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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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----===<{{(oQo)}}>===---- Dyke Delta |
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