20b Installs

[TitaniumTT]

Originally Posted by RotaryProphet

Yes, yes it is, apparently. The way I see it, there are basically three kinds of people. People who don't know, and don't want to know how an ECU works. Go get any of a number of big name ECUs, and get someone to install and tune it, and it'll work great and do what you want.

Then there's the people who don't know, but want to know how the ecu works; building it from scratch and tuning it yourself is a fantastic learning experience, and after a little bit, you'll actually understand what you're doing.

Finally there's the people who do understand. Those are the guys who use Megasquirt because of the openness. Want to add a new feature? Build a circuit for it, download the code, modify it to do what you want, and load it on your ECU.

The Megasquirt can be inexpensive because the default hardware is the bare minimum necessary to run almost any engine. Most ECUs are expensive because the default configuration has to support most every engine. Basically, most of the circuits are sitting idle most of the time. I'll freely admit that the Megasquirt isn't for everyone; actually, if you're not sure, then it's probably not for you. But really, we've strayed off from my original point in this post, which was that a lot of people vastly overpay for parts, when cheaper alternatives exist that work just as well... sometimes better.

Well, I'm apparently the 2nd type of person. However, just to play devils advocate.... ok, stir the pot a little, can a megasquirt be configured to run a 13B-REW engine with the sequentials working properly, the electric OMP working properly, run closed loop boost control, closed loop Lambda control, Closed loop Idle control, run an e-fan, a fuel pump/ign relay, traction control, have a 10 position dial swtich for boost control, EMAP comps, log coolant and oil temps, oil pressure, fuel pressure, AIT's, MAP, TPS, EMAP, 14 different duty cycles and display it all on your laptop in any configuration possible while having CAN communications with a digital dash?

Again, you get what you pay for.

I would also like to point out that if you go to any proffesional level races, I highly doubt you'll see one MS, even landspeed challenges which are mostly individuals probably won't run them and some of these guys, one I know personally, has been around FI for the better part of 4 decades and can certainly wield a soldering gun wouldn't even touch them. His comment on Microtech, "Well I suppose you could fill it with concrete and use it as a doorstop, then it might be good for something," and we all know that microtechs are just fine for certain applications. Again, you generally get what you pay for.

[RotaryProphet]

Originally Posted by TitaniumTT

Well, I'm apparently the 2nd type of person. However, just to play devils advocate.... ok, stir the pot a little, can a megasquirt be configured to run a 13B-REW engine with the sequentials working properly, the electric OMP working properly, run closed loop boost control, closed loop Lambda control, Closed loop Idle control, run an e-fan, a fuel pump/ign relay, traction control, have a 10 position dial swtich for boost control, EMAP comps, log coolant and oil temps, oil pressure, fuel pressure, AIT's, MAP, TPS, EMAP, 14 different duty cycles and display it all on your laptop in any configuration possible while having CAN communications with a digital dash?

Again, you get what you pay for.

I would also like to point out that if you go to any proffesional level races, I highly doubt you'll see one MS, even landspeed challenges which are mostly individuals probably won't run them and some of these guys, one I know personally, has been around FI for the better part of 4 decades and can certainly wield a soldering gun wouldn't even touch them. His comment on Microtech, "Well I suppose you could fill it with concrete and use it as a doorstop, then it might be good for something," and we all know that microtechs are just fine for certain applications. Again, you generally get what you pay for.

Define "pay for". If you include "work for", then that's absolutely right; the components are cheap, the plans are free, you just have to put in some effort.

As far as the land speed guys, this team uses one: http://www.diyautotune.com/cars/cust...studebaker.htm - "AA/BGALT Record Holder as of SpeedWeek 2008"

So yeah, they're out there. But seriously; once you get into professional level stuff, the funding is outrageous; it being a thousand dollars or so cheaper than the next alternative isn't even a point anymore.

As for your theoretical setup; yes, a Megasquirt would be capable of all of that. It would require a few modifications, but it's within the board's capacity. Although a few of the items don't really make sense. Let's go down an itemized list:
run a 13B-REW engine - Main issue is secondary spark plugs with a correct split; Doable with minor modifications.

with the sequentials working properly - Would require a few simple general purpose IO circuits, or the general purpose IO board addon (talks to the ECU via CAN)
the electric OMP working properly - I assume this works via pulses? Regardless, the CPU could run a low frequency pulsewidth modulation system to do pulses, or a high frequency setup to run an analog voltage.

run closed loop boost control - Requires a very frequently installed mod

closed loop Lambda control - A feature of every Megasquirt

Closed loop Idle control - A stock MS will run any PWM, Stepper, or On-Off style idle valve just fine.

run an e-fan - Stock MS feature

a fuel pump/ign relay - Stock MS feature

traction control - Doable, and firmware exists for it; requires multiple VR sensor inputs; much easier with the GPIO board

have a 10 position dial swtich for boost control - There are firmwares that allow a multi-position switch, but seriously, are you going to map out 10 different boost curves?

log coolant and oil temps, oil pressure, fuel pressure , AIT's, MAP, TPS, EMAP - Most of these the ECU already knows about; but a couple of analog inputs exist on the board that can be used to log oil temp/pressure and fuel pressure, and display/transmit them

14 different duty cycles - This one confuses me. I assume you mean 14 different injectors, and their individual duty cycles, which still doesn't make a ton of sense to me, as that would involve 14 separate injector banks. But yes, with the router board you can run port fuel injection with individual cylinder fuel/spark trim on up to 16 injectors in any configuration; If you mean something different here, do clarify.

and display it all on your laptop in any configuration possible while having CAN communications with a digital dash? - Well, the Megatune software will lay out whatever you want, however you want, and as I mentioned earlier, the board supports CAN, so hooking up any number of CAN devices is rather trivial.

The ECU spec'd out there is non-trivial, as far as megasquirts go. You get into pin count limits and whatnot, but if we use the router and GPIO boards via CAN, which run about $200 each, then we have a sub $800 system which supports all of that, and requires very few mods to the actual MS board; the GPIO board supports all of the extra inputs/outputs necessary, and they're configurable in software.

[GtoRx7]

Originally Posted by War Eagle

Yes, it would be at least $30,000. Most of us have significantly more than that invested. I like the Defined Autoworks kit if you don't need AC.

We offer a A/c and P/s kit now. Figured I would keep everyone updated

http://rotarycarclub.com/rotary_foru...ead.php?t=8162

Originally Posted by TitaniumTT

Well, I'm apparently the 2nd type of person.

Titanium, if I was at DGRR I would have voted for your FC too. That is a nice ass car you have there! Finding 385rwhp on seq. twins is a bit of a pain though. 360rwhp is the best power we have gotten out of a seq. twin setup. Your RE engine, depending on your port size, is mis-matched for making high power out of stock REW twins. So its going to be a up-hill battle.

[War Eagle]

Originally Posted by GtoRx7

We offer a A/c and P/s kit now. Figured I would keep everyone updated

http://rotarycarclub.com/rotary_foru...ead.php?t=8162




Titanium, if I was at DGRR I would have voted for your FC too. That is a nice ass car you have there! Finding 385rwhp on seq. twins is a bit of a pain though. 360rwhp is the best power we have gotten out of a seq. twin setup. Your RE engine, depending on your port size, is mis-matched for making high power out of stock REW twins. So its going to be a up-hill battle.

That kit looks very nice. And as I posted on the "other forum" I am very impressed with your detailed responses to posted questions. Shows your commitment to customer service