It appears a lot of these types of units have LOUSY weather proofing of their own.
I have repaired two units for friends requiring new board traces , new Tacktile switches and some other bit and pieces and wire.
They are cheap enough from places like Newark but are PIA to install.
All due to rain entry into the the control panel. They are no where near weatherproof.
Still I bought one and of course the only place it can go is on my back deck exposed to rain and sun. Due to the previous experiences above I had my local Canvas Shop make a cover that produces a steep down angle from back to front so the rain cannot sit and soak through. A flap that that covers the front of the freezer , another flap that protects the back of the freezer and is long enough that the two cover ends are long enough to overhang the actual
freezer by about 6 inches each side.
I had them sew three tubes into the flap big enough to hold a piece of PVC electrical conduit, 3/4" diam, and capped after I slid some LEAD wire, Amazon, into the tubes for weight so the flaps will not easily be lifted by any wind. My first 1/2" were to light so I redid with the 3/4" and more lead.
--One canvas tube, back flap, was to protect the back of the freezer and had the leaded 3/4 PVC
--The middle tube was just a tube, no lead, so the canvas could be secured by Tyraps to the rail stanchions to produce the slope on the cover. THis part of the cover had two openings through I could secure the top of the cover to the rail stanchions.
--THe third and front flap to cover the freezer front, also leaded 3/4" conduit, had two holes exposing the tube so a strap could be secured between the leaded tube and the wee platform I made for the freezer to sit in. using two large U padeyes.
All the tubes or pockets in the canvas at the tube ends had snap fasteners installed or the tubes would work their way out.
I heavily spray the cover, 303 FABRIC GUARD, each year to stop water soaking through. If it cannot run off easily it will soak through and possibly again wet the control board.
Of course the freezer is secured by a line from one stanchion, through the freezer handles and then to another stanchion.
It has worked effectively, not perfectly though, now for about 5 yrs.
Before I forget I also cut up one of the thin kitchen counter cutting sheets to cover the actual control board so it is longer and wider than that board.
I used some Hi tack one sided Gorilla tape to secure it so it over hangs the control ends AND goes well past the bottom edge of the control board so any determined rain does not get to the control board.
When the season is done it is taken home.
