electrical insulating paint

[bobj49f2]

I did a search and didn't find anything on what I am looking for.

I have a customer's project in my shop, it's a bus bar box for a train car. Their spec is calling out for an "electrical insulating paint" to be applied to the sub-panel. This is not really my customer's spec but the company that built the original box they want me to duplicate. All I got from my customer is a one page drawing of the sub-panel that the original manufacturer built. My customer doesn't know anything about it, he just handed me the old box and said, "Build one exactly like this." My customer figures it's about 40 years old. The original company is no longer in business.

I want to find a spray bomb of this paint if possible, this is a very small job, about 10"X24". I don't want to break out the paint gun if I don't have to.

I've searched the internet and found some information about epoxy paint that is an electrical insulating paint but you have to buy it in gallons, again a very small job. I also found some sold by Eastwood but it's red, I need a bright white. Any help will be appreciated.

 

[ddawg16]

HD sells a spray called "PlastiDip". It is a rubber spray....they also have it in cans....same stuff that the rubber handles on plyers is made of...

I would primer the inside...spray a couple of coats of any flat paint....then after it dries....give it a few coats of the PlastiDip....the stuff is pretty tough.

 

[Stuart in MN]

http://www.glyptal.com/ is the old standard for this sort of thing, but it's red.

 

[Dustball]

Our enclosures (industrial automation) are painted in a 2-part epoxy paint. You won't find this paint available in spray cans though.

I'll try to remember to look at the brand of paint we have when I go to work tomorrow.

 

[Brian_B_]

I do not have a clue.

One of my students works at a place that makes all the electrical boxes for a local power company. They are all powdercoated. Could that be similar?

 

[awdblazer]

x2 on glyptal

 

[nehog]

http://www.glyptal.com/ is the old standard for this sort of thing, but it's red.

If you want to meet a true insulating specification, then Glyptal is really the only choice. It is expensive, as well, but it is the proper paint for the job. I'm going to guess the original was painted with Glyptal paint, too.

BTW, painting over with another paint may not be a good idea and may damage the insulation properties of the Glyptal--you should talk to them to see what they recommend if you need another color.

 

[bobj49f2]

First, thanks everyone for your suggestions.

HD sells a spray called "PlastiDip". It is a rubber spray....they also have it in cans....same stuff that the rubber handles on plyers is made of...

I would primer the inside...spray a couple of coats of any flat paint....then after it dries....give it a few coats of the PlastiDip....the stuff is pretty tough.

The plastic dip would be too thick and soft. I need a product that dries hard like a normal paint.

http://www.glyptal.com/ is the old standard for this sort of thing, but it's red.

Yeah, I've found it when searching for an insulating paint but as you said, I only found it in red, I need white.

Our enclosures (industrial automation) are painted in a 2-part epoxy paint. You won't find this paint available in spray cans though.

I'll try to remember to look at the brand of paint we have when I go to work tomorrow.

Industrial automation is what I do. We usually use off the shelf cabinets from Hoffman or Saginaw. If we do use custom sub-panels I spray them with Rustoleum appliance epoxy paint, it's the only white paint that is closest to the bright white the Hoffman and Saginaw use on their sub-panels. Any other white looks yellow compared to theirs.

I can spray two-part paint, been doing it for year. In fact when I worked in a truck body shop we would paint used bucket trucks and the fiberglass booms had to be painted a non-conductive white epoxy but it was a flat paint, I need a gloss paint.

I do not have a clue.

One of my students works at a place that makes all the electrical boxes for a local power company. They are all powdercoated. Could that be similar?

I could send the panel out to be powder coated but that would cost more than I am sure my customer is willing to spend. This panel is so small I just want to squirt the paint on in my shop.

If you want to meet a true insulating specification, then Glyptal is really the only choice. It is expensive, as well, but it is the proper paint for the job. I'm going to guess the original was painted with Glyptal paint, too.

BTW, painting over with another paint may not be a good idea and may damage the insulation properties of the Glyptal--you should talk to them to see what they recommend if you need another color.

I'm sure painting over a non-conductive paint with another paint would defeat the purpose. The electrical charge could travel over the top coat. The paint is not only being used to insulate the sub-panel from components but also to prevent current from traveling across the panel.

Please, keep posting with suggestions. I'm only in the quoting process, I don't know if I'll get the job but if I do it won't come through for a little while.

 

[RPH]

We use spray cans of insulating varnish that is approved for this. It comes in red, green, and clear that I know of We use it on bus bars in the induction heating equipment we build. Can't think of the name but will get it tomorrow when I'm in.

 

[foolishpride]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000P1HGJC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[awdblazer]

glyptal does come in different colors, we have grey at work too

 

[slob]

Shoe beams and shoe paddles are painted with red insulating paint, which I would guess is that Glyptal stuff.

 

[Rudyjr]

Glyptal is what the utilty I work for has used since the 1940's.

 

[Roots]

http://www.glyptal.com/ is the old standard for this sort of thing, but it's red.

They are the gold standard. Pricey, but well worth it and in a class of it's own.

They do make it available in a spray cans as well. You'll likely pay a pretty hefty premium for a custom color to suit your project though.