Suggestions to waterproof this switch

[Ali]

It’s a motorbike brake light switch, can’t get a replacement so need to look after it.

It should have one piece of thick heat shrink on it which must have had some ridiculous ratio to have worked. There’s still a bit left which I’ll just leave as it is.

Bought some of these heat shrink end caps but they were a disappointment.

I was looking at Plastidip, but not sure if it would be tough enough - would it peel off or let water under? Maybe some sort of silicone cap glued over it.

It’s around 24mm at the widest point going down to about 17mm.

The original (best picture I can find)

That’s new old stock and even that has split by the looks of it.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Self amalgamating tape is your friend for jobs like that. You will find a host of other uses too, hose repair, tool handles, loom tape etc.

 

[Ali]

Self amalgamating tape is your friend for jobs like that. You will find a host of other uses too, hose repair, tool handles, loom tape etc.

I have got some somewhere actually, didn’t think of that - thanks.

 

[Onoff]

Some silicone grease too, worked into the pushy, springy bit. On crimped joints etc.

 

[zzr1200]

Self amalgamating tape is your friend for jobs like that. You will find a host of other uses too, hose repair, tool handles, loom tape etc.

Horrible stuff, one firm I worked for another engineer for used it covering his repairs to vehicle wiring looms, it's great until you have to remove it to find the bodged repair, I hate it.....shrink wrap, please... ...imho.

 

[chrismac]

Heat shrink and pack with silicon grease.

 

[Onoff]

The heat shrink, self adhesive crimps are good. I first dip the stripped wires in silicone grease before crimping/heating. Never lost a patient yet.

 

[Ali]

Horrible stuff, one firm I worked for another engineer for used it covering his repairs to vehicle wiring looms, it's great until you have to remove it to find the bodged repair, I hate it.....shrink wrap, please... ...imho.

I just couldn’t find a source of decent / sensible price heat shrink caps

 

[Turbo]

For sealing things with a large difference in diameter I use glue lined heat shrink in different sizes. Apply it bit by bit to the thinner wire, stepping up the sizes until its close to the dia of the switch then apply a length of heat shrink over both the wire & the switch.
I've been using this stuff for a while, decent quality.
https://ocldirect.co.uk/heat-shrink...-colours-adhesive-lined-100-150mm-hstal261mc/

 

[bourbon]

you can get heat shrink in different ratios. no idea where from though, sorry

 

[premmington]

Self amalgamating tape is your friend for jobs like that. You will find a host of other uses too, hose repair, tool handles, loom tape etc.

Is this what they call "denso tape" - if so...!

Vile messy stuff....

 

[Onoff]

Is this what they call "denso tape" - if so...!

Vile messy stuff....

Two different beasts. I love 'em both!

We wrap the bolt heads and nuts of high tensile stuff used outside in Denso. Take it off for periodic torquing up and they're like new.

 

[cheb]

Can I suggest using waxoil instead of silicone grease, it washes off more easily if ever you need to revisit the insides.

 

[Hood]

Denso is excellent stuff, I use it all the time on the fishing boats to cover the fittings on the end of hydraulic hoses. Even ones exposed to constant direct salt water spray come out like new years later. It is however, as has been mentioned, horrible sticky stuff when applying or removing.

One option may be to make a kind of container with some heatshrink so you can pour Ray Tech Magic Gel into. I have used it on a few things and it works well and you can pull it off of the component then refit and it will sort of self heal.

 

[Onoff]

My mate runs motorbikes and ever since I've put him onto silicone grease he's been a very happy bunny.

 

[Keithmac]

I use Silicone Dielectric grease on all sorts if jobs now, not cheap mind but worth the money.

 

[Onoff]

Top tip, dip the end of your tv/satellite coax in silicone grease before screwing the F connector on. Stops corrosion and water tracking up the coax.

 

[pedrobedro]

There are hundreds of generic plunger type brake light switches normally open or normally closed. Does it have to be original ?

 

[Ali]

There are hundreds of generic plunger type brake light switches normally open or normally closed. Does it have to be original ?

Not particularly, but it works so I’ll keep using it for now

 

[Keithmac]

You want a cable tie around the barrel to secure the wiring.

It'll more than likely die from the wiring flexing and breaking than water ingress.

Cable tie and some black silicone sealant around the top..