Best way to pack the F ECU for mailing
#18
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ESD is a minor issue as long as none of the pins come in contact with the wrapping. Preventing that is easy. the biggest concern is having the connector shell cracked by bouncing around in transit. I make cardboard surrounds for the connector shells so it is harder for the packing material to touch a pin and for the device to crack the connector shell in transit.
Yes, ESD is a big deal, but ESD control isn't rocket science.
I've only been working on electronics for 37 years and suffered through ESD training when it was brand new. I've also proved the importance with empirical experiments using an oscilliscope and a tile floor with rubber soled shoes. Just lifting a foot will generate a 4kV spike.
Yes, ESD is a big deal, but ESD control isn't rocket science.
I've only been working on electronics for 37 years and suffered through ESD training when it was brand new. I've also proved the importance with empirical experiments using an oscilliscope and a tile floor with rubber soled shoes. Just lifting a foot will generate a 4kV spike.
#19
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ESD is a minor issue as long as none of the pins come in contact with the wrapping. Preventing that is easy. the biggest concern is having the connector shell cracked by bouncing around in transit. I make cardboard surrounds for the connector shells so it is harder for the packing material to touch a pin and for the device to crack the connector shell in transit.
Yes, ESD is a big deal, but ESD control isn't rocket science.
I've only been working on electronics for 37 years and suffered through ESD training when it was brand new. I've also proved the importance with empirical experiments using an oscilliscope and a tile floor with rubber soled shoes. Just lifting a foot will generate a 4kV spike.
Yes, ESD is a big deal, but ESD control isn't rocket science.
I've only been working on electronics for 37 years and suffered through ESD training when it was brand new. I've also proved the importance with empirical experiments using an oscilliscope and a tile floor with rubber soled shoes. Just lifting a foot will generate a 4kV spike.
The solution is simple and not that difficult, put the ECU in a $2 ESD bag and surround it in cheap anti-static wrap to ship.
Last edited by Fsport2UR; 01-24-16 at 11:14 PM.
#20
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I think you'd be shocked at the extremes Toyota calls normal for electronic device protection. When you can hook up your battery terminals backward and not damage your ECM or any of the other 23 ECUs in the car, you know they've gone a long way to be sure their boxes are difficult to kill.
Supras and SC300s (and a wide range of ECMs from the 90's) all suffer from bad electrolytic capacitors. To say ESD was the culprit is missing a bigger picture.
I also have my issues with shorting all the pins together. It just means you'll be able to zap more inputs/outputs with a single touch.
Supras and SC300s (and a wide range of ECMs from the 90's) all suffer from bad electrolytic capacitors. To say ESD was the culprit is missing a bigger picture.
I also have my issues with shorting all the pins together. It just means you'll be able to zap more inputs/outputs with a single touch.
#21
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Sure, what ever you say Lance. As if I am giving out some really costly bad advice.
First you state, just make sure nothing touches the pins. And now you say, Toyota takes extra precautions to shorting out their ECU(which I am sure they do)..but makes me think, it is ok to touch the pins. With 37 years of dealing with electronics, you also know you either follow ESD or you don't.
Ironic really, I actually recall someone on the MKIV Cali email messageboard about doing a reverse terminal short to reset the ECU on the Supra. This was back about 2000 or so. And you gave that person **** about doing it, and how it could possibly destroy the ECU. I just find it odd you bring it up now to prove a point.
First you state, just make sure nothing touches the pins. And now you say, Toyota takes extra precautions to shorting out their ECU(which I am sure they do)..but makes me think, it is ok to touch the pins. With 37 years of dealing with electronics, you also know you either follow ESD or you don't.
Ironic really, I actually recall someone on the MKIV Cali email messageboard about doing a reverse terminal short to reset the ECU on the Supra. This was back about 2000 or so. And you gave that person **** about doing it, and how it could possibly destroy the ECU. I just find it odd you bring it up now to prove a point.
#22
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For peace of mind, it actually would be wise to place the ECU in an Anti-Static ESD(Electrostatic Discharge) bag made for sensitive electronic components. Easy to get at computer store that have motherboards. Pink bubble wrap actually means it is also anti-static(Green is not anti-static). FYI, Just because a component still works after shipping it with no anti-static or ESD doesn't mean it has not been shocked...which in the long run, you cut the life short on the component and you may suffer a catastrophic failure in the near future. Note there are pins sticking out of the ECU, all it takes is one pin and your ECU can be toast. Regular masking tape for example carries a lot of static and can easily shock a component. But what the hell do I know, I've only been working in the electronics field dealing with CPUs for over 20 years now. We talk about this quite a bit and have to regularly take classes on safe chip/electronics shipping and handling.
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#23
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Sure, what ever you say Lance. As if I am giving out some really costly bad advice.
First you state, just make sure nothing touches the pins. And now you say, Toyota takes extra precautions to shorting out their ECU(which I am sure they do)..but makes me think, it is ok to touch the pins. With 37 years of dealing with electronics, you also know you either follow ESD or you don't.
Ironic really, I actually recall someone on the MKIV Cali email messageboard about doing a reverse terminal short to reset the ECU on the Supra. This was back about 2000 or so. And you gave that person **** about doing it, and how it could possibly destroy the ECU. I just find it odd you bring it up now to prove a point.
First you state, just make sure nothing touches the pins. And now you say, Toyota takes extra precautions to shorting out their ECU(which I am sure they do)..but makes me think, it is ok to touch the pins. With 37 years of dealing with electronics, you also know you either follow ESD or you don't.
Ironic really, I actually recall someone on the MKIV Cali email messageboard about doing a reverse terminal short to reset the ECU on the Supra. This was back about 2000 or so. And you gave that person **** about doing it, and how it could possibly destroy the ECU. I just find it odd you bring it up now to prove a point.
I'd bet money there is no ESD packaging if you buy an ECM from Lexus. The 2013 steering ECU came in a plain cardboard Lexus box with nothing added including padding of any kind. Just my experience so far.
And, yeah, I gave the guy a bunch of crap because they have diode arrays inside their ECMs to protect against inverting the power source accidentally. It doesn't mean they diodes won't pop to protect the rest of the unit. If you like, I can post pics, but this isn't the thread for it.
#24
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Thanks Lance & Ron (JT2MA71) & Fsport2UR for the advice & solutions. I was totally clueless on this issue.
I went to Office Max, Office Depot, USPS, UPS & 2 FedEx's today, none had any pink bubble wrap. The 2nd FedEx did have a box setup with adjustable anti static padding & an envelope designed specifically for shipping electronics, which I'll be using.
Dennis
I went to Office Max, Office Depot, USPS, UPS & 2 FedEx's today, none had any pink bubble wrap. The 2nd FedEx did have a box setup with adjustable anti static padding & an envelope designed specifically for shipping electronics, which I'll be using.
Dennis