Lectrosonics WM - Manual - Manual (Page 18)

WM
LECTROSONICS, INC. 18
Desiccant Battery Caps
Early WM transmitters were shipped with standard
battery caps. Later engineering developed an updated
battery cap design that contained moisture absorbing
desiccant beads to protect the interior of the transmit-
ter from excess humidity. These caps are available as
a kit to update early WM transmitters, or to replace lost
or damaged caps.
Beads are stored
inside the cap to
absorb moisture
through the vent
holes.
Beads are amber/orange
in color when able to
absorb moisture.
These battery doors on the WM will absorb small
amounts of moisture and humidity from the inside of
the transmitter. You must still be careful to keep mois-
ture out of the WM by opening it only in dry or shel-
tered areas and by making sure the battery surfaces
are dry before installing them. Always use the WP wa-
terproof mic connector in wet conditions. The desiccant
doors will only remove a few drops of moisture.
Kit consists of pre-assembled
battery doors with thumbscrew
and hex key (Allen wrench)
Remove center screw using the supplied allen wrench.
Install new battery caps and tighten the thumb screw
by hand. The thumbscrew is removed to recondition
(dry out) the desiccant beads.
Eventually, the desiccant beads absorb enough mois-
ture that they will become ineffective and turn green
or blue instead of the normally dry color of amber/
orange. To recharge the desiccant, it must be heated
to 200 to 400 degrees F for at least an hour, preferably
more. The desiccant, the silicone O-ring seals and the
doors can withstand maximum temperatures up to 400
degrees F (205 degrees C).
To easily dry the desiccant doors in an oven, separate
the doors from the case by removing the center thumb-
screw. All the parts will be remain fastened to one
another by the cable between them. The doors can
then be put into an oven at 200 degrees F for several
hours. As the heat drives out the absorbed moisture,
the desiccant will turn back to its normal amber/orange
color.
Do not put the WM transmitter itself into any
oven or heating device.
After heating, particularly at higher temperatures, the
O-rings may need a tiny dab of petroleum jelly (Vase-
line) to replace the lubricant that may migrate in the
heat.