Painting controllers black??

[ebike11]

Please forgive me if its a not so bright question haha
Wondering if painting a controller black have any issues with extra heat build up??
Most of the controllers I see are grey/silver
Black is more stealthy for me since its mounted out in the open on the frame
Thanks!!

 

[dogman dan]

It should be fine to paint a controller imo. Some of mine are black, but it might not be paint.

 

[ebike11]

I was thinking black spray paint

 

[rborger73]

Use high temp paint if your controller gets at all warm. Ideal would be to take the cover and have it powder coated, but may cost more than you want. High temp paint should be fine, as long as you properly prepare the surface.

 

[Gregory]

There's a great post on Candle Power Forums about emissivity.

The best appears to be 3M Black Velvet, but I've just used a flat black epoxy (appliance) spray paint myself.

 

[friendly1uk]

It's insulation, so needs keeping thin. Your starting temps are your guide.

Anodising might be best, but if that is a requirement your sailing too close to the edge.

People here have painted them, and I know of no issues. It will get hotter, but as your painting I must presume it is exposed. Not crammed in a bag cooking your batteries.


edit: I missed gregs post. The emissivity improvement of painting something does not cancel the effect of the paints thermal insulation. We can't get a coating that thin, which is why I turned to anodising. It's all getting a bit silly at this point though.

 

[Punx0r]

Just paint it. Regular automotive spray paint will work just fine

If the coating is thin you probably will get an improvement in emissivity. The test results in Gregory's post support the practice of radiator and heat-exchanger manufacturers painting their products black.

 

[rborger73]

Just paint it. Regular automotive spray paint will work just fine

If the coating is thin you probably will get an improvement in emissivity. The test results in Gregory's post support the practice of radiator and heat-exchanger manufacturers painting their products black.

That is true. A quality paint on a well prepared surface and properly cured should probably be fine. If it isn't so hot you are thinking of water cooling it, then it should be fine. Powder coat probably would be the best way to go if you have a friend or local business that would do it cheap. I have a powder coating setup for doing smaller stuff here, but for most stuff it is easier to paint unless it is a high wear object or something.

 

[Punx0r]

I painted mine and the only preparation was to wipe it down with solvent. So, a single coat of automotive topcoat onto aluminium with no primer and it's holding up surprisingly well

 

[teklektik]

It's insulation, so needs keeping thin.
Anodising might be best, but if that is a requirement your sailing too close to the edge.

+1
You might consider a black self-etching primer - this should give you good adhesion to aluminum, a satin black finish, and a thin coat. (Auto parts stores, etc)

In the end, the controller is not in still air and cooling exclusively by radiation but is in a forced high speed airflow which has a pronounced cooling effect.

A working guide to the effect of painting is no further away than your black painted hub motor...

 

[cal3thousand]

+1 on the Self etch primer