[Diy_efi] keeping electronics cool

[jayjunk at laserpubs]

Well, if nothing else, this brought out some interesting options!
We see fuzzy thinking sometimes - the term "heat sink" is misused soooo 
often!

My "Corvair" has more space and more ventilation around the engine than 
the Fiero, and I haven't had heat problems with the electronics. (at 
least, not heat-related - yet?)
Still, next revision I want to give it an electric fan for the engine 
compartment.
Right now, I have the ECU in the far back corner of the body - mounted 
on foam rubber without any obvious cooling - hmmm....

On 10/31/2012 7:47 PM, Edwin leahy wrote:
> The 85-87 fiero's had an electric air pump with ducts leading to the 
> alt and coil IIRC.
> They lost it by 88,not sure if they had it in 84.
> Fiero's are pretty bad about underhood heat killing ign modules and coils.
> I've learned MSD coils can't handle the heat and some people even add 
> a heatsink to the dist to help the module.
> When I finally get my 3.1 turbo finished i'm planning to add vents and 
> direct airflow through from underneath as well as numerous heat 
> transfer and boundary coatings to combat underhood heat.
>
> The ECM's (7727 iirc) are all located inside the cab behind the center 
> console,so no heat issues.
> I'll be using the factory 3.1 turbo 7730 which originated from the 
> engine bay and will be incorporated in the fiero engine bay in the swap.
>
> On Oct 31, 2012, at 8:04 PM, Buck Williams <buckwill33 at hotmail.com 
> <mailto:buckwill33 at hotmail.com>> wrote:
>
>> my 1966 chevrolet impala supersport SS427 wi/ one the very first 
>> electronic ignitions had the ign amp right in front under the hood 
>> latch in front of the radiator,,
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> From: aaron at creativeoverdrive.com <mailto:aaron at creativeoverdrive.com>
>> To: diy_efi at diy-efi.org <mailto:diy_efi at diy-efi.org>
>> Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:55:46 -0400
>> Subject: Re: [Diy_efi] keeping electronics cool
>>
>> During my time at Honda R&D, the FI-AT ECU moved to the engine bay.
>>
>> Imagine my surprise when I was TOLD to make a water splash shield for 
>> a waterproof ECU.
>>
>> The answer as to why, "We can't trust it actual waterproof."
>>
>> Honda Ridgeline.
>>
>> Passenger side, in front of the wheel house.
>>
>> And Yes, I am VERY SORRY about the Element.
>>
>> *From:*diy_efi-bounces at diy-efi.org 
>> <mailto:diy_efi-bounces at diy-efi.org> 
>> [mailto:diy_efi-bounces at diy-efi.org] *On Behalf Of *Michael Richards
>> *Sent:* Wednesday, October 31, 2012 4:20 PM
>> *To:* diy_efi at diy-efi.org <mailto:diy_efi at diy-efi.org>
>> *Subject:* Re: [Diy_efi] keeping electronics cool
>>
>> Many import vehicles stored the ECU in the passenger compartment near 
>> the passenger kickpanel for many of these reasons. As things became 
>> more complex the wire count increased as did the price of copper. 
>> ECUs subsequently did move to the engine bay and domestic american 
>> vehicles certainly led the way in this area with the majority of 
>> their vehicles using engine compartment mounted PCMs. One slick place 
>> I've seen that protected against engine heat but still gave the 
>> advantage of shorter wire runs was a number of euro models would 
>> frequently mount their ECUs in the windshield area behind the 
>> firewall where the wiper motor and wiper transmission typically sits.
>>
>> Finally, electronics design plays a factor. Typical heat range on the 
>> components used is -40C to +125C. Some models of V8 Mercedes SUVs 
>> have the ECU mounted on top of the engine itself!
>>
>> Another thing to consider is that engine bay mounted PCMs required 
>> more expensive weatherproof connectors and cases.
>>
>> -Michael
>>
>> On Tue, 30 Oct 2012 11:08:33 -0700, jayjunk at laserpubs wrote...
>>
>> > Keeping electronics cool under the hood - there are (at least) two
>> > factors here-
>> >
>> > 1) keep heat of motor and headers from roasting electronics stuff
>> > 2) cooling the electronics, because they make heat also.
>> >
>> > If you just put the electronics in a nice insulated box, they will
>> > burn up, even if there isn't any heat being added by engine or
>> > headers.
>> >
>> > I'm currently stripping a '98 Buick Regal (donor car).
>> >
>> > The ECU was in a nice plastic box that kept engine heat away from it.
>> > The air inlet for the engine pulled through the box.
>> >
>> > Yes, it heats up the air into the engine a bit. But you know damn well
>> > that if the engine is running, there's at least outside air
>> > being pulled across the ECU to keep it from roasting.
>>
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