Keeping strobes dry

[bobschm]

Recent rains seem to show I'm on the right track.

 

Figure one shows a typical stock curtain strobe after a decent rain. I tried the advice to make a hole in the bottom. That sounds like the Three Stooges in a leaky boat drilling another hole to let the water OUT! Nyuk. Nyuk. Plus it didn't work. I still had failures.

 

The problem is shown in figure 2. The seam around the crimp is not watertight.

 

Figure 3 shows that seam sealed with a bead of caulking. I seal my strobes with a finger dollop of silicone. I've not had a moisture failure of a strobe with a caulked crimp.

 

I live in New England, so I'm not sure how a completely sealed strobe will handle wide temperature swings like you desert dwellers get. Try it and let us know. 

[JasonKing]

I wrap my strobes in cling wrap and clear packing tape, it dont defuse the look. I also do it to my large strobes for Halloween.

[gmacw]

that's a great idea Bob, I'll have to do that after this season. I too live in Massachusetts and get the wet weather although I've been fortunate to only lose like one or two strobes a year but next year I'll try your idea and maybe I can get a few years with out replacing! 

[1983ss454]

I'm in mass here too, that's a good idea with the tape

[Max-Paul]

I have to wonder about the screw base to the insulator junction being water tight? But good info, thanks Bob