Has anyone tried painting or changing the color of a pcb? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2017, 03:51:22 pm
content: I'm thinking of using this in a project:http://www.mouser.com/images/electronicassembly/lrg/EA_LED94x40_A_DSL.jpgIt is a backlight to an LCD display and they put it on a white pcb. most of it will be covered by the display, but perhaps 4-5mm on the top and bottom won't be.Has anyone tried painting or changing the color of a pcb like this? I don't think I'd like how it would look against a shiny black pcb, but that is the color I'd prefer for the project.Paint it? If I paint the top of a pad, will heat/solder melt off the pain for 6 connections?Ideas?

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2017, 03:58:33 pm
content: Some black paints are partially conductive. Expect trouble!

author: PDXjason
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2017, 04:39:20 pm
content: Is it part of the aesthetic, or did you not want to make a black enclosure for it?

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2017, 05:26:10 pm
content: Yes - I was it to be without enclosure, so the pcb is part of its look...I thought about just using a white pcb, but I'm not sure I want to do that either.

author: @rt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2017, 06:30:13 pm
content: Your location isn't shown.In Australia, White Knight spray enamel inthe non metallic colours has no metal content,and can be used around very high voltages.

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2017, 06:32:15 pm
content: I'm in the US.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2017, 06:38:30 pm
content: I've painted PCBs once or twice, had no trouble at all. I masked off pads I had to solder. As with most things YMMV but it worked for me.

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2017, 06:58:09 pm
content: James - what type of paint did you use?

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2017, 07:01:41 pm
content: I don't remember, it was whatever spraypaint I had on hand. Some type of epoxy enamel.

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2017, 07:04:11 pm
content: I suppose this is what scrap boards are for, to do some testing!

author: @rt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2017, 07:30:11 pm
content: Oh ok, I did mine after the board was populated.Also used some for some parts of a Tesla coil whichis why I contacted the company.I wanted to know if the non-metallic paint contained any metal,and also if the metallic paint contained any ferrous metal.

author: Gregg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2017, 09:13:20 pm
content: Quote from: evb149 on March 30, 2017, 07:38:03 pmSolid state magic smoke, why didn't I think of that? It could be the answer to replacing the elusive magic smoke in Lucas electrics.On a serious note, the PCB could be sprayed with Krylon Crystal Clear before painting it black. I have had good results with Krylon in the past, but I think they have changed the formulas recently to conform to environmental regulations. Walmart sells Krylon spray paint. You could spray some black paint on a plastic backing and test it with a megohm meter.

author: RGB255_0_0
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2017, 09:50:20 pm
content: If you don't mind a shiny surface, maybe nail varnish?

author: PointyOintment
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2017, 03:14:22 am
content: Cover it with black paper or plastic sheet?Somewhat off-topic: I saw a product on DX once where they had inkjet-printed a camouflage pattern onto the PCB. I think it served as the solder mask. I think it was a color sensor breakout board.

author: RobertHolcombe
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2017, 03:33:02 am
content: If its viable you could apply conformal coating prior to painting, assuming the paint will adhere

author: Harb
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2017, 04:09:37 am
content: Get a large black Artliner or Texa marker pen, screw the end of it and pull out the innards......rub the black fluffy piece on the board, and presto, you will have your black PCB

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2017, 04:31:55 am
content: Use a black conformal coating, one of Electrolube's products come in red or black.http://www.electrolube.com/pdf/conformal-coatings-brochure-electrolube.pdfIf conductivity of a paint system might be a problem use any conformal coating to seal it then apply a colour of your choice.

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2017, 03:47:43 pm
content: Thanks for the good ideas everyone; this gives me a few things to try!

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2017, 05:29:09 pm
content: Quote from: Gregg on March 30, 2017, 09:13:20 pmSoot is carbon so is likely to be slightly conductive. Whether slightly conductive paints/pigments are a problem or not, depends on the voltages and resistances in the circuit. It it's a low voltage circuit, with low impedances, say under 30V and 10k respectively, then a few M Ohms of parasitic resistance won't be a problem.