Starting to Layout my Power Distribution

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Raymond_B
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Starting to Layout my Power Distribution

Post by Raymond_B »

Bunch of goodies showed up today, I think I am going to have a busy weekend :)

Physical

Image

Logical

Image
1995 Ford Lightning. Dart based 427 Windsor, Novi 2000, full sequential, E-85, etc. MS3X/v3.57
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nathaninwa
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Re: Starting to Layout my Power Distribution

Post by nathaninwa »

Please do post a finished pic. I love this bussman panels too. I used the nitrous daves relay center this time around though
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LAV1000
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Re: Starting to Layout my Power Distribution

Post by LAV1000 »

+1 on the pic :D
Raymond_B
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Re: Starting to Layout my Power Distribution

Post by Raymond_B »

Thanks!

The Nitrous Dave stuff is awesome, but he recommends not mounting it in the engine compartment which is where I have to put mine. Being a single cab truck there's just no room without a LOT of modification.
1995 Ford Lightning. Dart based 427 Windsor, Novi 2000, full sequential, E-85, etc. MS3X/v3.57
http://www.buildpics.org/
Raymond_B
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Re: Starting to Layout my Power Distribution

Post by Raymond_B »

OK, to my surprise it worked the 1st time! I mocked everything up on a scrap piece of plywood so excuse the mess and cheap connectors. When it gets moved over to the carbon fiber it will all be routed proper and tidy and use quality connectors.

Using a bench-top power supply and applying 12v to the main input only the fused circuits have power as expected. Then adding 12v to the Megasquirt relay trigger powers it up (simulating key on) and then finally grounding the main relay which simulates pin 37 fuel pump enable on the MS powers everything else up.

The only additional item I am going to do is add on of of these big 150A Tyco relays (have 2 for my fans) near my battery. That way the entire power distribution unit is dark until I turn the key on.

Image

Image
1995 Ford Lightning. Dart based 427 Windsor, Novi 2000, full sequential, E-85, etc. MS3X/v3.57
http://www.buildpics.org/
LAV1000
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Re: Starting to Layout my Power Distribution

Post by LAV1000 »

Why are you using 150A relays to drive your fans ?
Are those fans so big or is it just a nice relay you want to use ?

Routing:
Take care on the sensor wires (Vref, Sensor ground).
Avoid to run them paralell to power wires like fuel pump,injectors, O2 sensor, Pwm signals.
Those wires can generate noise into the system.
You probably can't avoid to keep them separated.
Try to make the routing in such a way that they only cross each other at one place in a right angle (90 degr).

Vref,sensor ground, 12Vacc:
Is it possible to get Vref and sensor ground in one housing ?
On this set up you easy mix up the Vref and 12Vacc, most sensors don't like 12V or just a short time :D
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Re: Starting to Layout my Power Distribution

Post by Raymond_B »

Thank you for your input! I am running a pair of big HO SPAL fans and the supplier recommended a 100+ amp relay to handle the startup current (https://www.a1electric.com/Merchant2/me ... 30102800HO). I have not worked out the Megasquirt fan control strategy, but I hope to have them come on one by one (like a high low setup). I was thinking about pin 6 and 26. But I also have a Microsquirt v3 that I am going to use as an I/O box so I have that available too.

One of the reasons the sensor grounds, MS power ground, and VREF are off on their own is to keep them away from all the hi output stuff towards the right. But I will keep that in mind as I do the final build.

Point taken on the the VREF and 12v junctions being too close. I've thought about that too. And honestly as I have been building my harness my 5V sensors have just been tied together in to one line so I think I can drop that junction all together. The junction was just an idea for future expansion, most likely it will go unused.

As a side note I plugged in the distribution center in the truck last night and did some quick injector tests and all seems well. Although I think I might have something going on with a corrupted MSQ or something else. Bluetooth connectivity was very intermittent so I connected via USB and flashed the Megasquirt to the latest general use firmware. I would get several CRC check errors and other random disconnects when doing anything that required a burn, even after the flash. So I flashed the MS again and did not carry forward any settings, sensor data, port state, etc, etc. That seemed to help. If I keep having issues I'll post all the pertinent data.
1995 Ford Lightning. Dart based 427 Windsor, Novi 2000, full sequential, E-85, etc. MS3X/v3.57
http://www.buildpics.org/
Raymond_B
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Re: Starting to Layout my Power Distribution

Post by Raymond_B »

This was back-burner'd for a while, but now I have a new toy that should help :)

Picked up an Inventables X-Carve 1000mm X 1000mm CNC router. Just waiting for some bits to come in to cut the carbon fiber. I am removing the two black junction boxes and mounting them to the inner fender, that allows me to make the PDU 12" X 8" and should be much easier to mount.

In the mean time built this gauge panel for my Nextions and a plate to cover where the OEM computer used to come through the firewall. Now it's where my Quick-4 wiring comes in. 2nd part is the Ford Lightning logo in ABS, it came out *much* cleaner when I used the right router speed, feed rate, and bit :)

Image

Image

Image

Here it is in action, I am making a small step stool for our aging Chaweiner, he has a hard time getting on the bed now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np90DT0mv-Y
1995 Ford Lightning. Dart based 427 Windsor, Novi 2000, full sequential, E-85, etc. MS3X/v3.57
http://www.buildpics.org/
Raymond_B
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Re: Starting to Layout my Power Distribution

Post by Raymond_B »

OK, finally wrangled my ADD in long enough to finish something. All I need to do is finish the wiring and install some grommets, but the hard stuff is done.

