Durability ?

[TrxR]

How durable is the Microsquirt? I am debating a build on a twin Cyl ATV that will see lots of offroad duty in rough trails as well as lots of deep water and mud. Is the unit sealed well or would it need to be in some sort of waterproof box. This machine will see the odd total immersion just the snorkels above the water. The machine is currently an EFI but you cant really get full tunability out of it.


Thanks

[dontz125]

Durability and water-tightness was the entire point behind the MicroSquirt package. The case is sealed, and the connector is an AMPSeal 35-pin waterproof unit. I don't know that they've gone so far as to actually conduct IP68 submersion tests, but it is in use on JetSkis and motorcycles and ATVs, in addition to the usual Fords and Chevs...

[24c]

The Ampseal connector with dielectric grease would be OK, however the two end plates are just flush mounted and screwed to the aluminium extrusion, that forms the pcb case. I would say it is definitely not waterproof as is, water resistant yes. If I was looking at making the unit more water resistant including immersion, I would be sealing the end plate joints with an external tape or removing the pcb with ampseal and then potting it in a plastic single sided case, or you could enclose it in a waterproof box, as you suggest, and then it'd just be a cable gland issue.

[mxrob]

+1 The Microsquirt is not water proof as it comes..... I hear the board is coated but I'd hate for water/mud to test out this coating. I sealed the end plates on mine for my dualsport bike. I also made a boot to keep water from entering the back of the ampseal connector.

[Bruce Bowling]

Ok... I'm not used to speaking out my backside, but there you go. I truly thought the silly thing was sealed.

Originally the plan was to offer the enclosure sealed, but the options available were not that great. Also, the case needs a positive pressure of 1 psi or so, preferably filled with an inert gas - but then if its opened then this is lost.

You can always apply sealer on the end plates as suggested.

Also, the PCB is conformal coated, enough to prevent issues with condensation but not to immerse underwater.

- Bruce

[dontz125]

The MicroSquirt® board uses the 35-pin AMPSEAL connector and a sealed case to make a fully sealed unit.

http://www.microsquirt.info/

That would explain why I thought it was sealed... Both your own info page, and every vendor I've seen, uses that or similar text. I'm not trying to be a dick, but in these lawsuit-happy times, that could let some ambulance chaser set you up for a false advertising suit...

[Bruce Bowling]

That would explain why I thought it was sealed... Both your own info page, and every vendor I've seen, uses that or similar text. I'm not trying to be a dick, but in these lawsuit-happy times, that could let some ambulance chaser set you up for a false advertising suit...

You are right - we have corrected this statement in the documentation. As explained before the board is sealed with conformal, but the case per-se is not sealed. So the board/ampseal is sealed for incidential mosture, but the case is not.

One thing to note is that Microsquirt is still DIY in nature, and it turns out there are reasons where one would have to go inside the box (like for example to set ignition jumper positions). If there was a factory seal, the first time it was opened the seal would no longer be valid. The conformal coating method is a good alternative to protect against condensation, etc.

If someone absolutely needs the case sealed we can post instructions on how to do it (its not very difficult) - but be sure its the last time you want to go inside the case, otherwise the seal will be gone and you will have to re-seal again.

- Bruce