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Moe (Moe)
| | Posted on Sunday, May 19, 2002 - 04:18 pm: | 
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Last weekend I removed my window washer reservoir and ecu to clean out some debris and moisture that had built up in the area. I still have the reservoir out and am eyeing the space for a second battery but want to address the ecu first.
What are the options for relocating or making the ecu somewhat waterproof? I have a couple of ideas below. If anyone has experience or thoughts on this, let me know.
1) Relocate inside and attach to top of dash or bottom of headliner. This would keep it nice and dry but requires making long extensions and which would require waterproofing the connections.
2) Waterproof ecu in place with tupperware, pelican case, or CB Ziplock. I am thinking about something that can be opened and cleaned out. |
PerroneFord
| | Posted on Sunday, May 19, 2002 - 04:23 pm: |
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Neither is very viable. Waterproofing the ECU is the best solution and is certainly the cheapest. I've been looking at waterproofing solutions. I have a few friends in the right places I think to get the ECU waterproofed professionally, but barring that, there are solutions available that spray on or brush on to waterproof circuits.
Have a search around the internet for "conformal coating". That is what you are looking for. You do still need to worry minimally about the connection, but I've kept my truck running with that connection underwater for the better part of an hour. Actually, the whole ECU was underwater for almost an hour before it finally gave up. The Tupperware, and Pelican case won't work well be cause the ECU metal case needs to shed heat.
-P |
Moe
| | Posted on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 11:53 am: |
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Damn, Perrone. You shoot both of my suggestions down and you don't really explain why 'neither is viable'.
Sometime ago I recall Wayne Smith (with competition RR) said that they relocated the ECU and placed on top of dash but he didn't provide any details. I checked how much slack is in the wiring and I can see how this would be possible (in a stretch) if a couple of small extensions are made for two components that share the same wiring harness as the ECU. If I wanted to go all the way to the headliner, that would require extensions all round. The problem here is that it still creates additional connnections left in the engine bay. I could be solving one problem while creating others.
As for the tupperware/pelican idea. Do the ECUs really get that hot? Living in the mild PNW climate, I wonder if this would be an issue. Maybe I need a system that can be left ajar around town and closed when I hit wet trails.
I did take a quick look at the conformal coating. Is this available off the shelf in spary can? Without friends in the right places, I might be out of luck 
For those running snorkels, who else has addressed the issue of waterproofing the ECU? |
PerroneFord
| | Posted on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 12:51 pm: |
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Sorry Moe!
The trouble with relocating is of course, the connections. If you look at the fact that you WILL be getting water inside either the cabin or underhood, then you will always get back to the waterproofing issue, whether its the ECU itself, or the connections. With electricity, its the weakest link in the chain that will stop you. So, if you are going to waterproof, why go to the trouble and expense of fabricating extensions?
Yes, the ECU does get that hot. Considering that it is already enclosed in a metal box, and that box is held off the floor so as to radiate heat out of all surfaces, the LR engineers felt it important that it be able to breathe. Enclosing the ECU would thwart those efforts. I have a lot of disagreement with how the LR engineers did certain things, but trying to provide an adequate heat sink for one of the busiest computers in the truck was a good idea.
As for a making an enclosure that can be open most of the time but closed when doing water, that sounds great until you get stuck. Waterproofing is the most sound way to not have to worry about any of this. And do you really want to be fooling with your ECU all the time when you wheel?
The conformal is available off the shelf in a spray or brush on. My connections are not what they used to be so I may be going this route as well. I formerly worked for General Dynamics building the troop radios. I learned a LOT there about building waterproof electronics. They have a machine there to do this kind of coating and I worked in that section for 2 years. I just don't know if they will let me slide my ECU through the machine!
-P |
Moe
| | Posted on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 01:50 pm: |
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"do you really want to be fooling with your ECU all the time when you wheel?"
Perrone, Thanks. I can see what you mean, but the bonnet comes up everytime I hit a trail anyway. I open her up to switch power to the winch and do at least a visual check of the engine bay before heading further.
Mike, thanks for the email too. |
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