[Diy_efi] keeping electronics cool

[Aaron]

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] On
Behalf Of Michael Richards
Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 4:20 PM
To: 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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