Sealing dive flashlight with silicone sealant instead of grease

[Scared Silly]

You have made at least 2 incorrect statements here.

Fair enough. I stand corrected. My knowledge has been that grease implies oil based.

 

[Scuba-guy]

Too many nerds and not enough scuba divers, arguing about silicone and ignoring the question did anyone ever seal their flashlight with silicone sealant? There are tons of flooded flashlights out there because the battery had to be removed to be charged. I propose putting silicone sealant on the threads with the o ring and screw it closed to prevent flooding.

 

[d^2b]

This idea that "the grease creates the seal" goes against everything I've been taught about o-rings in lights and camera housings, which is essentially the same as what somebody said above. The grease is there to keep the o-ring from drying out and becoming brittle. I don't know how a given o-ring will react with silicone sealant but I would not be terribly surprised if it caused damage. I guess if I was going to do this to my equipment, I'd start by putting a spare o-ring in the proposed brand of silicone sealant, and leave there for a while, to see what happens.

 

[davehicks]

Too many nerds and not enough scuba divers, arguing about silicone and ignoring the question did anyone ever seal their flashlight with silicone sealant? There are tons of flooded flashlights out there because the battery had to be removed to be charged. I propose putting silicone sealant on the threads with the o ring and screw it closed to prevent flooding.

The idea that you will never need to open the light or change the battery is not realistic. These batteries do not last forever in the best conditions. Silicone caulk or sealant will also wear and degrade with hands on use in sun, salt water, and getting banged around. It won't remain sealed for long, sand and salt will get embedded and be hard clean, and the seal way flood due to neglect.

But by all means give it a try and let us know how it works out!

 

[lexvil]

Too many nerds and not enough scuba divers, arguing about silicone and ignoring the question did anyone ever seal their flashlight with silicone sealant? There are tons of flooded flashlights out there because the battery had to be removed to be charged. I propose putting silicone sealant on the threads with the o ring and screw it closed to prevent flooding.

Dude, it’s your light do whatever you want with it, flooded lights are usually through neglect or abuse.

 

[lowwall]

Too many nerds and not enough scuba divers, arguing about silicone and ignoring the question did anyone ever seal their flashlight with silicone sealant? There are tons of flooded flashlights out there because the battery had to be removed to be charged. I propose putting silicone sealant on the threads with the o ring and screw it closed to prevent flooding.

We are talking about the other stuff because the question has already been answered. There is a reason the world has moved to o-rings for sealing equipment instead of the old methods of fibers, goop and hope.

If you want to avoid flooding, make sure the o-rings are undamaged and very lightly lubricated and their grooves and mating surfaces are clean.