Waterproofing Computer

J

jeepster_259

NAXJA Forum User

Location

West Palm Beach, FL

• Nov 18, 2008

• #1

Does anyone have any pics of how they have waterproofed their underhood computer?
I know it is sealed from the factory, but I already fried one from submerging it. I am not using my stock airbox and was going to put it in there and seal it up, but can't figure out an easy way to do it with all of the wires that come out of it.
Another idea was leaving it where it is, but trying to figure out a way to put tupperware around it and seal it.

 

W

Wil Badger

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Utah

• Nov 18, 2008

• #2

If you seal it just remember that it does need to breath. It's electronic and will produce heat. When it cools you have the possibility of it producing some condensation which can lead to corrosion of connectors. I have submerged mine plenty of times and never had a problem with it shorting out. You might want to just put some dielectric grease on the main connection and call it good.

 

J

jeepster_259

NAXJA Forum User

Location

West Palm Beach, FL

• Nov 18, 2008

• #3

Good point about it needing to breath. But my original one was fried while being submerged for 15 min. waiting to get pulled out. I don't want that to happen again!

 

X

XJ98Jeep

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Atlanta

• Nov 19, 2008

• #4

Get creative with some tupperware, and add a breather tube.

 

J

jeepster_259

NAXJA Forum User

Location

West Palm Beach, FL

• Nov 19, 2008

• #5

that's prob. what I'll end up doing. I was hoping somebody had already done this and had some pictures. Save me some time!

 

smcdonaldaz

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Litchfield Park, AZ

• Nov 19, 2008

• #6

You can try a process called "conformal coating" the printed circuit board(PCB) inside. Here's a link to a company that sells an acrylic PCB coating in a rattle can. We all know how to use those right? :laugh3:

http://www.stanleysupplyservices.com/product-group.aspx?id=13678&gclid=CIfDjojTgZcCFRFYbAodQnieZQ

It's $18 but it would probably do several ECUs. Anybody up for a conformal coating party?
arty:

 

J

jeepster_259

NAXJA Forum User

Location

West Palm Beach, FL

• Nov 19, 2008

• #7

hmm...never heard of that

 

92DripCherokee

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Tampa, Florida

• Nov 19, 2008

• #8

old fashioned way is dipping the circuit board in molten parrafin wax

a more modern method is dipping in epoxy resin

both methods will cause heat to be retained
, so its not good for any component with heat sinks.

the toughest part is sealing the connectors


http://www.submarineboat.com/waterproofing.htm

 

Last edited: Nov 19, 2008

smcdonaldaz

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Litchfield Park, AZ

• Nov 19, 2008

• #9

92DripCherokee said:

old fashioned way is dipping the circuit board in molten parrafin wax

a more modern method is dipping in epoxy resin

both methods will cause heat to be retained
, so its not good for any component with heat sinks.

the toughest part is sealing the connectors

Click to expand...

x2 on the connectors! Spray wouldn't work there but dielectric grease or even petroleum jelly would help.

The spray should yield a thinner coating than dipping in anything and be able to dissipate the heat for the same reason. I would never coat a heat sink as that would lessen it's effectiveness.

 

J

jeepster_259

NAXJA Forum User

Location

West Palm Beach, FL

• Nov 19, 2008

• #10

good info. on the potting procedure!