I'll post up dates an progress on the Arduino software port.  If anyone has ideas to add/change, things they like/don’t like about the EC2/3 or things that could be better, let me know.  To the guy designing a thing the operation might be obvious but be terribly confusing to anyone else. 

Tracy Crook

On Sep 17, 2018, at 11:19, Todd Bartrim bartrim@gmail.com <flyrotary@lancaironline.net> wrote:

Hi Tracy;

  I'd be very interested in the software code for an Arduino/EC3 when it is ready. My Dad has given my 14 year old son his old jeep as a project to work on for the next few years until he can drive legally. I had already been considering converting it to EFI as a good learning experience for him and now hearing that the EC3 code will be available has convinced me that we should do this. I'd already planned to buy him his own Arduino starter kit just because I think there is a lot of educational value there, but with a goal of building his own EFI for his own Jeep, there will be a lot of motivation to learn. And it will be a great platform to test the design before possibly trying it in any future aircraft builds.

Todd

Todd Bartrim

On Mon, Sep 17, 2018 at 5:42 AM, Tracy Crook rwstracy@gmail.com <flyrotary@lancaironline.net> wrote:

Totally agree Todd,  the Arduino is a fantastic platform to develop engine controls or avionics on.  Just for something to do (and because I’d like to see an EFI solution available to anyone who wants one) I’ve started porting the EC3 software over to the Arduino.  I don’t plan to sell them but will give the software to anyone who wants it.  The cost to build would be little more than a $35 Arduino board and a chassis to mount it in.

Tracy Crook

On Sep 17, 2018, at 00:54, Todd Bartrim bartrim@gmail.com <flyrotary@lancaironline.net> wrote:

Hi Neil;

  I know it's tempting to cut a corner and use a carb to get flying faster/cheaper, but I'd really try to stay with EFI. Many advantages. I know you get screwed on shipping from across the pond which can make it hard to swallow. 

Here's a really half-baked, out of the box idea, that you could look into that would save you a lot of money, take up all your remaining time, but give you a ton of satisfaction. Arduino micro-controllers. I'm just starting to get into them while I'm building my own data-logger for my first generation EM2 and am absolutely amazed at some of the ideas people have used them for. It's difficult to stay focused on my current objective and not stray down the garden path by getting distracted by all the things that can be done with them. Almost anything you can think of, someone has done with an Arduino. 

They are an open-source hardware platform so there are many cheap clones available, with accessory shields for an almost unlimited number of gadgets. There are open-source libraries of code available for almost any conceivable project and I know in my browsing that I have seen some for engine ignition/injection.

You can even pair up several (or more) micro-controllers for redundancy. There are great you-tube tutorials to get you started and I recommend you start right at the beginning. I know just enough to jump right in, but there were enough things to trip me up that I finally went to the beginning and started learning from scratch to fill in the gaps in my knowledge and now this project is beginning to come together.

  In most cases you don't need to wright your own code from scratch as you can find libraries with other users code that you can modify to suit your own needs. It's not as crazy as it might sound and id I didn't already have EC2 powering my plane, then I would probably attempt to make my own.

Todd

C-FSTB

13Bturbo  9.5 hours last week

Todd Bartrim

On Sun, Sep 16, 2018 at 6:26 PM, Charlie England ceengland7@gmail.com <flyrotary@lancaironline.net> wrote:

On 9/16/2018 7:33 PM, Charlie England ceengland7@gmail.com wrote:

On 9/16/2018 4:35 PM, Neil Unger 12348ung@gmail.com wrote:

Gents,

                  The cost of an ECU is around the $3000 plus possibly $4000 with a few fittings, which is substantial.  To simplify things a standard carby with a basic ignition systems would take a lot of money from the project.  What alternatives are there for a simple cheap ignition system to replace an ECU?

Neil Unger.

Are you willing to change the trigger wheel? You could look at the Mega Jolt (ignition only). It requires a 36-1 wheel, like Ford uses here in the USA (might be the same down under).

If you're interested in alternatives in full injection/ignition controllers, the Micro Squirt & Mega Squirt systems can both be set up for a rotary. Micro Squirt will have batch fired injectors (like almost all aftermarket systems for aviation engines). Mega Squirt can be set up just about any way you can dream up.

The Micro Squirt controller with harness is about $400 US. The Mega Squirt controller is about $600 US.

The car guys love them. Here's a link to an RX-7 forum page on the Mega Squirt:
https://www.rx7club.com/megasquirt-forum-153/

Charlie

Oops; forgot. Len Hanover has published a method using just a couple of trigger detectors and (IIRC) Chrysler ignition modules. Same can be done with GM HEI modules. Downside is fixed timing.

Charlie

---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus


--
Homepage:  http://www.flyrotary.com/
Archive and UnSub:   http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/lists/flyrotary/List.html