes in the sides of the strobes. Before now I thought the weep holes were in the bottom or top of the strobe.JeffTypically you want the holes at the lowest point as they hang when you display them (so gravity will take the water to the hole), so typically if they are just hanging from SPT wire, then you would want to put the holes on the edge of the top of the clear lens cover. They will tend to hang at a diagonal angle so that will be the lowest part. I put on opposite side (180 degrees apart) since you don't know which way they will hang. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evandewindt Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 i had the same problem with my new strobes from last year...looks like ill have to do weep holes this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Ancona Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Like Surf said, holes on opposite sides. Used a small drill bit and made sure it was going to go ABOVE any fixtures inside. Some have used old soldering irons also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Blair Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 I use a 3/32 drill bit which seems to be a good size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Roberson Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 I use a drimmel set to a depth where there is no way it will reach anything important inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wbottomley Posted August 14, 2011 Share Posted August 14, 2011 Remember, Darryl's strobes are the only ones that need drilling. Creative Display's (Paul Sessel) don't need drilling. They are good to go out of the box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallleyes Posted August 14, 2011 Share Posted August 14, 2011 wbottomley wrote: Remember, Darryl's strobes are the only ones that need drilling. Creative Display's (Paul Sessel) don't need drilling. They are good to go out of the box.Thanks for this tip.You just saved me from drilling holes in mine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Roberson Posted August 14, 2011 Share Posted August 14, 2011 wbottomley wrote: Remember, Darryl's strobes are the only ones that need drilling. Creative Display's (Paul Sessel) don't need drilling. They are good to go out of the box.I'd rather drill holes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wbottomley Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 Paul Roberson wrote:wbottomley wrote: Remember, Darryl's strobes are the only ones that need drilling. Creative Display's (Paul Sessel) don't need drilling. They are good to go out of the box.I'd rather drill holes.Drill baby drill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaceMedic Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 wbottomley wrote:Creative Display's (Paul Sessel) don't need drilling. They are good to go out of the box.From someone who bought 30 this year from CDI ... what makes theirs different that don't need to be drilled.Just for educational purposes !Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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