Box modders - How do you secure your atty connectors?

[BiffRocko]

I've been using Loctite Heavy Duty Epoxy to secure my connectors. One problem that I keep having is juice leaking down the connector barrel which then gets trapped between the body of the battery box and the epoxy holding the connector in place. This creates a small pocket in the epoxy that eventually fills up and starts leaking into the interior of the box. So I have a few questions...

How do you secure your connectors?

Has anyone else experienced the problem I'm having? What did you do to stop/mitigate it?

 

[retird]

I use epoxy also.....I use only "sealed" 510 connectors and after I solder the wires onto it, I seal the area where the wires attach with epoxy....I make sure that the epoxy completely fills the area around the connector where it attaches to the box....thus there are no "pockets" that could collect juice....never have a leaking problem into the box.....and I do not overfill the atty or carto either.....

 

[BiffRocko]

That's exactly how I do it. The pocket isn't there when I finish the build. It seems to develop over time.

For example, I have a box mod I built about two months ago. No leakage for the first month. Over the last month, the leakage started small, but has built up to the point where I'm carrying a paper towel with me everywhere to wipe down the body several times a day.

 

[brewsterfrank]

i use super glue to hold the connector in place, i also make it a tight fix, then i use liquid electrical tape or hot glue over that. works good and yet to have any leaks. the one mod was made back in february with the original glue still holding it.

but i sounds like it might be a good idea to dry out the hole and add some more epoxy. some juices, ei. the ones with high citrus, will eat epoxy and soften plastics after awhile. so frequent cleaning is always a good idea.

 

[sierra22]

I initially super glue the connector in place, then when I'm done with the tinkering, soldering, making sure it works, I cover it in epoxy, only use sealed connectors, never had any problems, I use either the 90 second epoxy from harber freight, or the 5 min epoxy from shucks o-rielly, both dry a yellowish clear. No leaking, ever.

 

[dkonrai]

i also use the 90 second epoxy from hf. 5 bucks and the tube will make about 15 mods at least. i fill the insides with hot glue, but find that some of the cheapo boxes dont like the heat from the glue
i have not had any leaking issues. the first batch i made with sealed 510 connectors, but my new ones are not sealed. i will find out if they leak.
hope this helps?

 

[retird]

That's exactly how I do it. The pocket isn't there when I finish the build. It seems to develop over time.

For example, I have a box mod I built about two months ago. No leakage for the first month. Over the last month, the leakage started small, but has built up to the point where I'm carrying a paper towel with me everywhere to wipe down the body several times a day.

How about some pictures so we can see what you have.....may help....

 

[BiffRocko]

Thanks, guys. Doesn't sound like I'm doing anything "wrong". Maybe switching to an epoxy with a shorter set time will help. I suspect the epoxy on the underside of the connector isn't setting fast enough and is dripping off the connector onto the box itself.

I always use sealed connectors as well.

 

[BiffRocko]

How about some pictures so we can see what you have.....may help....

Cell phone won't focus close up to get a decent pic. I'll take some when I have access to my DSLR later.

 

[BiffRocko]

Best I could do without setting up lighting and what not. It's pretty hard to see the epoxy, but you can see where the juice has eaten into it a bit (the dark brown spots).

imgur: the simple image sharer

 

[dkonrai]

when i epoxy my attys, i will dab some glue on the backside, then place a bit on both side of the atty. then i will push it all the way and twist it a little. you want the glue to get set between the box and the atty. i use a old atty to help push the connector around.
hope this makes sense? then finish it off with a little around the connector on the side that is close to u.

 

[Kahuna]

JB weld does the trick for me. Super solid, won't "bend" when screwing on an atty and applying a snug fit. Cures to an inert hold overnight.

 

[retird]

Kinda hard to see in the picture, but looks like a "thin" layer of epoxy......

Suggestion- Try applying super glue and let it "run" around the connector so it gets to the back side of the box...let it cure and repeat application again. After it cures, apply a "thicker" coat of "epoxy"(or JB Weld).

just curious----did you epoxy the connector before soldering the ground wire to the connector? I apply the epoxy after all soldering is done(last step)....In the picture it looks like alot of heat from the soldering melted the insulation on the red wires, thus heating the battery connector may have somewhat melted the plastic box around the batt connector, thus creating a pocket(if you soldered the batt connector after the epoxy was used).
Just guessing here, but thought I would just throw this out......

 

[BiffRocko]

The epoxy is kind of thin, but it's pretty hard to see in the picture too. I'm comparing the pic and the actual unit in my hand. I can see epoxy on the actual unit that just doesn't show in the pic. I'll give the super glue trick a try on the next one I build. I'll try a thicker coat of epoxy as well.

I always solder everything and fully test the unit before I apply the epoxy. My build process is as follows:

1. Drill holes.
2. Solder positive lead to atty connector.
3. Insert connector and switch into the box.
4. Solder the switch.
5. Solder the negative lead to the atty connector.
6. Test continuity throughout the unit.
7. Test the master On/Off switch.
8. Test for shorts in the atty connector.
9. Test with a battery and atty.
10. Epoxy the switch and connector.
11. Let the epoxy cure overnight.

 

[bmwjen]

Jb quick baby!

sent from my always glamorous Android using Tapatalk

 

[bstedh]

If you are having issues with the epoxy maintaining its adhesion to the plastic you may need to rough up the area with sand paper prior to gluing. This is a good practice either way as it give a much stronger bond than trying to glue a smooth surface. Scraping the surface with a knife also works. Anything to take away any glossiness or smoothness as these two things are always an enemy to a glued bond. This applies to the metal of the connector also. Generally the metal isn't finished fine enough to worry about however.

 

[BiffRocko]

If you are having issues with the epoxy maintaining its adhesion to the plastic you may need to rough up the area with sand paper prior to gluing.

Can't believe I didn't think of that. It should help quite a bit. Thanks.