VP 44 home made brains part 2 getting real now

[Great work!]

I have a new proto type with custom circuit boards so I don't have to worry about a big mess of wires and components moving around and causing problems. I can move on to working out more of the code. My tune tables need some work and I need to build an ECU to operate my guage cluster and OBD2 port. Got my transmission signal working pretty good. I need to make a TPS calibration routine. 

 

Here's a new video of it running. 

 

[Tractorman]

@Great work!, you are a talented man!!  I couldn't even begin to take on that task.

 

- John

[Mopar1973Man]

No joke. 

 

Got to wonder on your tune now? Did you get the error codes in the code?

[Great work!]

I have most of the error codes working. There are a couple that don't apply now, but they only display on my computer by serial port. When I get the ECU working I have to figure that out.

 

I have fuel to boost table , fuel to rpm table, no load timing and full load timing vs rpm and a load calculator.

 

I need to improve the tps scale so my tranny has some better shift points vs pedal position.  It's  a bit downshifty.

[Mopar1973Man]

Interresting. You got me to follow your ECM build. Oh did you upgrade MAP sensors to get wider range of boost to fuel tables? 

[Great work!]

I have not decided if I'll use the original stock sensors and wiring or change over to something more universal and cheaper with standard connections and threads. The map sensor is limited and expensive. The oil pressure sensor is some what delicate too.

[Mopar1973Man]

Sounds like a plan.

[DanTheMan]

I am genuinely curious if you’ve gotten any further on this build. I find this fascinating, I’ve built a small “ECU” with fuel maps for a small fuel injected engine from a generator some years ago, but this would be neat to have for my old truck.

 

If you're willing to, I’d love to take a peek at your project and try my hand at it on my truck.

 

Incredibly talented, this stuff fascinates me. 

[Great work!]

Soon. My VP44  project is being reviewed on github. It's still pretty rough.

 

My ECU project had a couple of screw ups. So I had to cut traces and make modifications to the board. I want to update the schematic and pcb artwork before releasing. The code is going well and technically less challenging then the vp44. I already have the grids, lift pump wait to start, EEPROM save and restore, watchdog working. The idle governor will be the same as the Vp. I already have the code for the temp sensors. Called Stienhart-Heart approximation. Ckp and cmp is the same as vp project too. CAN, OBD2, SAE 1850 and error detection DTCs still to do. I've done some CAN on other stuff so it's not new to me. I have a spare instrument cluster that I can control with CCD too. I can't figure out the CCD part for the overhead mileage computer because I have no working ECU to monitor.

[Linux]

I'd love to pitch in where I can. I'm full speed ahead on a VGT controller until I have it at least working enough to pull my RV. In the process I'm working on a number of things that are applicable to both the ECU and vp44 controller.  I've done up a very robust canbus circuit with Uber circuit protection. Today I'm going to start on reading a 10 bar psia sensor and a 5 bar to get in and out pressure on my primary turbo. I'll be using an STM32H7VIT6 MCU at 480mhz with a dual precision FPU. I'll share my work later today. It's all in easyeda so it's super easy to see with a link, and super easy to order pcbs from jlcpcb. 

 

I'm tracking my progress in a spreadsheet. 

 

My goal is to use only readily available quality sensors. I really like the AEM sensors that use Deutsch plugs. 

 

I feel like I'm just ranting now 😂 

[DanTheMan]

@Great work!, I will pitch in where needed as well. If you’d like to drop a form of payment (if allowed), I can drop some cash to help your development, or if you need something specific.
 

Again, I’m fascinated by this stuff, and actually wouldn’t mind buying a “dev board” from you so to speak. You’re very well going to revolutionize the 24 engines at some point if you continue this, add to the scarcity because everyone would like to run them, but these ECUs are way too expensive and soon will be obsolete and impossible to find for reasonable price. 
 

I am convinced that all this new stuff coming out, some may last a very long time but it’s the proprietary technology that drives them that would be the reason this stuff ends up in junkyards prematurely.

[Linux]

I started a slack channel for cummins dev stuff, currently i'm the only one in it. If y'all would like to join it's a great place to have async conversations about this stuff and share code, links,  and files etc.  Just send me a PM with your email and I'll toss you an invite. 

that being said, I have a 2001 cummins sitting on my shop floor with a bad VP44. It's also got 18 cracked valve seats, and wasn't firing on at least one cylinder. But I'm super motivated to get it hooked up to a radiator and plumb the exhaust outside so I can use it as a test bench. I really want to dig into the decoder code for the cam sensor and see what I can do to wrap it up into a pretty class with a bow tie. I have the idea of using a laser distance finder like they use in the new laser tape measures and measuring the actual position of the piston and compare it to the output of the sensor decoder(can't do this while it's running obviously lol). I want to start working on a common rail ECU at some point, and that will be SUPER important to make it run right. It will requires uS timing and knowing exactly when to start injections for timing etc. So I figure this VP44 controller is a great place to start on the code that will be common between the two and it will just be fun on top of it. 

[Tractorman]

You guys are amazing!

[DanTheMan]

@Linux Count me in! I’ll send you a PM. Would love to join.

 

I have ordered PCBs and components to replicate this ECU, excited to get my paws into this.

 

I like the idea of having a test bench, i thought about buying another Cummins engine and doing the same thing.