Kentetsu

The actual installation of the system is a breeze. It's even easier than the original 2nd gen ignition mod. Place your order for the gizmo and by the time you get it we'll have a detailed installation thread complete with photos.

I still can't believe the difference that this made over the original 2nd gen setup. Especially once you pass 5k on the tach. ZOOM ZOOM!!!

toxic_d

riceburner if you've got a spare coil pack you'd be willing to part with let me know...

toxic_d

bump

gsl-se addict

iTrader: (3)

Thanks for keeping it going, toxic. I will be turning in my exam copy of my dissertation today, so I will start having some extra time starting this evening/tomorrow. I will lay out a PCB design and will post the layout. If it looks good, I'll start rounding up the parts I need to build some more of these things. I will need to get a good idea of how many people are interested in either just a blank board, a kit (you assemble), or a fully built unit. I think around ten people or so have shown interest so far. If you are interested in one of these, let me know. I need to know to determine number of parts. I can save money by buying larger quanities and will save a great deal on shipping. If I run out of parts, it won't be worth building more unless there was a large enough group to do so (getting the parts, paying for shipping would probably be more than what I would be charging for the circuits).

Kent

t_g_farrell

iTrader: (1)

I would really appreciate a step by step. Also, any recommandations on where to source the parts ? ( RadioSlack have it all?) Excellent job. I want to build one of these and try it out later this fall.

Kentetsu

Hey Kent,

I threw together a diagram on paint to go along with your .pdf installation instructions if you think it will help. Let me know if you see any errors in it.

Also, please put me on the list for one of the new circuits if you figure out how to have it automatically switch between fixed/variable. Thanks man!

gsl-se addict

iTrader: (3)

Sure. I can do a step-by-step. The basic variable PW mode is pretty simple and RadioShack has everything you need. To do the fixed PW or both modes gets a bit more complicated. I will probably make a couple blank circuit boards. That way, people like yourself, could just source the parts, drop them into place, and solder it up.

I will do a bunch of pre-built boards as well. Maybe also do a kit where everything is included and you assemble yourself.

Kent

Edit: Thanks for the diagram. It looks correct to me. I am pretty sure I have the automatic switching worked out. The new version won't have a switch. Internally, everything will be the same, except I will add an OR gate to the output. This should take care of the switching (the highest PW will be what comes out). It will also be built on printed circuit board instead of the point-to-point connections I did before. Should be much faster/easier to build and more reliable and more immune to noise.

lovintha7

So, what if we wanna trade an original for the new and improved? What kinda price we looking at?

gsl-se addict

iTrader: (3)

I am trying to figure that one out. I will give you guys a good deal, though. I do appreciate the testing you have done and the results we have because of it.

Kent

shadowlife25

i pm'ed you a while back about getting on the list for this mod, I am really wanting to pick one up before you leave ( congrats by the way ) e-mail me and let me know. shadowlife25@sbcglobal.net
thanks kent,
Mario M.

gsl-se addict

iTrader: (3)

Yep, I still have your pm. You are on the list. I will get all these built and shipped out before I leave. It would be hard to do once I am out of the country (and expensive). Thanks on the congrats. It has been a long time and a lot of works (10 years of college). I will be doing my final defense in 2 weeks.

I am working on getting the PCB layout software. I used a trial version of Protel a couple years back. It is a very nice (and expensive) program. They now have a version that is even more integrated, but it doesn't appear that they have a trial download on their site anymore. I did send a request for an evaluation version, though. There are a couple other PCB layout programs that are free to use, but aren't as nice. If I can't get the Protel one, I will have to use one of these others instead.

lovintha7

Where you going, and for how long?

Also, I bought a TII motor, so I don't think I'll be needing the TT anymore. Great mod though Kent, as a 1st gen friend of mine will be putting it on his car.

gsl-se addict

iTrader: (3)

I will be going to the south of France (Aix en Provence) to do a post-doctorate position at a nuclear research lab near there. I will be gone at least 1 year, possibly 2.

I am not doing fusion research, but they are constructing a huge fusion reactor at the site that I will be at. They are trying to demonstrate the feasibility of using fusion for power generation.

http://www.iter.org/index.htm

I believe it is going to cost about $18 billion , operate at 100 million degrees C , and crank out 500 MW of power.

Check out the dude in this pic to get an idea of how big this thing will be:

http://www.iter.org/pics/ITER01.jpg

That's good that you got a TII motor. As you said, you won't need the mod if you are going to retain the TII ignition and EFI.

I am working of the circuit layout. I am trying out a different program, so it is a little slow as I try to learn how it works. I will put up the design once I have something layed out.

Kent

lovintha7

The only problem with fusion is that it's very difficult to control, and takes so much energy to maintain, it's not feasable to keep running. Most of the power will probly be generated by the fission reaction used to keep the fusion going. A good thing about fusion is its' only waste is pure water. G/L with that though. Are you bringing the 7 to france if you go?

gsl-se addict

iTrader: (3)

Fusion actually produces helium as a byproduct. Yes, there are challeges with it, but deffinitely a good possible source of power in the future. My work is with fission reactors. I will be doing some fluid dynamics code validation for difference accident scenarios. My specialty is heat transfer, safety systems, and two-phase (boiling) flows.

No 7 there. I actually won't have a car at all. I will miss the 7 greatly, but I will have the time and money to put her back in good condition when I return. I can't wait. When in school, I was always too poor and no had the time to do what I wanted to do.

I'll try to put up some circuit layouts tonight if I get them done.

