My DIY smart lock fried itself after one rainstorm

Built this janky smart lock for my shed using a Raspberry Pi and a servo motor - thought I was clever. Worked fine for about 2 weeks until a random thunderstorm hit last Tuesday. Found the whole thing smoking inside a plastic tub I used as a case. I just wanted to open the shed door from my couch without walking 20 feet. Has anyone else tried waterproofing a DIY project and had it backfire completely?

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kai_webb912mo ago

Tossed an old keyboard controller in a cooler once thinking it'd stay bone dry. Came back to a puddle of green goo and a fried Pi board that smelled like burnt coffee...

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samflores2mo ago

Wait, you're actually blaming the cooler for this one? The cooler did exactly what it was supposed to do, keep stuff cold and wet inside... you're the one who put electronics in a device designed for ice and condensation. Sounds like the real problem was your plan, not the equipment. If you'd sealed that keyboard controller in a bag or used some silicone grease on the ports, you'd still have a working Pi. The green goo was just the cooler doing its job, keeping moisture trapped in there real good.

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