Article Highlight: ‘Smarter Coatings Needed to Protect Smart Energy Meters from Harsh Environments’ HZO’s John Sandilands in Solar Builder Publication

John Sandilands | Originally Published in Solar Builder, March 2022

• Despite the technical maturity and value of smart meters, there is potential for component failures.
• Smart meter failure can be expensive and result in warranty claims, failure analysis costs, unnecessary logisitcs, and brand damage.
• Conformal coatings are a logical and necessary method of protecting smart meters from harsh environments.
• Parylene provides superior conformality, with a uniform, controllable thickness that is entirely pinhole-free.
• It is inert, thermally stable between -200°C and 125°C and higher, has a dielectric strength of 7 kV/mil, and provides excellent barrier protection against moisture, corrosives, chemicals, gases, and fungus.