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(2026-01-26, 09:08 PM)beercansailor Wrote: (2025-12-26, 03:07 PM)SkipperDon Wrote: I’m looking at one of those “IP67 waterproof but also vented” outdoor electrical boxes for my next OpenPlotter build, and I’m wondering if anyone here has actually used this style of enclosure. The marketing claims it’s fully waterproof, dustproof, marine‑ready, and then casually mentions it has vents—which at first sounded like “waterproof, except for the holes,” but apparently the vents use a Gore‑Tex‑style membrane so air and heat get out while water and crud stay outside where they belong. On paper it seems perfect for keeping a Raspberry Pi from cooking itself inside a sealed box, but before I start drilling holes and routing cables like a caffeinated shipwright, I’d love to hear if anyone has tried this enclosure with OpenPlotter and how it holds up in real marine conditions.
A buoy tracking product, which is deployed in a marine environment, uses IP67 boxes, and 'breather plugs' successfully through a few winter storms and months of sunshine, rain, waves and weather.
The breather plugs are needed to allow compression/decompression through cold/warm cycles, while still keeping the water out. If you don't use such plugs, the air inside will expand and get out through the seals.
So far, these boxes are holding up just fine.
Tropicalize the Motherboard; use CRC Plastik 70: http://www.crceurope.com/wwwcrc/msds/pdf...2139AE.pdf
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IP67 junction boxes paired with M12 breather plugs are a proven combination for marine installs because they solve the pressure‑cycling problem that quietly destroys “sealed” enclosures. The breather plug gives the box a controlled way to equalize during cold–warm transitions while still blocking spray and rain. Without that venting path, the internal air expands, forces its way out through the gasket, and then pulls humid air back in as it cools. Over time, that moisture condenses and ruins electronics. With the vent installed, the enclosure stays stable and dry.
The next step in the build is the enclosure Joinfworld Vented Outdoor Enclosure Box, WiFi Enclosure Waterproof Electrical Box 11.8x6.7x5.6 Plastic Clear with Mounting Panel Stainless Steel Dust Screen : Amazon.ca: Tools & Home Improvement . That box takes the same principles further by adding two important features: a flexible internal bladder for pressure equalization and a multi‑port rubber cable gland. The bladder handles expansion and contraction without relying solely on a threaded vent, and the gland provides seven independent sleeves sized for mixed‑diameter cabling while maintaining a watertight seal.
The cable set going into it—18‑gauge 12 V lines, waterproof Ethernet, NMEA 2000, USB GPS, and AIS—fits cleanly through the gland. The heavier battery cable gets its own drilled passthrough with the correct rubber bushing to preserve the enclosure’s integrity. With the bladder managing pressure and the gland providing disciplined cable ingress, this enclosure becomes a solid, marine‑ready base for the installation. The only problem it’s like convincing a sumo wrestler to squeeze into skinny jeans “just for the photo.”
Skipper Don
AtMyBoat.com
skipperdon@atmyboat.com
I watched enough Gilligan’s Island as a kid to explain this
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(2026-02-05, 04:03 PM)SkipperDon Wrote: IP67 junction boxes paired with M12 breather plugs are a proven combination for marine installs because they solve the pressure‑cycling problem that quietly destroys “sealed” enclosures. The breather plug gives the box a controlled way to equalize during cold–warm transitions while still blocking spray and rain. Without that venting path, the internal air expands, forces its way out through the gasket, and then pulls humid air back in as it cools. Over time, that moisture condenses and ruins electronics. With the vent installed, the enclosure stays stable and dry.
The next step in the build is the enclosure Joinfworld Vented Outdoor Enclosure Box, WiFi Enclosure Waterproof Electrical Box 11.8x6.7x5.6 Plastic Clear with Mounting Panel Stainless Steel Dust Screen : Amazon.ca: Tools & Home Improvement . That box takes the same principles further by adding two important features: a flexible internal bladder for pressure equalization and a multi‑port rubber cable gland. The bladder handles expansion and contraction without relying solely on a threaded vent, and the gland provides seven independent sleeves sized for mixed‑diameter cabling while maintaining a watertight seal.
