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Power FC Is a Boost controller needed with power FC

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Old 01-24-05, 07:49 PM
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Is a Boost controller needed with power FC

I have just recently recieved my new Power FC and Commander and have rung around to get it dyno tuned. I am pissed off with the lack of knowage by these tuners ! Some say I don't need a boost controller as the Power FC uses the factory unit others say I need to purchase a seperate unit !!!

I am only running with the standard twins and would like to run about 14 psi. I have other mods as well but this is my question...

Is anyone running the stock twins with this setting and did you need to buy a boost controller or not ?
Old 01-25-05, 08:31 PM
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i'm also wondering about this question.
Old 01-25-05, 10:30 PM
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I have used the same PFC on my last 2 FDs. While I only ran that much boost on rare occasions, the PFC controlled boost just fine. Other PFC owners have had problems controlling boost with their PFCs. If you intend to use the PFC to control boost, start very low with your duty cycles and incrementally increase the duty cycles until the desire boost level is reached.
Old 01-26-05, 12:16 PM
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i have DP, CB, intake, and will have midpipe ... + power FC .. am i going to be able to set boost at 10 psi ?

will it stay to 10psi?

I don't want to blow my engine.

Max
Old 01-26-05, 12:33 PM
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The midpipe may pose a problem, some owners need to port their wastegate. I was able to control boost (although at a higher level) with a midpipe. I believe the key to setting boost correctly is to set your duty cycles very low and then increase until the target boost is reached. Just remember my car is just one data point and others have had to port their wastegates with a midpipe.

These are the settings I am currently using with a dp,cb,intake and highflow cat:

primary boost .55 duty 38
secondary boost .55 duty 42

note: the PFC reads lower boost than the gauge
Old 01-26-05, 04:24 PM
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Thumbs up

Originally Posted by books
The midpipe may pose a problem, some owners need to port their wastegate. I was able to control boost (although at a higher level) with a midpipe. I believe the key to setting boost correctly is to set your duty cycles very low and then increase until the target boost is reached. Just remember my car is just one data point and others have had to port their wastegates with a midpipe.

These are the settings I am currently using with a dp,cb,intake and highflow cat:

primary boost .55 duty 38
secondary boost .55 duty 42

note: the PFC reads lower boost than the gauge
What boost does this setting give you ?
Old 01-26-05, 04:57 PM
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That setting reads 10 psi on my Autometer boost gauge.
Old 01-27-05, 05:45 PM
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if everything is working fine, then you don't need a seperate boost controller.

Tim
Old 01-27-05, 08:02 PM
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thanks Tim, that's what i was looking like anwser.

I don't mind if the boost is a little bit higher than stock level, but i don't want to have 14-15 psi on a stock intercooler and fuel pump ..

Max
Old 01-27-05, 11:00 PM
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with your duty cycles that low, does it seems to take a while to build boost? Like you were saying, your car and my car and his car are all going to be different.

Tim
Old 01-28-05, 10:47 AM
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at this moment i have dp, intake, catback .. and my my boost goes to 11 psi on stock ECU.
Old 01-28-05, 07:44 PM
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the pfc has, as a separately purchased extra, a boost controller add-on - it won't control boost without this. You won't be able to magically dial in 14psi without some sort of control. You will have higher boost with whatever bolt-ons you use - but the level of this depends on the vehicle and the bolt-ons

I'd highly recommend buying a separate ebc (not the add-on) and using that. If you are going to use a mp - then you definitely want an ebc
Old 01-28-05, 09:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Tim Benton
with your duty cycles that low, does it seems to take a while to build boost? Like you were saying, your car and my car and his car are all going to be different.

Tim

Tim,

I assume this question was for my duty cycle settings. Rather than give you a qualitative answer, I would prefer to just send you a datalog. With the datalog file you can compare my spool up to yours, as well as calculate the actual time it takes to reach target boost. If you'd like a file just pm me with an email address.

Now for the touchy feely answer, the boost build up seems just as fast as the stock ecu. When I was running a midpipe on my previous FD, I could set the duty cycles low enough so that after transition the boost would rise almost linearly until 7,xxx rpms.
Old 01-30-05, 05:50 PM
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DaiOni,

Why shouldn't I use the optional boost controller add on to the PFC. It would be easer to controll through the PFC. I have been told its the same module as used on the Apexi Avcr boost controller.. Below is what info I got from the USA Apexi site.

The Boost Control Kit is an optional kit designed to control boost through the Power FC. Simple connection to the Power FC allows the user to access a full self-learning boost controller. The Power FC allows up to 4 different boost presets for any stage of driving. The high grade solenoid valve is the same one used in our Super AVC-R boost controller. As with the S-AVCR, the Boost control kit allows increased boost response and boost stability at high RPM's
Old 01-30-05, 08:19 PM
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Originally Posted by DaiOni
the pfc has, as a separately purchased extra, a boost controller add-on - it won't control boost without this. You won't be able to magically dial in 14psi without some sort of control. You will have higher boost with whatever bolt-ons you use - but the level of this depends on the vehicle and the bolt-ons
This is incorrect. I assume this interpretation is based on how some websites advertise the PowerFC.

