Electronic Boost Controllers

[GTOJOE]

I would like To discuss EBC's. Pros and cons. Also closed lop vs. open loop. I currently have my Vi-PEC ECU controlling boost with a switch setup to switch between 7psi and 12psi using closed loop. Now the problem with using the ECU for this is that to set a new boost setting it has to be tuned/programmed in at that boost level. I discussed closed loop EBC's with my tuner and he said there any plenty out there and some of them are good lol.
I also just looked at the TurboXS dual or Quad stage EBC but from what I can gather it's an open loop setup.

High Performance Dual Stage Boost Controller

Quad Stage Boost Controller

Discuss.

Cheers,

Joe

[j2k4]

/subscribed

[MR2]

are you not tuned with MAP? my understanding was MAP was pretty good at just flip a switch to change style thing? or is your problem that you only have 2 settings to tell the ECU to choose from? (I know this is not helpful but figured I'd ask anyway)

[95gto]

I guess I don't understand the question completely. Regardless of the ebc's control method, different boost pressures require two different fuel maps. The only real expception would be tuning your car for high boost and using low boost as a neutered mode for something like the odd occasions someone inexperienced is driving the car. And in my experience when you run two different maps, one map is typically setup for race fuel, meth injection, etc rather than just for turning up the boost pressure.

Are you needing something for a racing application, and if so what kind of racing?

[mb3000]

Whatever you do, don't get the AVC-R.

I would rather tune a car with AEM EMS, in rush hour traffic, by myself, than deal with that crap.

[IPD]

Mbc 4-life

[GTOJOE]

I guess I don't understand the question completely. Regardless of the ebc's control method, different boost pressures require two different fuel maps. The only real expception would be tuning your car for high boost and using low boost as a neutered mode for something like the odd occasions someone inexperienced is driving the car. And in my experience when you run two different maps, one map is typically setup for race fuel, meth injection, etc rather than just for turning up the boost pressure.

Are you needing something for a racing application, and if so what kind of racing?

No not using it for race. It's a semi daily driver so the low boost setting is for cruising to work etc while the high boost is for spirited driving lol. It's set to max 12psi cus that's all we could safely do on the stock injecotrs. I have lots of fuel mods to install to resolve this and then it needs to be re-tuned. So my dilema is that I would like to be able to change the boost myself but if I use the ECU to control it I won't be able to [unless I learn to tune]. M ytuner told me if I use a good EBC then I could change it myself and it would only take a few pulls to get it right.

Joseph,

There is some work needed to get the Vipec controller to give you a range of selectable boost pressures. This is just more dyno time. The engine has to be run at all boost pressures to tune the settings. But when done, it works well.

With the good external closed loop controllers, they can be quickly setup on the road with just a few acceleration runs. Also offer a quick way to make changes as no PC is needed.

Ray.

The other option is an MBC or something like the TurboXS controller that has a manual adjustment knob and then a switch to swap between the 2 settings. The settings could then be very easily changed.

[BlackStealth]

I used to run a MBC in my early days but it's lacking. No shut down safety mechanism if you overboost, no turbo spoolup assistance to make your car faster, nothing to help compensate for boost loss at higher rpms.

My old Greddy Profec-A boost controller (closed loop) worked okay sometimes, and sometimes not. Twin turbos and long vacuum lines creates a lot of variables and this caused havoc on the Profec-A fuzzy logic at high boost.

Next I moved onto the GM Boost solenoid + AEM EMS, using the standalone ECU to control boost. It worked great as open loop, but required a lot of time to setup and adjusting boost on the fly was not possible unless you had your notebook with you at all times. Closed loop has many options and I didn't get the advanced stuff programmed in before I dumped the AEM EMS cuz of poor starting was getting on my nerves.

Next I used a Greddy Profec-B Spec II boost controller, menu's are a little confusing, after a few months I'd forget what was what, and had to refer to the manual often. The Greddy Profec-B worked like a champ.

Next I made my own electronic boost controller and used the same duty cycle approach as the Profec-B, more duty cycle=more boost. Mine function much like the Profec-B but I added these extras:
- adjustable boost curve (ie. add extra duty cycle to compensate for boost loss at higher rpms)
- reduce boost when knock is present
- reduce boost when water/alchy is low on fluid
- compensate for temperature changes
- two threshold spoolup assistance, this is very handy for twin turbo engines with long vacuum line plumbing (puts a stop to temporary overboosting).

[guido1205us]

No not using it for race. It's a semi daily driver so the low boost setting is for cruising to work etc while the high boost is for spirited driving lol. It's set to max 12psi cus that's all we could safely do on the stock injecotrs. I have lots of fuel mods to install to resolve this and then it needs to be re-tuned.

Hmm, I thought 14lbs was about max with stock injectors. That's what I have set with am AEM tru-boost. I do have a hotwire denso fuel pump so I'm getting enough fuel, and I've got no knock.

I pretty much like it, but I may not have all the settings right - A = 44 and B = 46. I do spike to 15 and settle back to 13 on a hard pull.

[Frostedbutts]

I always suggest a manual boost controller. I know this is a thread for EBCs, probably due to varying boost settings, but there's MBCs that can do that too.

After 3 different EBCs I finally went with a manual and have never had an issue. On top of having fewer things that can go wrong, a CO3S friend of mine was explaining to me other problems with voltage drops/spikes and EBCs responding poorly to them.