Vehicle Electronics and Water[1]

[SteveW]

EVs are just the same as ICE cars - they have a 12V battery to run everything except the car's traction motor.

All cars with electric windows can have the electrics fail if they are immersed.

[Tim+]

Yes, but it’s clear from videos that it doesn’t happen immediately.

Tim

[The Natural Philosopher]

electricals are fine, but electronics are not.

it depends whether or not the switches go straight to the door motors, or have some electronic interface.

[SteveW]

They likely all go through electronics first. The switches being just another set of inputs ... on many cars you can close or open all the windows, when locking the car or unlocking it on a hot day, by holding the close or open button on the key-fob. It'll just be the security system passing a command to (what on my car is called) the "body control ECU", which operates windows, door locks, interior light and many other features.

[Nick Odell]

The main differences I'm thinking of - apart from fully manual actions for everything - are that in Ye Olde Dayes, electrical systems were operated by manual switch, relay or solenoid and the like and we have already established that 12v systems seem capable of working when submerged in fresh water. But modern car electrics are operated through touchscreens and sensors and other on-board-computer input and output devices and we all know what happens if you drop your computer or your smartphone into the water. Are car electronic systems sufficiently water resistant to avoid this?

Nick

[Rod Speed]

No they are not.

As someone else pointed out, you do sometimes see the headlights still on when the car ends up in the water but that's a different issue to whether using the switch to tell the system to lower the window will still work with the car in the water.

And even with the headlights, it is far from clear whether all cars see the headlights continue to shine when the car ends up in the water. Some certainly do, but most don't go into the water with the headlights on, most obviously with that nortorious UK ford and that one doesnt usually see cars floating with the occupants needing to lower the windows so they can escape the car to avoid drowning.

[Colin Bignell]

On 02/04/2024 22:05, Nick Odell wrote: ...

Even without the protective case I fitted, my smartphone is rated for immersion to a depth of one metre for up to 30 minutes.

Are car electronic systems

[Davey]

That's a shame. It would teach them a lesson.

[wasbit]

There were competitions to see what liquids could be used to submerge a working desktop PC, IIRC, starting with distilled water then various oils.

[Max Demian]

How do the sockets cope with this?

[wasbit]

Eg.

[The Natural Philosopher]

The answer is mostly 'yes, for a short while'

Nearly all computer modules are sealed. Underbonnet can get serious splashes (remember the dreaded Mini distributor) ...but no seal will take pressure for very long.

[nib]

Sockets are probably not the problem, they can be sealed. Hardest is probably mike and speaker?

nib

[Max Demian]

How do you seal a socket unless it has a rubber plug you can remove?

Microphones and speakers can transmit the vibrations through membranes.

[Colin Bignell]

I am simply taking that from the manufacturer's specs, which says it is rated IP67. That does allow limited water ingress, but with no harmful effects. Presumably, that means that any water that gets into the sockets won't damage anything.

The case I put it, however, has flexible covers over all sockets and is supposed to be waterproof to 10 metres. I bought it for the extra impact protection though. Phones have a habit of falling out of my shirt breast pocket.

[The Natural Philosopher]

By slumping hot glue all over the wires inside it

[Rod Speed]

The back of the socket inside the phone is trivial to make waterproof, with the contacts exposed to the outside in the hole.

And can be designed to not care about water.

[Rod Speed]

There is only one socket on most current phone, just the charging socket and its easy to make that waterproof.

[tony sayer]

Has anyone dun any research with the vehicles at Rufford Ford or is that closed now?...

[Max Demian]

What if you plug a charger lead in when the hole is still wet?