If Something Is 'Solar Powered' Can I Assume It Is Waterproof?

Windows7forever on 16/07/2017 - 09:49
Last edited 16/07/2017 - 09:59 by 1 other user

If a device is solar powered then it will be expected to be outside in the elements and have a clear view of the sky.
Therefore, all solar powered devices are waterproof, right?

I was thinking of installing these under a shallow awning which will receive partial cover from the elements(especially rain) but enough exposure for a few hours of rays during the day to keep them charged.
Obviously they will deteriorate and weather over time and I'm not expecting them to last a lifetime.

I'm just concerned about water damage to the internal electronics. Some of these products are specifically marketed as 'water proof' so I'm not sure if it is a separate class of solar powered products.

I have emailed the seller but am wondering if anybody has any experience using these types of products.

The product in question

Cheers

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • loulou1 on 16/07/2017 - 10:08
    +9

    I don't believe all solar powered devices are waterproof. I had a solar powered calculator that was left outside in the rain and it died.

    • Windows7forever on 16/07/2017 - 11:49

      Oh yeah. I never thought of the calculators.

  • mskeggs on 16/07/2017 - 10:22
    +1

    For $9 you will get a cheap plastic thing that will last a year or two. It will likely be weather proof enough to operate for that long.

  • Herp on 16/07/2017 - 10:31
    +1

    Might be, might not be. I assume it'll be in the same vein as solar LED fairy lights in that they'll be fine for a year or two before water gets in them and they fail.

    However it's moot as every thief knows that flashing LED = fake camera.

    • Windows7forever on 16/07/2017 - 11:47

      Is it easy to distinguish between a fake and real camera? Some of the most basic fakes don't have the flashing lights and are about as dummy as you can get.

  • chumlee on 16/07/2017 - 11:08
    +2

    Water proof or water resistant??

    • Windows7forever on 16/07/2017 - 11:45

      Water Resistant. I'm not going deep sea diving with my fake CCTV camera.
      I should probably amend the post as I am contradicting myself. Did mean resistant , sorry.

  • [Deactivated] on 16/07/2017 - 11:51
    -2

    Looking to buy a new plane. Specs say maximum altitude is 40,000ft. I assume that I can also use it underwater as a submarine, right?

    • altomic on 16/07/2017 - 13:08
      +9

      there are more aeroplanes in the sea than submarines in the sky

      • Kangal on 16/07/2017 - 13:18

        I like your thinking.
        PS there's also more planes in the sea than in the sky, thank WWII

        • [Deactivated] on 16/07/2017 - 23:24

          Well some of those ww2 planes are worth more then the ones on air crash investigations.

        • Kangal on 17/07/2017 - 08:51

          @Hotkolbas:
          Yeah, I still don't know why I got negged for that fact. People must've had me confused with JV for a moment.

        • furys12 on 17/07/2017 - 10:18

          got any proof to go with that?, genuinely curious not being an ahole

        • Kangal on 17/07/2017 - 11:49
          +2

          @furys12:
          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equipment_losses_in_World_War_…

          At the most conservative and fraudulent; 220,000 planes lost.
          Of which a conservative and fraudulent figure of 10% lost in the sea.
          That means a minimum of 22,000 planes in the sea.
          But realistically/higher, its closer to 350,000 planes and 25% lost… meaning upto 88,000 planes in the sea.

          Meanwhile, in the air, there are between 5,000 to 10,000 planes at any one time*.
          So even WWII's under-estimate is above these figures.

          And that's only WWII. There's still planes from WWI and before (though far less). And other combat and commercial planes after WWII. So I can't even estimate how many that would be. I would say at the least 100,000 but probably closer to 500,000 if I were to throw a random figure that might seem more realistic.

          *still that's a lot of planes, and if on average there are 100-200 passengers, then at any one time, there are between Half-a-Million to TWO MILLION people in the Air. That's insane. Sorry Mother Nature.

        • furys12 on 18/07/2017 - 09:03

          ah i guess that makes sense there are probably (actually i wouldnt bet on it) more planes in existence but not flying at one time, thanks for the info

  • [Deactivated] on 16/07/2017 - 14:17

    Assumption is the mother of all (profanity) ups

  • [Deactivated] on 16/07/2017 - 14:30

    Why not install a proper camera, thieves are going to laugh at these cheapo jokes

    Hikvision Dome camera and some networking cable into a POE injector

    Under $200 easy, peace of mind for you and a proper deterrant, rather than a laughing stock higher risk $18 joke off ebay
    You might find cheaper cameras entice criminals to break in vs having nothing at all

    Security Expert in Brisbane here

    Its amazing at the small investment you can do to protect your property

    • cheepwun on 16/07/2017 - 15:38

      Under $200 easy

      Does that include storage and installation?

    • Windows7forever on 16/07/2017 - 17:14

      Is that because cameras might advertise that you potentially have stuff of value inside?

      • tomsco on 16/07/2017 - 17:53
        +1

        Or maybe because obviously fake cameras suggest you don't have a real security system.

        • Windows7forever on 17/07/2017 - 06:49
          +1

          There are a few houses in my street that I'm pretty certain have fake cameras. There is one dome camera just sitting unobtrusively near the front of the house, which reminds me of the old 'beware of the dog' signs.

          However, another guy down the street just built a new house recently and has several cameras at the front, side and towards the rear of the house. Plus he has a big gate surrounding his property. I don't doubt that those cameras are not real!

          When I see an overabundance of security - cameras, dogs, locking gates, signs, windows bars - I think either this guy is paranoid, has been robbed before, doesn't have insurance, or is hiding "cash money" in the house.

          We live in a relatively safe neighborhood and when you are the only house in the street that looks like a fortress people take notice. The crims certainly would too. I think it draws too much attention to your residence (fortress).

          Sorry to digress but I find home security fascinating and the ways people secure their assets.

      • furys12 on 17/07/2017 - 10:25

        i don't think so these days, cameras have become much cheaper and the technology has become much better, people are buying cameras for everything, car, doorbell, house just because they can, it doesn't really matter if you have anything of true value the technology is cheap enough that you might as well have them for that extra piece of mind and the for the same reason we all have locks on our doors, you're just raising the bar of minimum effort required for a crim to get at your meagre possessions.

    • [Deactivated] on 17/07/2017 - 10:00

      Just a personal view, but I always take advice from someone who calls themselves an expert with a pinch of salt.

  • Toons on 16/07/2017 - 14:51

    the only thing that would tell you would be if it had an IP rating (ingress protection) but for the price i'd be surprised if they bothered building to meet a standard of any kind.

    i agree with shawncro 222, i'm no expert on insurance but you might get a discount that is worth more to you than this by installing something worthwhile.

    worth asking

    God forbid anything bad was to happen you have the evidence. will make any claim much easier along with proving fault.

    If it's business related same again but you can write it off somewhere in tax.

    • [Deactivated] on 16/07/2017 - 23:22

      This.

      Look for the IP rating. If non then dont assume.

  • StonedWizard on 17/07/2017 - 12:58

    No you can't but if it's an outdoor product I'd assume it's weatherproof. When in doubt look at the IP rating.

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