Waterproof second monitor for OpenCPN laptop

[seek_solice]

Have: OpenCPN running on laptop down below
Need: inexpensive 8-12" waterproof screen I can mount outside and connect to laptop via VGA or WiFi or USB to just mirror the display down below

Optional would be for it to be touch and to actually control things, but just viewing is also fine.

What options do I have? Surprisingly, searches of eBay and Amazon for waterproof displays didn't turn up much of relevance.

[odonnellryan]

I don't have a link right now, but Alibaba had a good deal and I purchased a waterproof monitor touchscreen and all for about $300 or so. Not sure how long it will hold up. I found the link on a discussion here on CF.

[seek_solice]

That's pretty pricy for something so simple IMO.

I was thinking also possibly Android 8" tablet in waterproof case? Screenshare over WiFi?

[odonnellryan]

The one I purchased was daylight viewable and 15". I think it was a decent deal. There are smaller models available for sure. Android tablet should also work.

[seek_solice]

Well, what's the name and model? I'll look it up.

[odonnellryan]

Originally Posted by seek_solice

Well, what's the name and model? I'll look it up.

I purchased from these guys: https://szbestview.en.alibaba.com/?s...72413e5f5tPFv6

The thing about some of these monitors is the daylight visibility. They are pretty good there.

[Franziska]

If you use an Android tablet, you could mount a Qi contact free charger directly underneath.
In a waterproof house. Than put the tablet also in a housing.
Advantage no exposed cable connection and charging.
They make retrofit Qi receivers too.
I'll fit one this summer under the deck at the location where our tablet lives on deck.

[Hakan]

My low budget on board:
A cheep, dated, Android tablet, version >=4.5, about 150€. (If not already in a box.)
A simple wifi router for DC 12V about 30€
A VNC program on the tablet and the PC, free. Shows the PC screen on the tablet. The PC screen can be closed to save power.
A plastic cower over the tablet.
Extra - a wireless ball mouse to the PC for easier direct control compared the table touch function.

[seek_solice]

Originally Posted by Franziska

If you use an Android tablet, you could mount a Qi contact free charger directly underneath.
In a waterproof house. Than put the tablet also in a housing.
Advantage no exposed cable connection and charging.
They make retrofit Qi receivers too.
I'll fit one this summer under the deck at the location where our tablet lives on deck.

I was thinking about that. Waterproof sleeve for any tablet is $5, but the cheap ones don't support wireless charging. I guess can get the coil that plugs into the tablet externally and would do the trick, eh.

[Franziska]

Exactly, retrofit coil as receptor works.

Just watch out that it does not influence the compass where you plan to mount it, or you end up spinning in a vicious circle indefinitely :-)

Alternative put a power pack in the pouch and charge a second one in parallel.

[hellosailor]

"Need: inexpensive 8-12" waterproof screen "
Understand that in the US, you can basically sell marbles as "waterproof" but not much else. Unless you really can drop something in the Mariana's Trench and have it keep working, it has to be sold as water RESISTANT to a specific depth, for a specific time, or to a certain number of gravities (G) shock, since shocks drive water past seals.
You just need splash-resistant, probably IP67 or a similar rating, and if a device doesn't have a specific IP rating, it isn't even rain resistant.
The vinyl pouches (like an EWA Marine pouch) are certainly good, but they will make it harder to see your screen. Qi charging will let you seal things up--but Qi charging at its best is only about 1/3 as fast as old USB chargers, and the charging coil typically has to be within 1/4" of exactly right, or it doesn't work. Some chargers use multiple coils to work around this, but you'll still find the charger and tablet must be "just so" or very close to that.

I'm not sure about tablets, but there are some USB devices, some smartphones, that have microUSB power connections that are water resistant. They don't charge when there's water in them, but they are internally sealed so water can't get past them.

FWIW.

[Franziska]

By the way, if you get Qi, there are now some with a higher throughput around.

Regarding internally sealed USB. Surely not bad, I'd suspect that they corrode over time though in saltwater or salt and moisture driven environments. Qi seams safer to me.

[hellosailor]

"By the way, if you get Qi, there are now some with a higher throughput around."
AFAIK those are the "double coil" and "triple coil" units. Some have electronics designed to allow "fast charging" assuming the devices supports the same matching scheme--and had multiple pickup coils as well. Odds of a random tablet and charger working that way...possible but slim.

Even if the sealed USB is using quality gold-plated contacts (which are common enough in lots of equipment) getting "crud" in the port can kill them all too. Flushing them out with canned "air", and using a freshwater rinse on any that are exposed to salt water, is a good step. But even then, there's no waterproofing that lasts "forever". Rarely more than a year or two, unless someone is changing gaskets and renewing parts.

Except golf balls. Those seem to stay quite happy, no matter how long they're in water.(G)

[seek_solice]

Originally Posted by Franziska

By the way, if you get Qi, there are now some with a higher throughput around.

Regarding internally sealed USB. Surely not bad, I'd suspect that they corrode over time though in saltwater or salt and moisture driven environments. Qi seams safer to me.

Agreed. A non-sealed connection will degrade over time inevitably.

[seek_solice]

Originally Posted by odonnellryan

I purchased from these guys: https://szbestview.en.alibaba.com/?s...72413e5f5tPFv6

The thing about some of these monitors is the daylight visibility. They are pretty good there.

I contacted that supplier and they told me their price list for various sized displays. Pretty reasonable IMO. Here's what I was told -

800 NITS brightness for all
---------------------------------------------
08 inch capacitive $133 | resistive $118 800x600
10 inch capacitive $157 | resistive $142 1024x600
12 inch capacitive $172 | resistive $157 1024x768
---------------------------------------------

All with VGA connection, and the front of the unit is waterproof.

Apparently there's also a full waterproof 8 inch unit - finding out more info about it. Sounds interesting at this price point.