Bench testing....

[HermaN]

This probably mainly applies to tuners opposed to single users. How many guys on here bench test their ECU's. What kind of rig is needed? I am assuming it's just a simple case of getting a good 12-14V power supply, like one from an old desktop PC and then connecting the consult cable pins to the relevant ones on the ECU.

Just be useful so that once a new NIStune board is fitted into a virgin ECU then you can bench test it to make sure you can read, write, etc before re-fitting the ECU into the car.

Any info welcome.

[CoZZm0]

I have what i refer to as a 'bench test unit' that i use for downloading maps without needing to have it connected to a car, but it has no sensors or anything connected to it for actual "simulation" of any kind.

I got an ECCS plug from a random car, cut off the excess wires and use a computer power supply to power it. My Pulsar SSS ECU draws <0.5A when running (obviously not driving any injectors or anything like that, just powered up on the bench downloading a map).

One thing i found though is that the ECU requires more than 1 12V supply most often. I found that an SR20VE ECU wouldn't power up at all with the wiring i had and i had to find the extra power input that it needed to power up.

[Matt]

1. you will need most the grounds, and then the IGN, Battery 12V and Continuous 12V booked upto the loom
2. consult cable wires hooked into the TX, RX, CLK and then 12V/GND lines

If consult connects and shows 23710-xxxxx REV: (xx) then you know the board is working good

I've actually picked up a cable and connectors last weeke with the sole purpose of documenting how to make a simple test rig for checking boards, since I think this is required

[HermaN]

Cheers for the info! Got 2 faulty PC's here (with good power supplys) that I could use. @ CoZZmo, that's the kind of setup I am looking for. Just something to test I can read and write to the newly installed NIStune board before re-fitting the ECU into the car.

[Zuikkis]

I just built this:



It has a PIC doing CAS simulation, can do 4 or 6cyl... Six+six leds show ignition and injection pulses, a few switches to simulate start/neutral/powersteering inputs, some status leds, a potentiometer for TPS/MAF simulation..

[Matt]

Thats a nice setup there!

My loom now has 6 different types of loom connectos hanging off it. Bit of a rats nest but works!

[Fordy]

whats the best way to simulate the rpm signal? drill attached to a spare cas sensor ?

[Matt]

PIC like what you are using. PL has a pic doing 1 deg and 60/90 degree outputs so the 1 deg isRPM

[PL]

Matt and I both have bench test setups that are rat's nests. The main sticking point is the CAS signal, although as Matt said, you don't need that just to prove that the ECU is working once you've installed the NIStune board. You just gotta power the thing up and connect via consult. If it connects then it's basically working.

Having said that I've been doing a design for an "engine simulator" for some time. I'm about to send it off to have PCB's made. It's really just for myself and Matt but like so many things I'll probably finish up making them for sale in small volumes too. It uses a PIC for CAS signals. The main problem is trying to cover all the different engines. So it'll probably just do the main ones for now and we'll work from there.

I've been trying to come up with something for knock sensor input but so far all it's done is hold the whole project up. So I might just give that a miss for now.

It has CAS inputs for 4 + 6 cyl with CAS signal reversing for NATS ECU's, ECCS relay, Speed signal, Neutral SW, Start SW, TB closed, TB wide open, TPS, coolant temp, AFM, O2 sensor, indicators for 6x IGN and 6x inj outputs, and indicators for all the standard outputs - solenoids, AAV, fuel pump etc.

PL

[Adam]

I'm using one of these for mine (using it for writing my own Consult software for a CarPC)

http://jbperf.com/JimStim/index.html

Seems to work really well.