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Waterproofing an ECU, ideas, thoughts??
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Author:  Brad.Jones [ Sat Jan 10, 2015 12:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Waterproofing an ECU, ideas, thoughts??

Hi All,

I have got my G16b conversion going, in the process of putting my loom and other wiring into conduit and waterproofing all the connections.

How can I waterproof the ECU? Do people bother?
In the past I have had water flowing through the cab before and I have had a
habit of pressure washing the inside after it gets super muddy.

The last thing I want to happen is to fry the ECU because of some water.

I was thinking of dunking the entire board (with the plugs connected so they get waterproofed as well) in some liquid electrical tape / plasti dip.
Apart from making it a pain in the arse if I ever had to unplug the ECU to solder in a new capacitor or something are there any other side effects, like heat dispersion?
Or would I be better to just seal up the metal case with some silicon, does the ECU need any ventilation??

Thanks Brad

Author:  Gwagensteve [ Sat Jan 10, 2015 1:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Waterproofing an ECU, ideas, thoughts??

I've never seen a successful attempt at waterproofing an ECU. They need ventilation, seal them up too well and they'll suffer condensation.

It's very hard to "fry" an ecu. We have had a car die because the ECU was full of water (Kia sportage, ECU by the passenger's feet) took it out, flushed it with metho, dried it on a demister vent, put it back in and ran the car as normal.

Put it high up behind the glovebox and call it good. I promise it won't be a problem. If the water level reaches glovebox height inside the car you have more things to worry about than the ECU.

Steve.

Author:  atari4x4 [ Sat Jan 10, 2015 2:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Waterproofing an ECU, ideas, thoughts??

Gwagensteve wrote:
Put it high up behind the glovebox and call it good. I promise it won't be a problem. If the water level reaches glovebox height inside the car you have more things to worry about than the ECU.

Steve.


Yep, shit's getting pretty hectic by the time the floor mats are floating & the trans tunnel has gone under & your bawls are next.

If you're dead set on waterproofing it get some conformal coating for the circuit board. http://www.masterbond.com/industries/conformal-coatings

Very common to water proof the circuit boards in r/c cars with it. So much so you can literally submarine them time after time. Can do it with plasti-dip or liquid electrical tape but it's a thicker film & the heat generated from a ECU sized board it might retain a fair bit of heat compared to the conformal coating.

Author:  Brad.Jones [ Sat Jan 10, 2015 3:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Waterproofing an ECU, ideas, thoughts??

Yep fair point guys. I'll leave it as it is.

Author:  J--A--C--K [ Sat Jan 10, 2015 8:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Waterproofing an ECU, ideas, thoughts??

I've been in that situation when the cars up to the dash and no longer moving, the ecu didn't seem to mind as much as evey thing else in the car did.

Author:  MrRocky [ Mon Jan 12, 2015 8:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Waterproofing an ECU, ideas, thoughts??

I fed mine through the back of the glovebox and cable tied the ecu to the roof of the glovebox.

Author:  russgt [ Mon Jan 12, 2015 12:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Waterproofing an ECU, ideas, thoughts??

These guys do a similar thing to what Atari was talking about. Looks like a great product!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4z8QMgTEA4

Author:  bakerboy [ Mon Jan 12, 2015 1:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Waterproofing an ECU, ideas, thoughts??

http://www.corrosionx.com/

as per the flite test video

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