Kentetsu

Kent-

Gave her a little too much gas in 3rd gear on the way to work last night (in the rain) and the back end started to come around on me (on a straight, not a curve). Never had that problem before in 3rd gear, maybe 2nd but not 3rd. I blame you and your damn transistor circuit!

Still running great man. Anybody else running the fixed pulse? Seeing a big difference like me? Just curious...

Also, I finally noticed that you are in Corvallis. I spent a year in Salem/Woodburn/Gervais about 22 years ago. Didn't see the sun shine for a single day that year! Hope you like France, the weather should be about what you are used to at least... And the people don't really smell all that badly either, as long as you have a head cold.....

gsl-se addict

iTrader: (3)

Glad to see that you are still enjoying it. Corvallis has actually been pretty nice this year.

Here is the preliminary design for the PCBs. I will adjust the design a bit more and then try to build a prototype. If it works out, I'll get all the stuff to build more of these things. I pur three transistors along the bottom of the board with an output pad at the emitter of each one. This way if the combo (auto switching) circuit doesn't work well for some reason, we can still use these boards for either the fixed or variable PW modes instead. Any feedback would be appreciated. Also, if there are any other features that you think we could add to it (ignition related stuff), let \me know and I will try to add it in.

One thing to decide is that currently the LED comes on when the J-109 is not firing and then turns off when it is firing. We may want to switch this around. Currently the LED is on with the key on and engine not running. It doesn't matter too much how we do it, though. The light appears to be solid just above idle anyway (can't see the flashing). The LED is a nice way to see if the leading ignition is working.


Kent

Jeff20B

iTrader: (13)

That looks beautiful. I could go either way with the LED. On the MegaSquirt, whenever the LED is on, the ignition is not charging the coil; likewise in this circuit. I guess I'd prefer to leave it this way just for a sense of similarity, but if you think it will be less confusing to the newcomers and everybody else to change it, go ahead and change it.

One question: Will this add complexity to the circuit? If it's just a simple rewiring, maybe you could add one or two more pads/vias/traces to the PCB and let the end user decide on the LED operating mode.

Yeah, I think I'd just want to stick with the current "MegaSquirt" style LED action. That's only because it's what I'm familier with.

vipernicus42

iTrader: (4)

As long as it's documented, leave it as it is. Anyone buying this should be smart enough to read the spec sheet and go "oh so the led's *supposed* to do that"

Awesome work guys. I'll definitely get in on the finished product.

Jon

riceburner1r2001

iTrader: (4)

may i ask y i keep hearing u guys flipping a switch to change from 1 ignition set up to another

t_g_farrell

iTrader: (1)

Nice layouts. How are you making the PCBs with these layouts ? I'm just wondering if I can make my own and not bother you with it. This is just a two layer board of some kind right ? Thanks for the work here.

Also, looks like we need a map of some kind to list the parts with their positions on the board. I'll do one up and post the parts list with the board labels. With that it should be easy to make one of these up.

gsl-se addict

iTrader: (3)

Thanks for all the kind words, guys.

Thanks, Jeff. We could easily do something like that. We also have the option to move the LED to the output. That way it would go either on or off when the 5v pulse to fire the 2nd gen ignitor came. Currently it functions based on what the J-109 is inputing. Doesn't really matter. We just need to figure out the best way to do the LED.

riceburner1r2001: The switch flipping bthat you hear about is becuase the first couple test circuits I built used a switch to go between the variable pulsewidth mode and the fixed pulsewidth mode.

The variable PW mode, the J-109 (first gen ignitor) controls the the puklsewidth (charging time) for the 2nd gen ignitor. The circuit in that case just inverts the signal and limits the pulse to 5v instead of battery voltage.

The fixed PW mode: This mode was created becuase it was found that the 2nd gen ignitor got pretty hot with the other mode. We didn't klnow if it was supposed to be like that or if the PW from the J-109 was too wide. In this case, the J-109 just tells the circuit when to fire. The circuit controls the width (2ms width currently). It was found that this mode is less effective in the low end, but appears to work better up top.

The current design has provisions for both modes as well as a third option that should allow to use both together (variable PW down low, fixed up high to get the benefits of both).

t_g_farrell: I used PCB123 software for the layout. It works pretty well, but pretty much everything I did was manual. I like Protel better, but I wasn't able to get the software. I plan on trying the toner transfer system. In this way, you print onto a special paper or some kinds of photopaper with a laser printer. You then use an iron with lots of heat and pressure to transfer the toner from the paper onto a copper clad board. You then etch the exposed copper away. I will try it out and see what results I get. I am working on a map for it. Looking up some part numbers, trying to see what will work best.

If it is very difficult to get a clean pattern with this design (I think it will be fine,though), we can get the board professionally made. This software connects with a manufacturer and gives you the price per board. If we could get 30 orders, they would be about $11 each to make (before shipping). I think this price was with the slik screen (white layout/text on top). I don't think it included the solder mask (green stuff you normally see on PCBs).

I'll keep you guys up to date on the layout. Hopefully, it will work smoothly.

Kent

Jeff20B

iTrader: (13)

What if we had two LEDs? With two, we'd know if the J-109 ever died, and we'd still be able to keep an eye on the 'transistor trick' circuit itself. They'd flash alternately, which would give a cool visual effect. Thoughts?

gsl-se addict

iTrader: (3)

We can certainly do that. I think that it would be a good idea. That way we can monitor the input and outut as you stated. LEDs are so cheap, that it wouldn't influence the cost of building the circuit (maybe $0.50 or less).

toxic_d

I would like to do the same as t_g_farrell... gsl-se addict the only reason I am leaning this way is that I know you are short on time. If there is anything I can do to help let me know.

Toxic_d