The cable set going into it—18‑gauge 12 V lines, waterproof Ethernet, NMEA 2000, USB GPS, and AIS—fits cleanly through the gland. The heavier battery cable gets its own drilled passthrough with the correct rubber bushing to preserve the enclosure’s integrity. With the bladder managing pressure and the gland providing disciplined cable ingress, this enclosure becomes a solid, marine‑ready base for the installation. The only problem it’s like convincing a sumo wrestler to squeeze into skinny jeans “just for the photo.” GREAT! didn't know that. I don't see the bresathing gland, where is located?
Thanks!
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(2026-02-05, 04:24 PM)aitonos Wrote: (2026-02-05, 04:03 PM)SkipperDon Wrote: IP67 junction boxes paired with M12 breather plugs are a proven combination for marine installs because they solve the pressure‑cycling problem that quietly destroys “sealed” enclosures. The breather plug gives the box a controlled way to equalize during cold–warm transitions while still blocking spray and rain. Without that venting path, the internal air expands, forces its way out through the gasket, and then pulls humid air back in as it cools. Over time, that moisture condenses and ruins electronics. With the vent installed, the enclosure stays stable and dry.
The next step in the build is the enclosure Joinfworld Vented Outdoor Enclosure Box, WiFi Enclosure Waterproof Electrical Box 11.8x6.7x5.6 Plastic Clear with Mounting Panel Stainless Steel Dust Screen : Amazon.ca: Tools & Home Improvement . That box takes the same principles further by adding two important features: a flexible internal bladder for pressure equalization and a multi‑port rubber cable gland. The bladder handles expansion and contraction without relying solely on a threaded vent, and the gland provides seven independent sleeves sized for mixed‑diameter cabling while maintaining a watertight seal.
The cable set going into it—18‑gauge 12 V lines, waterproof Ethernet, NMEA 2000, USB GPS, and AIS—fits cleanly through the gland. The heavier battery cable gets its own drilled passthrough with the correct rubber bushing to preserve the enclosure’s integrity. With the bladder managing pressure and the gland providing disciplined cable ingress, this enclosure becomes a solid, marine‑ready base for the installation. The only problem it’s like convincing a sumo wrestler to squeeze into skinny jeans “just for the photo.” GREAT! didn't know that. I don't see the bresathing gland, where is located?
Thanks!
The gland is located in the middle of the long side of the box. I posted a few pictures how i did it Jellyfish Hardware
Skipper Don
AtMyBoat.com
skipperdon@atmyboat.com
I watched enough Gilligan’s Island as a kid to explain this
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(2026-02-11, 01:11 AM)SkipperDon Wrote: (2026-02-05, 04:24 PM)aitonos Wrote: (2026-02-05, 04:03 PM)SkipperDon Wrote: IP67 junction boxes paired with M12 breather plugs are a proven combination for marine installs because they solve the pressure‑cycling problem that quietly destroys “sealed” enclosures. The breather plug gives the box a controlled way to equalize during cold–warm transitions while still blocking spray and rain. Without that venting path, the internal air expands, forces its way out through the gasket, and then pulls humid air back in as it cools. Over time, that moisture condenses and ruins electronics. With the vent installed, the enclosure stays stable and dry.
The next step in the build is the enclosure Joinfworld Vented Outdoor Enclosure Box, WiFi Enclosure Waterproof Electrical Box 11.8x6.7x5.6 Plastic Clear with Mounting Panel Stainless Steel Dust Screen : Amazon.ca: Tools & Home Improvement . That box takes the same principles further by adding two important features: a flexible internal bladder for pressure equalization and a multi‑port rubber cable gland. The bladder handles expansion and contraction without relying solely on a threaded vent, and the gland provides seven independent sleeves sized for mixed‑diameter cabling while maintaining a watertight seal.
The cable set going into it—18‑gauge 12 V lines, waterproof Ethernet, NMEA 2000, USB GPS, and AIS—fits cleanly through the gland. The heavier battery cable gets its own drilled passthrough with the correct rubber bushing to preserve the enclosure’s integrity. With the bladder managing pressure and the gland providing disciplined cable ingress, this enclosure becomes a solid, marine‑ready base for the installation. The only problem it’s like convincing a sumo wrestler to squeeze into skinny jeans “just for the photo.” GREAT! didn't know that. I don't see the bresathing gland, where is located?
Thanks!
The gland is located in the middle of the long side of the box. I posted a few pictures how i did it Jellyfish Hardware Thanks, I guess it's the plate with screws, right?
The box is very nice!
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