# Experimenting with NeverWet + Electronics ## Overview http://youtu.be/GNJ4CEoOg4g We recently tried out Rustoleum’s NeverWet, a new spray-on hydrophobic coating for all kinds of surfaces. It's not recommended for electronics, but we decided to (safely) experiment with some circuits! ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/010/118/medium800/projects_adafruit-neverwet-06.jpg?1396902809) Info: ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/010/120/medium800/projects_adafruit-neverwet-04.jpg?1396902873) # Experimenting with NeverWet + Electronics ## Applying NeverWet to electronics Info: ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/010/112/medium800/projects_adafruit-neverwet-00.jpg?1396902644) First we connected USB and other cables to our circuits, so the connections would be sealed. Painter's tape comes in handy for covering areas that don't need coating. NeverWet is a two-step spray and is a respiratory and skin hazard, and it's flamable. We prepped our well-ventilated outdoor area for overspray, set up a fan pointing away from the body, and put on gloves. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/010/113/medium800/projects_adafruit-neverwet-02.jpg?1396902667) Following the manufacturer's instructions, we sprayed on multiple layers of base coat, letting it dry between coats. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/010/114/medium800/projects_adafruit-neverwet-01.jpg?1396902693) ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/010/116/medium800/projects_adafruit-neverwet-09.jpg?1396902746) ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/010/115/medium800/projects_adafruit-neverwet-03.jpg?1396902724) We followed up with several layers of top coat in the same manner. We noticed a white chalky appearance to the top coat. When it was completely dry, we noticed some of the white chalky powder would come off on our hands, so we continued handling the circuits with gloves. # Experimenting with NeverWet + Electronics ## Results! Info: ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/010/117/medium800/projects_adafruit-neverwet-04.jpg?1396902785) Underwater FLORA! http://youtu.be/P42MzjuEPig ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/010/119/medium800/projects_adafruit-neverwet-05.jpg?1396902838) This FLORA LED brooch coated with NeverWet lasted about four hours in this container of NYC tap water. We did not submerge the battery. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/010/121/medium800/projects_adafruit-neverwet-06.jpg?1396902901) This Arduino Micro was powered by a nearby laptop's USB port. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/010/122/medium800/projects_adafruit-neverwet-07.jpg?1396902927) ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/010/123/medium800/projects_adafruit-neverwet-08.jpg?1396902954) The "Wet Raspberry," as we're calling it, booted ok the first time, then it lost connection to the SD card. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/010/125/medium800/projects_phil-torrone-adafruit-neverwet-citibike-helmet.jpg?1396903058) Our Citi Bike Helmet project fared pretty well when tested with a garden hose-- thanks Phil for being such a good sport! ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/010/124/medium800/projects_Screen_Shot_2013-07-30_at_11.13.18_AM.png?1396903043) The coating poses an issue for charging the battery, as disconnecting it "breaks the seal." Its UV sensitivity means we'd have to reapply the coating frequently. The white chalky appearance and powdery feel might not work for all applications or uses, however overall we had fun experimenting! ## Featured Products ### Raspberry Pi Model B 512MB RAM [Raspberry Pi Model B 512MB RAM](https://www.adafruit.com/product/998) Adafruit ships the **Raspberry Pi Model B 512MB RAM** as of 10/18/2012. The Raspberry Pi® is a single-board computer developed in the UK by the Raspberry Pi Foundation with the intention of stimulating the teaching of basic computer science in schools. The Raspberry... No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/998) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/998/guides) ### Arduino Micro without Headers - 5V 16MHz ATmega32u4 - Assembled [Arduino Micro without Headers - 5V 16MHz ATmega32u4 - Assembled](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1315) Squee! It's the cutest, tiniest little Arduino yet! The Arduino Micro packs all of the power of the Arduino Leonardo in a 1.9" x 0.7" (48mm x 18mm) size. Although it may look like a stick of gum, its actually a USB-native 8-bit microcontroller, with 32K of flash, and 2.5K of RAM.... No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1315) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1315/guides) ### USB cable - USB A to Micro-B [USB cable - USB A to Micro-B](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592) This here is your standard A to micro-B USB cable, for USB 1.1 or 2.0. Perfect for connecting a PC to your Metro, Feather, Raspberry Pi or other dev-board or microcontroller Approximately 3 feet / 1 meter long Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/592/guides) ### FLORA - Wearable electronic platform: Arduino-compatible [FLORA - Wearable electronic platform: Arduino-compatible](https://www.adafruit.com/product/659) FLORA is Adafruit's fully-featured wearable electronics platform. It's a round, sewable, Arduino-compatible microcontroller designed to empower amazing wearables projects.FLORA comes with Adafruit's support, [tutorials and...](http://learn.adafruit.com/category/flora) In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/659) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/659/guides) ### Flora RGB Smart NeoPixel version 3 - Pack of 4 [Flora RGB Smart NeoPixel version 3 - Pack of 4](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1260) What's a wearable project without LEDs? Our favorite part of the Flora platform is these tiny smart pixels. Designed specifically for wearables, these updated Flora NeoPixels have ultra-cool technology: these ultra-bright LEDs have a constant-current driver cooked right into the LED... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1260) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1260/guides) ### NeoPixel Stick - 8 x 5050 RGB LED with Integrated Drivers [NeoPixel Stick - 8 x 5050 RGB LED with Integrated Drivers](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1426) Make your own little LED strip arrangement with this stick of NeoPixel LEDs. We crammed 8 of the tiny 5050 (5mm x 5mm) smart RGB LEDs onto a PCB with mounting holes and a chainable design. Use only one microcontroller pin to control as many as you can chain together! Each LED is addressable as... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1426) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1426/guides) ## Related Guides - [Heart Rate Badge](https://learn.adafruit.com/heart-rate-badge.md) - [Pac Man Pixel Suspenders](https://learn.adafruit.com/pac-man-pixel-suspenders.md) - [3D Printed LED Buckle](https://learn.adafruit.com/3d-printed-led-buckle.md) - [Adafruit IO Time Tracking Cube](https://learn.adafruit.com/time-tracking-cube.md) - [Flora Snaps](https://learn.adafruit.com/flora-snaps.md) - [Using NeoPixels with Netduino Plus 2](https://learn.adafruit.com/using-neopixels-with-netduino.md) - [LED Stego Flex Spike Hoodie](https://learn.adafruit.com/led-stego-flex-spike-hoodie.md) - [Adabot Toy Robot Friend](https://learn.adafruit.com/adabot-rp2040.md) - [FLORA TV-B-Gone](https://learn.adafruit.com/flora-tv-b-gone.md) - [NeoPixels on Raspberry Pi](https://learn.adafruit.com/neopixels-on-raspberry-pi.md) - [Textile Potentiometer Hoodie](https://learn.adafruit.com/textile-potentiometer-hoodie.md) - [Memories of an Arduino](https://learn.adafruit.com/memories-of-an-arduino.md) - [Proximity Based Lighting](https://learn.adafruit.com/proximity-based-lighting.md) - [Zipper Switch](https://learn.adafruit.com/zipper-switch.md) - [Fiber Optic Pixie Skirt](https://learn.adafruit.com/fiber-optic-pixie-princess-skirt.md)