★★★★George Graves★★★★ Project Blog for e30 Gizmos and Gadgets - 2025 UPDATE

[george graves]

Got a little more done on a few projects, so updated the sig.

I spent one full day on one-touch windows - now I need to get back to some long over-due client's projects.

BTW guys, buy a OBC temp sensor and help me out here.

[BMWLA]

so very cool a wizard in our midst what is the projected price on these?

[Mot]

i really want the hazard button oil temp/press/etc that thing will be sweet!

[Turf1600]

Sicn me up for volt meter and AFR

[Mtriple]

BTW guys, buy a OBC temp sensor and help me out here.

I would GG but I dont have an OBC!

[Farbin Kaiber]

I would GG but I dont have an OBC!

x2, I don't even have a clock there.

[Mtriple]

x2, I don't even have a clock there.

I guess I could buy one for my dog to beta test like she did with the interior dimming modules.

:roll:

[george graves]

LOL - that's a strong case too!

[deutschman]

have you guys checked this out?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47bvar2WdL0

[george graves]

Yea, that wheel costs $1000 + tax and 2 hours dealer install - and only fits e90's IIRC.

[bmw325csi]

very nice work. count me in for a volt meter/afr gauge.

[deutschman]

Yea, that wheel costs $1000 + tax and 2 hours dealer install - and only fits e90's IIRC.

yeah i know. just thought it was kinda cool. a few to many light for me. id feel like i was in a game show after a while with all those bells and lights going off all the time!

[mattdk318i]

I guess I could buy one for my dog to beta test like she did with the interior dimming modules.

:roll:

looks like my lighted shiftknob hazel got to......:crazy:

[george graves]

Got a little bit more done.I sill don't have all the parts I need for testing, so I did some work with the one touch windows set-up. It's coming along nicely.

So, a while back Nado sent me out a MAP sensor for the boost gauge(thanks man!). I finally got around to poking and prodding at it. The sensor is the same thing that is used in almost all fuel injection systems. It actually outputs Absolute pressure, hence the name MAP: Manifold Absolute Pressure. That is different than what you normally see on a boost gauge - which is Relative pressure.

Anyways, science nuts can read this for more information.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAP_sensor

The sensor I am using comes calibrated from the factory and is quite accurate (that is why it is used in applications like Mega Squirt) But for some reason, I wanted to SEE it working - not just trust the data it is spitting out constantly. So I hacked together a little test rig.



I know, I know - it looks a little hack-ie-ish. I was going to run to the hardware store and buy all sorts of fittings - but I just knew I'd ring up $50 in little parts. So I scavenged the shop for what I had and took it to the workbench. Note to self, be very careful when you pump up the pressure to 100 psi the first time. Things have a tendency to go flying like a bullet.

I have two gauges attached. One that reads 0-30 psi, and anther that reads 0-100.

I pumped the system up to +30 PSI, and let it slowly leak out the bleed screw. As that was happening, I video taped it side by side with a voltmeter, and now have a nice collection of data that I can use along with a barometer reading I took.

Next up is reading the signal with a micro controller, and automatically calibrating the signal for atmospheric pressure - since as you well know, we all don't drive at sea level - that will be easy, I've already done the math for that.

Stay tuned.

[kronus]

Are you using a programmable controller? It seems to me that all that calibration can be done on the fly with some C, once you establish a baseline.