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1995 Ford Lightning. Dart based 427 Windsor, Novi 2000, full sequential, E-85, etc. MS3X/v3.57
http://www.buildpics.org/
Raymond_B
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Re: Starting to Layout my Power Distribution

Post by Raymond_B »

I was going to set it up rough and then cut everything out on the CNC router, but I might just leave it be, I think everything will look fine once it's powdercoated :)

Image

Image

Image
1995 Ford Lightning. Dart based 427 Windsor, Novi 2000, full sequential, E-85, etc. MS3X/v3.57
http://www.buildpics.org/
Raymond_B
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Re: Starting to Layout my Power Distribution

Post by Raymond_B »

OK, cleaned up my previous attempt. Removed the relays, those will mount on the fender. This goes on the truck tomorrow, spent this evening cleaning up what I ripped apart last weekend.

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1995 Ford Lightning. Dart based 427 Windsor, Novi 2000, full sequential, E-85, etc. MS3X/v3.57
http://www.buildpics.org/
Raymond_B
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Re: Starting to Layout my Power Distribution

Post by Raymond_B »

Getting there. Decided to cut a nice bracket out of 6061 aluminum. Here's a couple pics, ignore the 6ga cables they are just temp. I can't really build the final ones 'till I get the radiator and fans mounted which should be soon™ It's easy to take apart so I will get the bracket powdercoated later. I also need some shorter stainless screws, but I'll just wait until I take it apart to do the PC.

Image

Image
1995 Ford Lightning. Dart based 427 Windsor, Novi 2000, full sequential, E-85, etc. MS3X/v3.57
http://www.buildpics.org/
BigBlockMopar
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Re: Starting to Layout my Power Distribution

Post by BigBlockMopar »

Nice work!
I never can give myself enough time to make these kinda things look 'purdy'. I usually want to get stuff working as quick as can.
Always will aim for Riddler quality, but will settle for mediocre...

How much did the stuff in the first pic cost you?
Daily driver: 1973 Dodge Dart - 360ci engine - 11.3:1cr - MS3x - ignition only. 42RH/A500 OD+LU transmission / 3.23 gears
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DaveEFI
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Re: Starting to Layout my Power Distribution

Post by DaveEFI »

Rule of thumb here is not to have more connectors than needed. Hence not liking things like the MS relay board. Wire itself hardly ever causes faults. Connectors can and do.
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BigBlockMopar
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Re: Starting to Layout my Power Distribution

Post by BigBlockMopar »

Well, in my case I've found that setups usually change (items need to be added) just when most the electrical stuff is just about installed and done.
Whenever I try to focus on getting things 'nice', and actually get it somewhat neat, it almost always happens I have to dig into a nicely wrapped cable again to add some additional wires and connectors.
Daily driver: 1973 Dodge Dart - 360ci engine - 11.3:1cr - MS3x - ignition only. 42RH/A500 OD+LU transmission / 3.23 gears
--------------
Website: https://www.bigblockmopar.nl/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/BigBlockMopar
Raymond_B
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Re: Starting to Layout my Power Distribution

Post by Raymond_B »

BigBlockMopar wrote:Nice work!
I never can give myself enough time to make these kinda things look 'purdy'. I usually want to get stuff working as quick as can.
Always will aim for Riddler quality, but will settle for mediocre...

How much did the stuff in the first pic cost you?
Roughly $280.00 including the carbon fiber. Look up Racewire solutions, those guys get BIG money for pretty close to the same setup!
1995 Ford Lightning. Dart based 427 Windsor, Novi 2000, full sequential, E-85, etc. MS3X/v3.57
http://www.buildpics.org/
Raymond_B
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Re: Starting to Layout my Power Distribution

Post by Raymond_B »

DaveEFI wrote:Rule of thumb here is not to have more connectors than needed. Hence not liking things like the MS relay board. Wire itself hardly ever causes faults. Connectors can and do.
Yes, most everything I have is connected straight to the Megasquirt. This setup is for all the additional circuits to support that.
1995 Ford Lightning. Dart based 427 Windsor, Novi 2000, full sequential, E-85, etc. MS3X/v3.57
http://www.buildpics.org/
Raymond_B
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Re: Starting to Layout my Power Distribution

Post by Raymond_B »

BigBlockMopar wrote:Well, in my case I've found that setups usually change (items need to be added) just when most the electrical stuff is just about installed and done.
Whenever I try to focus on getting things 'nice', and actually get it somewhat neat, it almost always happens I have to dig into a nicely wrapped cable again to add some additional wires and connectors.
You're right, check out this thread http://www.msextra.com/forums/viewtopic ... 31&t=67583 I had to dig in to my harness chasing an issue. **But** because I had everything neat and labeled putting it back together wasn't near as rough as I thought. I did that yesterday afternoon. Honestly figuring out your paths and loom placement and labeling ahead of time makes it easier to add items or troubleshoot later on.
1995 Ford Lightning. Dart based 427 Windsor, Novi 2000, full sequential, E-85, etc. MS3X/v3.57
http://www.buildpics.org/
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