Ragtop Posted March 15, 2004 Share Posted March 15, 2004 Done a search and turned up some interesting stuff back in 2002 ref people about to fit Emerald/Omex/DTA etc etc. Now coming up for a couple of years later, I wonder if anyone has any good advice on which is the best management system for my standard 2.0 Zetec on 45 carbs. I assume by now most people will have experience of reliability and so on Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westfieldman Posted March 15, 2004 Share Posted March 15, 2004 Any of them as all it does is time the spark fuel is done by the carbs If it was TB's then you have a choice as to how much else it will do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragtop Posted March 15, 2004 Author Share Posted March 15, 2004 Thanks Paul - I was hoping someone might have a view on upgradability/reliability/ease of setup & use, quality of ECU & components etc etc. I will using 3D hopefully, which at least takes potentiometer reading from the throttle position Vs ignition map Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Seabrook Posted March 15, 2004 Share Posted March 15, 2004 I can only speak of the Emerald system but if you go for the ignition only then you can upgrade it later to fuel and ignition. The other thing for Emerald is you can get it mapped your self unlike some other systems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conibear Posted March 15, 2004 Share Posted March 15, 2004 hows that then matt do you get a floppy with the kit then? Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonbell Posted March 15, 2004 Share Posted March 15, 2004 Ian The software comes free with the emerald. You can hook up a laptop and either simply download a ready made map for the spec of your engine or create your own map. Obviously a rolling road and some idea of how to map is an advantage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conibear Posted March 15, 2004 Share Posted March 15, 2004 Ian The software comes free with the emerald. You can hook up a laptop and either simply download a ready made map for the spec of your engine or create your own map. Obviously a rolling road and some idea of how to map is an advantage magnificent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westy666 Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 anyone use the omex ecu? from what i can make out it's user mapable also (and a bit cheaper than the emerald) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Seabrook Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 Yep the Emerald system is easy to map as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chazpowerslide Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 I'm putting the Dunnell 3D into my 2.0 Zetec SE once i've fitted my sparkley new Pinto (and new [second hand] black body) to the other car. It's about £550 + VAT, fully up gradeable and comes with all the bits you need to get the job done (including the inlet manifold) Chaz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAZ 4 Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 The only thing that has always troubled me with ECU's/Engine Management is that there must be an agreed monopoly on these units between manufacturers. By this I mean I cannot see how they justify their prices when you compare the units to say top end hifi equipment, that have a lot more sophisticated components within them. Just my opinion of course Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard M Green Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 As with most low volume products the majority of the cost to the purchaser is in amortising the NRE (Non Recurring Expense) associated with the design - and in the case of ECUs that means a lot of software..... In terms of recurring cost I'd have thought that the wiring loom and the pcb are probably the two most expensive components. I may be wrong but I'd be surprised to see even top end hi-fi that needs multi layer boards, and the connectors are generally cheaper because they only need to withstand a benign environment. Oh yes: I've used Dunnell once and Emerald twice - wasn't impressed by Dunnell who (at that time) wouldn't release mapping software, whereas with Emerald it's all freely available. Post sales support from Emerald is excellent and I would recommend them to anyone...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toby Mack Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 As with most low volume products the majority of the cost to the purchaser is in amortising the NRE (Non Recurring Expense) associated with the design - and in the case of ECUs that means a lot of software..... exactly. I did some sums to see if I could make money with specialist car electronic bits, selling to enthusiast like you lot. Decided I'd have to charge Stack prices to make it worth while. In reality I reckon I would make more money (per hour) stacking shelves at Tescos There is also manufacturing costs. I've just been looking at an metal part about the size of a fag packet. 1 off price: £800. 1 million off price: probably about £1. Of course the 1 off is machined from solid. the million off will be pressed from sheet using a tool that costs 10s of thousands to make. Maybe not directly comparable to ECUs but you get the point! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill shurvinton Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 There is always the megasquirt. Around £120 as a kit of parts you solder up. Around £160 built and tested. DIY, but thanks to the development community will do most of what a sub £800 unit does, and if it doesn't I'm sure someone is coding for it. Come the summer there is a new Ultra Megasquirt coming out, which is at motec levels for capabilities, with fully open source C code. Luvverly, if a little subversive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Wood Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 Well done Bill. Was just about to say the same. Just to add that Megasquirt has transformed my Zetec. Combine it with a WB O2 sensor and it's very powerful indeed. It took about 30 miles on the road to go from nothing to a map that was far more fun than the carbs ever were and since then I've been gradually refining it. Fuel consumption is way down from the carb levels already, and I've really only just started trying to go for economy. Beats £500 for the ECU plus £200 on a rolling road any day. Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.