From the Apexi site (http://www.apexi-usa.com/electronics_fc.asp)

"Complete boost control is possible by using the optional Boost Control Kit (Not necessary for vehicles that come factory turbocharged.)."

I believe some websites leave out the parenthetical portion; " (Not necessary for vehicles that come factory turbocharged.)." What this means is the PFC is capable of controlling boost on a factory turbocharged car without using the add on boost controller.

While some have problems controlling boost others such as myself have no issues with the PFC's boost control.

You could change to the add on kit, but why not try the PFC without it. If you don't like it you can always by the add on or some other boost controller. The add on kit in my opinion is for running a single.

If you have the booklet for the PFC commander, you can read up on how to adjust boost.
Old 01-30-05, 08:20 PM
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Originally Posted by DaiOni
the pfc has, as a separately purchased extra, a boost controller add-on - it won't control boost without this. You won't be able to magically dial in 14psi without some sort of control. You will have higher boost with whatever bolt-ons you use - but the level of this depends on the vehicle and the bolt-ons
This is incorrect, at least for an FD. I assume this interpretation is based on how some websites advertise the PowerFC.

From the Apexi site (http://www.apexi-usa.com/electronics_fc.asp)

"Complete boost control is possible by using the optional Boost Control Kit (Not necessary for vehicles that come factory turbocharged.)."

I believe some websites leave out the parenthetical portion; " (Not necessary for vehicles that come factory turbocharged.)." What this means is the PFC is capable of controlling boost on a factory turbocharged car without using the add on boost controller.

While some have problems controlling boost others such as myself have no issues with the PFC's boost control.

You could change to the add on kit, but why not try the PFC without it. If you don't like it you can always by the add on or some other boost controller. The add on kit in my opinion is for running a single.

If you have the booklet for the PFC commander, you can read up on how to adjust boost.
Old 01-30-05, 08:21 PM
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Originally Posted by DaiOni
the pfc has, as a separately purchased extra, a boost controller add-on - it won't control boost without this. You won't be able to magically dial in 14psi without some sort of control. You will have higher boost with whatever bolt-ons you use - but the level of this depends on the vehicle and the bolt-ons

I'd highly recommend buying a separate ebc (not the add-on) and using that. If you are going to use a mp - then you definitely want an ebc

mine controls boost perfectly without an "Add on" i have my first boost setting at 10psi. and for mad power yo! ive got the second boost setting at 14psi. What does the "add on" for the power FC do anyways?
Old 01-30-05, 09:01 PM
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Originally Posted by books
This is incorrect. I assume this interpretation is based on how some websites advertise the PowerFC.

From the Apexi site (http://www.apexi-usa.com/electronics_fc.asp)

"Complete boost control is possible by using the optional Boost Control Kit (Not necessary for vehicles that come factory turbocharged.)."

I believe some websites leave out the parenthetical portion; " (Not necessary for vehicles that come factory turbocharged.)." What this means is the PFC is capable of controlling boost on a factory turbocharged car without using the add on boost controller.

While some have problems controlling boost others such as myself have no issues with the PFC's boost control.

You could change to the add on kit, but why not try the PFC without it. If you don't like it you can always by the add on or some other boost controller. The add on kit in my opinion is for running a single.

If you have the booklet for the PFC commander, you can read up on how to adjust boost.
Thanks for that info I have a booklet but its all in Japanese ! What boost are you running on your car ?
Old 01-30-05, 09:02 PM
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Originally Posted by oakridgerx7
mine controls boost perfectly without an "Add on" i have my first boost setting at 10psi. and for mad power yo! ive got the second boost setting at 14psi. What does the "add on" for the power FC do anyways?
How do you change from one to the other ?
Old 01-30-05, 09:22 PM
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The PFC allows 2 boost settings....under the boost setting. Just highlight setting 1 or 2 and that is what the PFC will limit boost to. The add on optional boost controller has it's own solenoid for controlling boost and not the factory system.
Old 01-31-05, 07:11 AM
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Here's the Emglish version of the FC-Commander manual.

http://www.spipowerexcel.com/pdfs/fc_commander_fd3s.pdf
Old 01-31-05, 02:58 PM
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cool, great info guys.
Old 01-31-05, 10:45 PM
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Wink

Originally Posted by books
Here's the Emglish version of the FC-Commander manual.

http://www.spipowerexcel.com/pdfs/fc_commander_fd3s.pdf

Excellent stuff ! Thanks heaps...
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