DIY Boost controller?

[Chris95RT]

Has anyone ever attempted this? Can't be too difficult in my mind.

[Chris95RT]

Hah, let me restate my original question. I know DIY mechanical boost controllers have been around for a while.

How about a DIY EBC?

[SAgosto]

Why?

[Chris95RT]

Why not, seems to me it would be fun and it shouldn't be that hard to do with a small micro, a map sensor and some sort of controllable valve solenoid.

[TajMan]

I've built small electronics like that, sure possible to do (prob not easy), & probably not beneficial to you in any way except fun of soldering and say you made it if you like that.

I got a MBC from IPO once, saw how easy that was to make yourself.

With my Conquest I tried to make my own. Hard to source correct size ball bearings, got a spring-brass fittings-etc. I could never get the damn thing to work for me, only boosting wastegate boost.

[Monochrome]

I made my first MBC. Wasn't too difficult. There was a vfaq about it on dsmtalk back in the day.

EBC? Out of my league.

[moffman93']

mine is homeade. boost creeps a bit when its cold but other than that its accurate. its crazy sensitive though. A 1/16" turn is like 2psi lol.

[Twin-Turbo]

I have my home made MBC somewhere in the garage. She holds boost solid as a rock. I loved that little thing. The Greddy is much better, though.

[JagdStealth]

I made my first MBC...was easy and cost $3 at Home Depot...

Why bother spending $100 on a very rudimentary EBC when you can get a used old EBC for less that will work better?

[SAgosto]

It's doable but not worth it for a MBC because of the cost. EBC... Well, I like my EBC features which is outside what this thread really details. It would be cool to do but I am a bit hesistant to do anything like that given the possible bad outcome.

[Chris95RT]

I can imagine the poor outcome due to a malfunction, but I think it would be fun to get the components together and try and I suppose you could design a failsafe into the system. After all its just designing a control system to limit the amount of pressure in a system... in its simplest form.

I can imagine the components would be somewhere along the lines of a micro, opto, solenoid valve, map sensor and maybe some other random stuff. I wouldn't dream of doing it without an IC, too difficult doing it analog.

I don't think I'd put it in the car, but it would be neat to make it and maybe refine it. Kind of get an idea of how stuff works together. Could add more features like a temp sensor, IAT sensor and could even get more complicated as time goes on.

As for why I would want to do this... dunno, I'm looking for a project to do in school with an our relic micro (68blahblahHC11) and I think this would be something neat to do.

With all the smartypants on the board I wondered if anyone tried to build one out of a nitrous/FP solenoid or something along those lines

[Jeremy C]

the only guy I know of to make his own EBC would be (Turbo)Bob. Talk to him, seriously.

[vr4]

i was going to build 1 for a friend of mine but found it cheaper and less stressful to spend the 11 bucks shipped for the same damn thing off ebay.

[i3igpete]

EBC, steve-o.

a zero-gain boost controller would be pretty simple, i.e. a simple ratio like an MBC. i'd probably want to go with a stepper motor in this case, since without any control (just setting a duty cycle) you'll probably overheat a large solenoid needed for boost.

but no way would i trust my own control logic.

[Chris95RT]

[quote=""vr4""]i was going to build 1 for a friend of mine but found it cheaper and less stressful to spend the 11 bucks shipped for the same damn thing off ebay.[/quote]

11 bucks shipped for a map sensor, a solenoid and controller? wowza. I was just trying to figure out what parts I may need, but I think I have everything pretty well thought out. Like I said wondering if anyone with some prior knowledge has tried this, a quick few googles has yielded me some people doing this with FP regulators and Nitrous solenoids.

[quote=""i3igpete""]EBC, steve-o.

a zero-gain boost controller would be pretty simple, i.e. a simple ratio like an MBC. i'd probably want to go with a stepper motor in this case, since without any control (just setting a duty cycle) you'll probably overheat a large solenoid needed for boost.

but no way would i trust my own control logic.[/quote]

Figured I'd start off with a zero gain, just to get it to match pressures in a system and depending on the valve you're right and you can probably use PWM to drive it. But some creative interrupt use, I can begin to see how you could expand on the logic with more sensors.

How would you figure you would overheat the solenoid, too much switching? I was thinking stepper motor as well instead. And an opto to isolate the micro.

[i3igpete]

[quote=""Chris95RT""]How would you figure you would overheat the solenoid, too much switching? I was thinking stepper motor as well instead. And an opto to isolate the micro.[/quote]

yeah. since with a zero-gain logic, you're just flicking the solenoid open/closed non-stop... sitting at a red light and the solenoid will still be going nuts. cruising around town at 35mph and the solenoid is still clicking. it can't be good for it. with a feedback loop you can let it rest in the closed position until you actually need it.

ford idle air controllers can probably get away with it since they're smaller and lighter, but i dont think a boost solenoid can handle the heat.