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Engine Monitor Version 2

MountainRunner
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MountainRunner Mentor

MountainRunner

Posted
Posted

Hi guys,

I just wanted to put up a post about my new Engine Monitor project. My original Engine Monitor has been out there for a while now and I have got a lot of good feedback, so I took it all on board and have designed up a new version. I'm calling it "EM Pro II". The new version now has Boost and Fuel Pressure inputs plus an additional digital channel for vehicle speed. Another request has been for a user selectable output for a water spray kit or speedo drive for cars with gearbox conversions so I have added this also. Plus the two line green LCD is gone and is replaced with a 4 line Blue LCD with white writing. Looks really cool.

The specs for the new unit are:

4 Line 20 character Blue LCD with white writing.

4 Buttons for user control.

Aluminium anodised case with laser engraving.

7 Analog Inputs:

Oil Pressure

Oil Temperature

Water Temperature

Intake Temperature

Boost Pressure

Fuel Pressure

Battery Volts

(I will allow the forced induction related inputs to be reassigned for NA cars)

Digital Inputs:

R.P.M.

Vehicle Speed

Alarm Acknowledge Button

Page Select Input

Outputs:

Warning Light

Warning Buzzer

2 Stage Shift Light

User selectable output (water spay kit, speedo pulses)

Alarms:

Individual alarms will be programmable for each input. Selecting warning light / buzzer or both.

Communications:

RS-232 Communications port for connection to a laptop or the RaceLogger to expand the channels and do data logging.

I have just ordered 20 circuit boards for the first batch. Once they arrive I will assemble and get into the software.

I will keep you posted as this project progresses.

Any comments / discussion on the project please. Its early days with the software so any good ideas I would love to build into the unit.

Paul

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https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/222468-engine-monitor-version-2/
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Beer Baron Grand Master

Beer Baron

Posted
Posted

one piece of advice I would give is to have an option where you can set it to display the difference between boost pres and fuel pres. this makes it much easier to diagnose fuel pressure problems (failing pump, leaks, faulty reg etc) as you remove boost from the equation. it gives you a much more usefull figure to look at.

DCIEVE Mentor

DCIEVE

Posted
Posted (edited)

hey mate, never heard of the engine monitor (maybe im out of touch :)) but sounds like what ive been looking for.... any more details besides these features? ie is in intended to be a digital type gauge similar to the slimline stack (edit: this one http://www.stackltd.com/images/snapshot_st8900.png) which doesnt seem to be available anymore? ideas on cost etc?

have to say, if it could read my wideband 02 signal AND read real time to laptop with logging that would be incredibly useful (would be pushing my luck to log egtx6 to the same place i spose... :D

Edited by DCIEVE
MountainRunner Mentor

MountainRunner

Posted
  • Author
Posted

unique1, those extra inputs would go into the RaceLogger I'm building. It connects to the EM Pro II to expand the channels and add data logging straight onto a USB memory key. I will put up another thread with the RaceLogger projects progress soon. I have got some testing planned over the weekend so I will report on that.

There are some pics around of the old unit, the new unit will be in the same case but look pretty different. I should have pics of the new unit in a few weeks if you can wait.

Boosted Zed Mentor

Boosted Zed

Posted
Posted
unique1, those extra inputs would go into the RaceLogger I'm building. It connects to the EM Pro II to expand the channels and add data logging straight onto a USB memory key. I will put up another thread with the RaceLogger projects progress soon. I have got some testing planned over the weekend so I will report on that.

There are some pics around of the old unit, the new unit will be in the same case but look pretty different. I should have pics of the new unit in a few weeks if you can wait.

Very flash and I can't wait to get one.

MountainRunner Mentor

MountainRunner

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I've been given another good suggestion to add support for GPS straight into the EM Pro II without the need for the RaceLogger. That way it could display laptimes / split times live on its display and store several laps in its memory.

Keep the good ideas coming guys !!

  • 3 years later...
bigmikespec Veteran

bigmikespec

Posted
Posted

Yes I did finished it !!

I am currently building another 10 units now. Ordered the PCB's the other day. Its like you read my mind :)

Great :)

Does it ue individual inputs or can you use a single data cable from capable ECU (like the RS232 from a VIpec V88 or CANBUS) as the input to set up all the paramters?

bigmikespec Veteran

bigmikespec

Posted
Posted

No offense but that would be a totally useless feature. I do not understand the necessity for a knock reading display... It is not as if you can do anything about it. A well tuned ECU using the OEM knock sensors to pull timing if necessary is all you need.

That aside, if ten more are being made I want to be on the list pending the above questions.

89CAL Grand Master

89CAL

Posted
Posted

No offense but that would be a totally useless feature. I do not understand the necessity for a knock reading display... It is not as if you can do anything about it. A well tuned ECU using the OEM knock sensors to pull timing if necessary is all you need.

That aside, if ten more are being made I want to be on the list pending the above questions.

well you kinda can.... If your car is knocking like crazy your not gonna keep your foot burried in the gas pedal are you? With ECU's that dont make adjustments based on car feedback, I think its necessary to have a knock moniter

GTR_JOEY Grand Master

GTR_JOEY

Posted
Posted (edited)

If I understand how the PFC works ie doesn't retard timing when high knock is sensed, then it would be good to know if you are destroying your engine if u encounter a hot day with bad fuel...

In that case it would appear to be useful to me

Edited by GTR_JOEY
smithy85 Community Regular

smithy85

Posted
Posted

Yeah knock is kind of a big thing to want to know about, my PFC hand controller has the knock level showing all the time.

Especially if a PFC is being used then a knock reading is a crucial tool for the driver to prevent engine damage.

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