Innovate wideband controllers - advise me, Rev!

[ed_crouch]

Im in America.

Theres a place down the road caled Titan Motorsports who sel the following for 300 bucks.

Innovate LC1 wideband lambda controller with an SSI4 5 channel datalogger with PC software etc.

I remember Rev said something about these setups: wondered if it was worth picking one up while the US dollar is still on its knees...

Basically I want to Megasquirt the Wedge next summer and want a decent way of getting the fuelling right, and even verifying that there is a fuelling issue on the old system before I go to the trouble of ripping it out! (well, I know its not right cos the guy at the Rolling road said he couldnt get the fuelling quite right due to the rather hard-wired nature of the 4CU system: fair play).

I guess a few blats with the laptop logging engine data would be a good way of doing this!

Any thoughts??


Have I been blinded by sales bull or is that a decent bit of kit for $300??

Ed.

Edited by ed_crouch on Friday 30th November 12:58

[rev-erend]

Ed

Yes - I bought one of those with the LCD display .. not got around to fitting it yet but soon..

It should talk with all the major aftermarket ecu's..

Dollar does make the US very useful ..

Edited to say I did not buy the LC1 but one called Zeitronix - similar but with a few more bells and whistles.

Edited by rev-erend on Friday 30th November 14:56

[adam quantrill]

I would say you can get cheaper, but not hugely.

Don't forget the wideband Lambda sensors are made by Bosch anyway and you can pick them up about 50 quid each these days. Whatever happens to the dollar these will stay around the same price.

[rev-erend]

Sure that is just the sensor .. but there is also the controller and a display if you want it.

I wanted the display too - as it shows a real time measure in AFR what the engine in putting out.

One of those cool must have toys IMHO but not as tachy as having a guage ..

for instance - you have MOT emissions problems - you see the afr is 10.5 at tickover .. very rich .. you tweek it with the co screew to 11.5 and you pass .. and change it back after if you felt it runs and picks up better at the other figure..

Number just given as an example and actual figure may be higher (I have no idea as I dont have it wired up) !!

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

my Race Tech. dash just arived.
see http://www.race-technology.com/dash2_2_31.html
You can program these for any Sensor. also I will be using a Emerald ECU and Race Tech. DL1.

Could I just use the £50 Bosh sensor. as the prices seem to vary wildly for these sensors. I'm a bit puzzled on what one to get.

The Race Tech. one is a wopping £270

Also are these the same as MAP Sensors.

Thanks
Leigh

[GreenV8S]

A wideband lambda sensor is unlike just about any other sensor you'll have on the engine. They need a fairly complex controller, which normally means buying an external box (such as the Innovate or Zeitronics ones mentioned). The controller will usually provide a simple analogue output, which you can hook up to your ECU, or a data logger or dash display system. It will probably also provide a digital output which can be hooked up (via a serial cable) to a PC and displayed by software that comes with the controller.

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

So the Basic Innovatec Kit should be min requirements.

http://www.innovatemotorsports.com/xcart/product.p...

Not too bad for £100

[adam quantrill]

Yeah not bad at all. BTW, a MAP sensor is Manifold Air Pressure, for the inlet manifold. Usually the range is 0 - 2bar.

[tvrscotty]

Ed,

Good plan! My research yielded Innovate to be the leader. I just purchased the LM-1 and LMA-3. The quality of the units and the software is fantastic! Also, the compatibility with Megasquirt is a big plus. Look and push for deals from authorized dealers and watch out for some of the fleaBay offers that are not authorized by the factory that could possibly affect warrantee issues.

I have my Megasquirt 3 approx 50% complete (have fired it up and loaded the firmware without issues). The plan is to fire up one of my 4.0L engines on a test stand (already completed) with Megasquirt prior to the engine rebuild. That way I will be at a lower risk for the very critical first fire up of the new, tweaked, 4.0L. I can't wait to get rid of all that Bosch stuff - probably will lighten the car by 50 pounds! Not to mention upping the reliability.

Let's stay in touch. Keep monitoring the Megasquirt forums.

Scott

[tvrscotty]

Ed,

I forgot to ask what engine you are using.

Are you aware that the US 2.8L intakes (for electronic injectors) do not fit the Euro heads on our 280's? The mechanical injectors are pretty long and I didn't find a drop-in electronic injector that would fit, though I am sure it's possible to convert the intake - or there are several other options. We should talk.

I started down this path when my warmup regulator went belly up. A rebuild or new reg costs a fortune, so I had little to lose by trying to rebuild it myself. Luckily I was successful in fixing it. But now its the lack of power that put me back on the engine swap path (with Megasquirt).

By the way, I am in the US too.

Scott

[ed_crouch]

Scotty,

Im only in the states temporarily: I'm a pasty lilly-livered limey. Sorry for the confusion!!

Its a UK spec 390SE.

Hope to extract a few more lb-ft at higher RPMs with the Megasquirt and make it more pleasant to drive.

Ughhh, jetlagged. Woke up in Nebraska this morning. Now 1,000 miles away, and a different time zone again...

Time for bed.

Ed.

[tvrscotty]

Ed,

Well, welcome stateside, even if for a short period. Good plan for Megasquirt on the 390 - this has been done before on the Mega forum. Your project is much easier as it is now just a wiring harness and tuning exercise. You could remove the flapper as well, using the MAP sensor and free up some of the airflow.

I am also converting my TR8 from nat. asp. to a 3.9 injection setup with a Haltech ECU. I would have used Megasquirt, but purchased the Haltech many years ago and it came with a good starting map. Please keep in touch, as I may be swayed to using the Megasquirt in it as well. I would be happy to help if you run into any electrical issues as that is my real vocation when not tinkering with British cars.

Good luck and have a great time here. Happy holidays!

Scotty