Hi,
I'm trying to work out how I would control spark on my FD if I was using megasquirt? It looks like the only support is for one coil/distributor type setups if you use megasquirt v3 (?). Is there a seperate module or any other way of controlling spark through the seperate coils on the FD or can i not run it on an engine like this? I've seen the trailing spark feature but presume this works in conjunction with the single coil/distributor? sorry for novice questions! I've been reading solidly for the last few days but needed confirmation.

 

Just to add I have seen the circuit diagram in the how-to but I take it this is not relevent to the coils on the FD as there are three of them?

 

The V3 board is capable of whatever you modify it to do, its the version of the megasquirt code that you're using that determines what you can run. If you have the MS1 chip, you'll need to download msns-extra, version 029y5 i think is the latest. If you have the MS2 daughter-board, then you need MS2-extra, version 2.1.0 (still in beta).

To wire the coils in an FD, you connect the pull-up resistors to the LEDs in the same way thats described for an FC, but then you connect the leading coil to D14 (the LED closest to the DB9 connector, trailing coil 1 to D15 and trailing coil 2 to D16 IIRC (the trailings may be reversed, i've never tried it on an FD and am going off of what I remember). To actually run them, under trailing settings, you need to select FD mode instead of FC mode, but the rest of the setup is the same as for an FC.

 

(- goes off to see what MS2extra is! - )

 

do you have the megasquirt yet? that'll determine which chip you have, and which version of code you can run

 

No mate, I've been reading up on different options (and the subject in general). Am I right in thinking the ideal MS option for the FD would be to buy the MS v3 board and the MS2 daughterboard? is there anything else I'd need? I've got a wideband and EGT gauge sorted. The plan would be to make up my own loom using the existing sensors. I don't know if it makes much difference to the system but I've got a spark upgrade box on the car, would that mean I'd need to use the stepper motor outputs?

Thanks again for the help.

 

I dont know what you mean by a spark upgrade box... is it more powerful coils, something inline with the stock coils, or what? Would you be using the MS for spark only or for fuel and spark? The MS2 is a more capable processor and is more accurate with spark timing, but so far in my experience is a little bit more fickle.

If you're using the MS for fuel and spark, how are you going to control the sequential turbo system? I'm not sure if MS has enough outputs to control it in the stock configuration, so you may need to go parallel or single turbo. If you're still using the stock ECU for fuel, then this isnt a concern, but you will need to split the CAS signal, coolant temp and intake temp to go to both the MS and the stock ECU, and use the MS's intake pressure sensor.

 

Sorry I should have said. I've got a single turbo on a blown engine that I'm just rebuilding. I've got an apexi pfc but would like to run something like megasquirt for the learning experience and to get full control of it.
The ignition box is for stronger spark. Like this but I can't remember the model off hand
http://www.machv.com/hkstwinpowig.html
It just came into my head earlier and I wondered if I'd need to do anything to use it.

I'd like to use the system for fuel and spark. The car will be competing in the British Drift Championships so it needs to be decently reliable! plus it could do with getting back on the road fairly quick so I can do some practice in it as I was using a skyline this year.

 

That box doesnt seem to replace the coil, just maybe control the dwell (coil charging time)? I'm not exactly sure how it works, but you have full control of the dwell with MS, so i'm not sure its necessary. Right now MSnS-extra (MS1-e) and MS2-extra 1.x.x (latest version) seem to be the most reliable for rotaries, and plenty of work is going on with MS2-e 2.1.x, so that should be up and running soon. If you get the MS2 chip, you can upgrade from 1.x.x to 2.1.x very easily, it just requires re-routing one wire and flashing the new firmware to the chip.