possible issues w/ my mod

[chicagovaping]

So, apparently I have brain function problems when I'm tired cause last night I got my 5volt nicostick together at 3am and decided for some reson to use a silicone sealant inside of it. The silocone is touching all of the connecters. Damn. Well I am assuming I need to try to remove all of this especially around the ti regulator and atty connector. I was hoping I do not have to. I don't have a working tester so I cannot test to see if there is an obvious problem or not. I was hoping for some feedback as to wether I have to remove this stuff or not cause it will be a pain in the ..... The thing does vape well in my oppinion but I have no referance as to what 5v vaping should be like so idk. All oppinions appreciated. Man I'm an idiot.

 

[jxmiller]

I think I missed the problem. Did you use conductive silicone? If you just used the caulk, then it shouldn't be a problem.

Some sealants are conductive... but if it works...

I think you just need to get a multi meter on it.

 

[chicagovaping]

Well I am under the impression that all silicone is conductive is that not true? I did some googleing and could not find any that is not conductive. Maybe I searched the wrong things. Is there silicone that doesnot conduct electricity?

 

[jxmiller]

Well I am under the impression that all silicone is conductive is that not true? I did some googleing and could not find any that is not conductive. Maybe I searched the wrong things. Is there silicone that doesnot conduct electricity?

Short answer: It depends. Read the label on your silicone? Pure Si (Silicon) is not conductive until it reaches 700 Kelvin.

WikiAnswers - What is silicon's electrical conductivity
700 kelvin = 426.85 degrees Celsius

And in case you don't want to click the link here is the answer.

This depends on a few parameters of which the purity and the temperature have a significant influence.
For pure silicon (typically less than ppba levels of impurites (parts per billion atom), the conductivity can be represented by the following equation:
log (specific conductivity) = 4.247 - (2924/T) where T is the temperature measure in Kelvin units.
From a practical sense, silicon behaves like an insulator at less than 700 deg K and as a conductor at much higher temperatures.
This depends on a few parameters of which the purity and the temperature have a significant influence.
For pure silicon (typically less than ppba levels of impurites (parts per billion atom), the conductivity can be represented by the following equation:
log (specific conductivity) = 4.247 - (2924/T) where T is the temperature measure in Kelvin units.
From a practical sense, silicon behaves like an insulator at less than 700 deg K and as a conductor at much higher temperatures.

Edit:
Just realized my search revealed the answer to silicon not "silicone"... I am not sure there is much of a difference, we are talking Si here.

From what I have been looking at recently Silicone can be conductive, but usually it is sold as "Conductive Silicone" specifically. Silicon/e is not conductive normally, but if there are additives to the substance you are using, then yes it very well could be conductive.

 

[four2109]

Harbor Freight has multimeters on sale for $1.99 now! Check their flyer for the coupon. Sounds like you need one. For that price, everybody should have one.

 

[Wireguy]

Ya know this is one of those things you've (me that is) always known but finding proof is always harder than you think.

Silicone rubber is not conductive.

http://www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=920#_Electrical_Properties

Silicone Rubber

"Advantages

Properties that have made this family of rubbers important engineering materials include:

· Good thermal stability

· Constancy of properties over a wide temperature range leading to large operating range (e.g. –100 to 250°C)

· Ability to repel water and form water tight seals

· Excellent resistance to oxygen, ozone and sunlight

· Flexibility

· Good electrical insulation

· Anti-adhesive properties

· Low chemical reactivity

· Low toxicity"



I would be more worried about the switch not cooling, but not much.

 

[Wireguy]

Double post

 

[jxmiller]

Wireguy, I highly doubt he used silicone rubber. He said silicone sealant, which does in fact have variants that are conductive. He needs to read the label, and if that does not tell him (it should) he needs to look up the safety sheet online.

Mod works though, so I am thinking all is well. I have seen people here use silicone (looked clear so it was probably 90-100% pure silicone) to seal connections before, as well as other times in my life.

 

[Wireguy]

Actually he probably did. The term silicone rubber includes silicone sealants. The page I referenced included these types of silicone rubber. RTV.

If you Google "silicone sealant rubber" you will see that most major manufacturers refer to their sealant as silicone rubber sealant. Unless the OP went out of their way to get something conductive it probably isn't. It's not the kind of thing you would pick up at Home Depot or Lowe's.

The ones that aren't 100% silicone rubber sealant usually have additives for stretching/bending. and would not be conductive. The only out of the ordinary sealant HD and Lowe's carry the last time I looked is fire caulk.

I think he/she would know by now if it was conductive. It would have fried.

Yes there are conductive silicone rubber sealants. You just wont see them in a home supply store.

 

[Wireguy]

The most likely result of covering everything in silicone is premature failure of the regulator from lack of heat dissipation. In continuous operation those things get hot. Intermittent use it might not matter, I've only built continuous use devices so no first hand knowledge.