BCM insurance policy
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,756
Likes: 5
From: Satellite Beach, FL, USA
BCM insurance policy
Having heard of and seen C5 BCM's disabled by water leaking out of the AC duct work. Sometimes you can remove the BCM and dry it out. If not taken care of , the BCM can be permantly damaged. I decided to make my BCM water resistant. I bought a can of conformal coating and sprayed the circuit card inside the BCM with it.
It is quite easy to do. The BCM comes out in 5 minutes and is not even screwed in, onlt three connectors are attached. The housing only has a single #15 Torx screw holding it together. The aluminum case is like a clamshell. Remove the circuit card and mask off the three connectors with tape. Spray on 3 thin coats on each side of the board like you were spraying paint.
If you lose your BCM, you will need to get towed. It is very sensitive to water and humidity.
It is quite easy to do. The BCM comes out in 5 minutes and is not even screwed in, onlt three connectors are attached. The housing only has a single #15 Torx screw holding it together. The aluminum case is like a clamshell. Remove the circuit card and mask off the three connectors with tape. Spray on 3 thin coats on each side of the board like you were spraying paint.
If you lose your BCM, you will need to get towed. It is very sensitive to water and humidity.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 1
From: Morganton, NC, USA
Re: BCM insurance policy (Buckmaster)
By painting the electronic elements, I would hope they don't become insulated and overheat. Could you not put a plastic bag over the BCM with the bottom open? This would not prevent humidity from enterring. What about sealing the clamshell seam with silacone? Just my $.02 playing the devil's advocate.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,756
Likes: 5
From: Satellite Beach, FL, USA
Re: BCM insurance policy (Buckmaster)
Conformal coating of circuit boards to protect them from moisture is a standard procedure used throughout the electronics industry. Almost all military circuit cards are conformally coated.
The Delco/Bose stereo in your C5 is fully conformally coated inside, plus every IC is covered with a silicone blob. The PCB and TAC circuit cards are also conformally coated.
For some strange reason the BCM was not protected. There are conditions in the US where the humidity is so high that water would condensate on a BCM circuit card, especially if the AC started blowing.
P.S.
Conformal coating does very little to effect heat radiation of a circuit card.
The Delco/Bose stereo in your C5 is fully conformally coated inside, plus every IC is covered with a silicone blob. The PCB and TAC circuit cards are also conformally coated.
For some strange reason the BCM was not protected. There are conditions in the US where the humidity is so high that water would condensate on a BCM circuit card, especially if the AC started blowing.
P.S.
Conformal coating does very little to effect heat radiation of a circuit card.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,248
Likes: 1
From: Newland US
Re: BCM insurance policy (99HT)
99HT,
That sounds like a good idea to me. Can we buy Conformal at our trusty Radio Shack?....if not where should we look for it?
Is there a brand name, or do we just ask for Conformal?
Thanks.
Mark
[Modified by MDT, 10:31 PM 8/14/2001]
That sounds like a good idea to me. Can we buy Conformal at our trusty Radio Shack?....if not where should we look for it?
Is there a brand name, or do we just ask for Conformal?
Thanks.
Mark
[Modified by MDT, 10:31 PM 8/14/2001]
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,756
Likes: 5
From: Satellite Beach, FL, USA
Re: BCM insurance policy (BruceF)
Any electronic supply house should have it. In the old days I used Humiseal which was shot out of a spray gun. For my BCM, I bought some Loctite 3900 conformal coating. It is Loctite part number 18893. It should be about $15/can. A number of companies make conformal coatings. You can also order some from http://www.allied.avnet.com. The part numbers are 796-2440 or 907-1710.
To save on shipping and min order charges, I would try to get it locally.Just call and ask for an aerosol conformal coating.
To save on shipping and min order charges, I would try to get it locally.Just call and ask for an aerosol conformal coating.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,248
Likes: 1
From: Newland US
Re: BCM insurance policy (BruceF)
Bruce,
I was able to turn up a link where you can read up on this Conformal that 99HT has brought to our attention.
Sure looks like a good idea....maybe worthy of adding to out C5 Tips section. What do you think 99HT?
http://www.conformal-coating.com/
Good luck.
Mark
[Modified by MDT, 12:38 AM 8/15/2001]
I was able to turn up a link where you can read up on this Conformal that 99HT has brought to our attention.
Sure looks like a good idea....maybe worthy of adding to out C5 Tips section. What do you think 99HT?
http://www.conformal-coating.com/
Good luck.
Mark
[Modified by MDT, 12:38 AM 8/15/2001]
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