Winter Project - Megasquirt Build, Why work out in the cold? Options

[Tom Perso]

I just got my Megasquirt kit (stimulator, main board, and relay board) in the mail last week, along with a DIY-WB board.

I just got the MS built and working on the stimulator. Everything works great!!! I get injectors firing, FIdle works, enrichment circuit kicks in - it's cool stuff!!!

(IMG:http://www.qtm.net/~persot/MS/assembled_ms_1.JPG)

You can see in the pic above the Fuel Pump light is on and one of the injector bank lights are on. Cool stuff.

(IMG:http://www.qtm.net/~persot/MS/assembled_ms_2.jpg)

Now, I just need to get out in the garage and make the car fuel injected again.... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ar15.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/blink.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/confused24.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smash.gif)

I'll get there!!!!

Later,
Tom

[lapuwali]

QUOTE (DNHunt @ Mar 22 2005, 06:31 AM)

Tom Here's something to think about. I would suggest mounting the ECU inside the car away from heat and dust. That you need to run a DB37 cable through the firewall. A DB 37 is a huge connector, if you don't want a huge hole you have to solder the connections in the car. Pain in the ass. Believe me you'll only do it once so plan your cable carefully. Here's my suggestion. Move the MAP sensor off the ECU board and into the relay board enclosure. Dedicate 3 of the ground wires in the cable to the MAP. It will keep the vacuum line much shorter and all of the sensors will be in the engine compartment. Rick You could do it Dave

My own plans on this are putting the MS into a better, waterproof enclosure (Hammond sells several), and use waterproof connectors instead of the DB37 and the DB9 (I'm using plastic round connectors with O-rings). I'll then mount the MS into the engine bay near (perhaps in place of) the relay board. From the measurements made by 3-4 people over the years, the temps here are relatively low, generally 45-50dC on a hot day, which is well below the 70dC the MS will tolerate.

Some people have reported what appear to be heat related problems when mounting it in the trunk. Temps there appear to actually be higher than in the engine bay, with one measurement being about 65dC on a hot day. The rear of the engine bay seems to be significantly hotter than the front of the engine bay.

The DB37 and DB9 are, frankly, one of the worst aspects of the stock MS board. For the MSII board, I've heard they're considering using Ampseal waterproof connectors, since the HC12 processor they'll be using can tolerate 125dC, which means it would survive even if you mounted it directly to the cases.

Just have to finish this other car so I can get back to the 914...