Rain discipline
You need three habits on every job site:No direct rain path onto the unit
Even for IP66-rated units, rain and snow must not land directly on the enclosure. A canopy, eave, or overhang is a siting requirement — not an optional extra. See IP66 — Meaning and Limits for why rated outdoor does not mean carelessly outdoor.
Water travels down cables — form drip loops
Every bottom-entry cable needs a drip loop so water tracking along the jacket falls off at the lowest point instead of following the cable into the gland. Conduits must be sealed at the top so the conduit bore cannot channel water down to the gland plate. The full method is in Glands & Water Tracking.
Dust maintenance schedule
Dust does not need to enter the enclosure to cause damage. A caked heatsink loses its cooling performance long before IP ingress is a factor. Schedule your cleans before summer — pre-failure maintenance, not post-failure recovery.| Platform | Task | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Kent M1 | Clean radiator vents | Every 6 months |
| Kent M1 | Check electrical connections | Every 6 months |
| Kent M1 | Check sealing and gaskets | Annually |
| Kent M1 | Exercise the DC isolator switch (~10 operations) | Annually |
| Kent G3 | Clean heatsink with a soft brush | As needed — no fixed interval |
| Kent G3 | Clean screen and LEDs with a dry cloth | As needed |
| Kent G3 | Solvents, abrasives, or corrosive cleaners | Never |
Timing installs around weather
- Do not leave a wiring compartment open in threatening weather. If rain starts mid-job, seal the open compartment and stop work — do not rush the connection under a tarpaulin.
- Stage battery packs indoors until the moment of mounting. Storage rules covering state of charge and temperature limits are on the battery pages.
- If you must break and return the next day, install a temporary bung in every open gland entry before leaving site.
“It was only a brief shower” is the most common preface to a water-ingress warranty claim. Seal first, continue second.
Common mistakes
Compressed air point-blank at gasket seams
Compressed air point-blank at gasket seams
Compressed air at close range drives fine dust and debris into gasket seams, degrading the seal. Use a soft brush first, then low-pressure air at a safe distance if needed — never a directed jet at a seal line.
'The overhang mostly covers it'
'The overhang mostly covers it'
Mostly is a monsoon leak on a schedule. If the overhang does not cover the entire unit under the worst driving-rain angle for the site, it does not count. Find a wall with full coverage or install a purpose-made canopy.
Cleaning the G3 display with thinner or solvent
Cleaning the G3 display with thinner or solvent
Solvents are explicitly banned on Kent G3 displays and plastics. Use a dry or slightly damp cloth only. Thinner will cloud the display lens and is treated as installer damage, not a warranty defect.