chandltp

I just got a new dyno hub and I was wondering if I need to do anything to waterproof any of the connections.

For instance, I was looking at the holes where the wires enter, and wonder if I should orient then in a way other than straight up. Also, the tail light connections are kind of out in the open and I was wondering if I need to do anything with those. They are B&M lights, if that matters at all.

Grishnak

Excellent thinking.I have not waterproofed anything on my shimano or novatec hubs,bikes live outside,used year round no problems,3 years use.

unterhausen

wouldn't hurt to put some dielectric grease in the fitting. I generally don't bother, not sure it matters

Aushiker

I have thought of waterproofing mine as such but I have moulded some Sugru over them. This makes it much easier to remove the connectors and refit them reducing the chance of pulling a wire out.

My attempt looks pretty bad but the Middle Aged Cyclist whom I got the idea from has done a much neater job of it. I have since learnt that wet fingers makes it much easier to mould the Sugru.


My attempt


Middle Aged Cyclist does a much better job.

Andrew

pdlamb

If you have fenders, it helps. I don't worry about any of the light connections, and try to keep the hub connections pointed down so (hopefully) the water will drip out instead of dripping in. So far, so good!

chandltp

Hmm.. you think this would be written down somewhere. I have a few days to flip it over before it rains.. from an aesthetics perspective I like having it straight up. I guess I'll point it down and hope it does something.

chandltp

This was the response from LongLeaf Bicycles (I bought my wheel build and lights from them):

I never have and have used dynohubs in terrible downpours without a problem.

unterhausen

I have ridden for many hours in the rain and my dynohubs have never given me any problems

siberia37

Just make sure you don't have any exposed wires that could touch each other and you should be fine. Shorting out a dynamo doesn't hurt the dynamo but it might hurt the light. Liquid electrical tape works well for repairing wires where the insulation got broken or came loose.

chandltp

Hmm.. now I've almost done a full circle thinking I might not do anything.

2_i 

Use dielectric grease.

chandltp

Here's the wiring instructions for reference (near the bottom of the page).

Since dielectric grease is non-conductive, any suggestion on how I would make sure the connection didn't get too much grease in it?

2_i 

You just put it on contacts. The connection is there, just as without the grease, but the contact area does not corrode. That is what this grease is made for and you immerse the whole connection area within that grease without a problem.

chandltp

OK, I guess I'll have to try it. It just seems like something that's non-conductive could cause a problem if there's too much.

unterhausen

it gets moved out of the way when you mate the contacts. The reason I have some is for my car's spark plug wires. Protecting contacts from corrosion is the intended purpose of dielectric grease.