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Date: Mon, 06 Jun 2005 12:56:31 -0400
From: Ernest Christley <echristley@nc.rr.com>
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To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] Re: EC2 problems - solved / rotary risks
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Ian Dewhirst wrote:

>Auto makers often mount their ECUs in trays that extend past the connector,
>the connector is attached to the ECU and then the cable is secured to the
>tray a couple of inches downstream of the connector.  Critical harness
>connections will often be stabilized with a "splint" that bridges the
>connector and ties the harnesses together while immobilizing the connector
>housings.  They do use crimped connectors but that is likely a production
>issue, Dale makes a good point about focusing force of movement.  Auto
>makers put a lot of effort into connector design, typically an ECU connector
>will be positively sealed with a rubber O ring in the connector body.
>
>Ian
>  
>
I've seen connectors that are pumped full of rubbery goo/potting 
compound.  The idea is the same, but not as sophisticated or resilient.  
Back up the potted connector with a service loop secured with an adel 
clamp and I would guesstimate that you've achieve 95% of the auto 
manufacturer's mechanical reliability. 

Figure out a way to run a bead of RTV around the connector housing 
joints, and I would think that you'd have 100% of the auto guy's 
environmental isolation.  But that will make maintenance a little more 
difficult, and is the isolation all that useful since we want be 
crawling around in the mud like a car?  You could coat the EC2 side of 
the connection with a little vaseline, then gunk on a thick bead of RTV 
around the connector so that it covers the connector pretty good.  When 
it sets up, it should pull away from the EC2 side when needed and slip 
back on for a very tight sealing boot.

-- 
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