Protecting Circuit boards and computers

[getlost4x4]

As many of you know many new vehicles are equipped with a number of computers which control just about every aspect of the vehicle. I have a P38, and have been able to eliminate some of the electronic crap so far. But, i simply cannot get rid of it all. I still have the BeCM, which controls: climate control, engine, security, windows, etc.

I had a 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I opened up the computer, which is mounted under the hood of the Jeep, open to the elements. I noticed it is covered in a rubber ball like coating, it covers all of the computer.

I've been thinking about finding some of this stuff to coat my computers and my underhood fuse boxes.

Here are few pictures of the ECU from my old Jeep. I scraped away some of the coating to show how it covers the circuit board. This coating would keep the boards waterproof and corrosion free.

 

[getlost4x4]

I'm not sure if Plastidip would work or not in this application.

http://www.plastidip.com/

 

[Martyn]

I think your looking at "potting" or encapsulating" the circuit boards.

There are lots of materials for doing both, do a Google search for potting or encapsulating circuit boards or Potting Solutions.

The materials work well to keep the elements out of the circuit boards, but only if the board is not generating a lot of heat. You need to check how much heat is being generated and if there any heat sinks on the board.

 

[X-plorenow]

I think your looking at "potting" or encapsulating" the circuit boards.

There are lots of materials for doing both, do a Google search for potting or encapsulating circuit boards or Potting Solutions.

The materials work well to keep the elements out of the circuit boards, but only if the board is not generating a lot of heat. You need to check how much heat is being generated and if there any heat sinks on the board.

I am not sure what product he uses but I believe that

Justin at lucky8 treats electronics for water proofing and has a pretty cool video showing them still working after treatment while submerged.

 

[X-plorenow]

m.youtube.com/#/watch?desktop_uri=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DVlxzZeVRa-A&v=VlxzZeVRa-A&gl=US

 

[getlost4x4]

do you have a better link, that one is not working for me.

thanks

 

[X-plorenow]

I am on my droid and will send to you tomorrow from my laptop. In the mean time you can do a google search for lucky8 waterproofing and it should come up.

 

[Alaska Mike]

You don't have to pot the board to waterproof it. Consumer-grade conformal coatings work perfectly well for preventing corrosion on circuit boards. We used to use them all of the time on F-15 avionics in Florida, where the salt air literally disolved circuit board runs and components.

 

[getlost4x4]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlxzZeVRa-A"]YouTube - New ECU Waterproofing Exclusively from Lucky 8[/ame]

found that video. now just need to find the right product to use.