I have made a light sensitive switch. I have drilled the LDR into the side This works really great for a couple of days then almost oxidizes and wont work any more. How can I protect the LDR from this happening

 

get a good one, or put it behind a plastic window inside the housing out of the weather. some actually are potted in clear plastic.

 

get a good one, or put it behind a plastic window inside the housing out of the weather. some actually are potted in clear plastic.

If I covered it in clear silicon would that do the same job

 

chedck it after you coat it, some coatings block or absorb the light the ldr works on.

 

get a good one, or put it behind a plastic window inside the housing out of the weather. some actually are potted in clear plastic.

thank you

 

If I covered it in clear silicon would that do the same job

The most common of that substance releases acetic acid (bad).

 

The most common of that substance releases acetic acid (bad).

the GE Silicone-II product is acid free, found that out while doing some roofing with steel panels, panel maker said that the silicone would eat the paint of the panel, but the Silicone-II product does not have acid in it.

w/o a nice even coat i suspect a coating like that will mess up the functionality, and, silicone will not stay nice for very long outside (wont break down but will collect dust/dirt and may fade in color). a UV stable clear epoxy would be better.

 

I have made a light sensitive switch. I have drilled the LDR into the side This works really great for a couple of days then almost oxidizes and wont work any more. How can I protect the LDR from this happening

The cadmium in a LDR is extremely toxic, so the active surface should be at least securely coated with laquer, many manufacturers either potted them in water-clear resin, or even encapsulated them in windowed TO5 type cans.

Some early types were even encapsulated in a glass envelope like valves.

Cadmium poisoning causes osteoporosis and a very slow and painful death.