BU-303 - Outdoor? - Waterproofing?

RoyN · 11-03-2004, 08:28 PM

Hi all,

I have a BU-303 on my Range Rover, but since it is Armored the unit doesnt have good coverage if I put it inside the car. I have tried it on the roof, outside, and reception is very good.

Is it safe to use it "outdoors", with rain, etc? Is there some process of waterproofing I can add?

I tried searching but just came over a mention that someone had somehow waterproofed it, but if I can have more detailed instructions that'd be great!

carpcnoobie · 11-03-2004, 08:35 PM

My BU-303 proved to NOT be waterproof. I had never opened it, but I left it on the deck lid of my car and it rained when I wasn't expecting it. The next morning, I tried using my GPS and was getting a lock in my driveway. Then about 5 mins later, it stopped working.

Search my nick... I wrote about it before.

Here's a link including pics about waterproofing.

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show...ht=tool+rubber

faichiu · 11-03-2004, 08:54 PM

It is not waterproofed.

Quote: Originally Posted by RoyN

Hi all,

I have a BU-303 on my Range Rover, but since it is Armored the unit doesnt have good coverage if I put it inside the car. I have tried it on the roof, outside, and reception is very good.

Is it safe to use it "outdoors", with rain, etc? Is there some process of waterproofing I can add?

I tried searching but just came over a mention that someone had somehow waterproofed it, but if I can have more detailed instructions that'd be great!

fishy · 11-04-2004, 07:25 AM

no its not water proof YET.

my plan way to use "CONFORMAL COATING" to coat the internal parts of the unit (its a spray, designed to waterproof PCB's) and the use some "selleys MASTIC" on the outside seams to seal it all off...

just my thoughts.

conformal coating is available from Radio Shack (for you americans)
and mastic (which is what holds your windshield in & seals out the weather) is available from the hardware store in the "sealants & adhesives" section.

corsamel · 11-04-2004, 08:43 AM

I would of thought the purpose of the magnet on the bottom would be to stick it to the car roof?

Mines been through all the weather and is still working.

RoyN · 11-04-2004, 09:15 AM

Yeah. I Think this is what I'm gonna do.... If it does ge screwed up then I'll invest in a slightly better model, already made to be weatherproof

Don 944 LA · 11-04-2004, 01:10 PM

I have this Bu-303 ( yeah even says it on the bottom )
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...729692881&rd=1
anyway, it looks pretty watertight..

Anyone else have one like this ??
I would hate to do the DIP in PLASTIC thing and loose the strong magnet on the bottom...

Zac · 11-04-2004, 01:27 PM

Unless the magnet is really weak a little plastic shouldn't interfere with the magnet doing its job too much.....

Bobby Digital · 11-04-2004, 01:31 PM

I have the same one... doesn't look watertight to me (mine has a visible gap around the LED). There was a thread I saw a while back about dipping them into some kind of rubber type stuff to make them waterproof... I'll try to find it

EDIT here it is - it deals with rubberizing the earthmate receivers, but I'd assume the same process would apply for any receiver

carpcnoobie · 11-04-2004, 04:27 PM

Read post #2 in this thread!!!

Somedays, I really wonder why I bother.

fishy · 11-04-2004, 05:43 PM

thats the exact model i have, it has the magnet at the bottom and BU-303 written on it. its the model that isnt water proof, thats why im going to open it up, coat the Printed Circuit Board etc with CONFORMAL COATING and then seal up the outside gaps with MASTIC (selleys sealant - not selleys all clear).

that way, it will retain all its original properties, but will be waterproof, and prevent any condensation build up from forming on the PCB.

4u2n · 11-04-2004, 06:02 PM

You can be easy get the waterproof , known that inject the by lak some times , make sure that there no is some punch to lakken , use eventually silikone round the cable

Don 944 LA · 11-04-2004, 08:38 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by carpcnoobie

Read post #2 in this thread!!!

Somedays, I really wonder why I bother.

Thats the thread I was talking about, this one just was closer to topic..

Anyway, I guess I'll be dippin the thing in rubber/plastic. wasn't sure cuz that earthmate looked different.

chewiee · 01-03-2005, 07:27 AM

Mine seemed a little tempermental in London over xmas, but it could have been the fact that it's attatched to the back door of my Frontera and not getting a full signal.

I was going to get some balloons and shoehorn it into on and tiewrap it... any thuoghts?

Chewiee