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MAC Solenoid Boost levels & spring strength

Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 12:23 pm
by DV8
Hi Guys,

after hours of fiddling about i've managed to get my boost to increase using the solenoid.

The only thing i wanted to sort is i'm using a 4 PSI on my spring (Tial MVS wastegate) and am having to use a 80% duty cycle to get to around 6-7 PSI. Do i need to use a stronger spring to be able to reach further on top of that spring - i.e. if i say use a 7 PSI spring will i be able to reach higher PSI using less duty cycle (guess i'm wondering if its exponential).

Also i have a MAC brand solenoid - do i need to set a frequency or can i just leave the box unticked.

Thanks :)

Re: MAC Solenoid Boost levels & spring strength

Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 12:52 pm
by Spunkster
Try 32Hz for a variable frequency. This should allow youto use a lower duty cycle and get more boost.

Re: MAC Solenoid Boost levels & spring strength

Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 2:35 pm
by DV8
Thanks Spunkster, just out of curiosity how does it work when the box is unticked? Does it use a default frequency?

Re: MAC Solenoid Boost levels & spring strength

Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 2:53 pm
by Spunkster
yes, default is about 78Hz i believe

Re: MAC Solenoid Boost levels & spring strength

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2014 2:46 pm
by DV8
Hi Guys,

just wanted to follow this up.

I tried a 7 psi spring in the tial wastegate which gave me a base reading of 5 psi.

I then set the activation pressure to 4.7 psi and went through the duty cycle adjust process.

It reached around 9 psi @ 80% duty cycle (and using your suggested 32hz setting).

Does this sound about right - i was expecting to see quite a few more psi @ 80% duty cycle.

Or do i need to be running a stronger spring to reach around 16 psi (want to keep some good low range for BBG).

Thanks

Re: MAC Solenoid Boost levels & spring strength

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2014 2:53 pm
by 1158
DV8 wrote:Hi Guys,

just wanted to follow this up.

I tried a 7 psi spring in the tial wastegate which gave me a base reading of 5 psi.

I then set the activation pressure to 4.7 psi and went through the duty cycle adjust process.

It reached around 9 psi @ 80% duty cycle (and using your suggested 32hz setting).

Does this sound about right - i was expecting to see quite a few more psi @ 80% duty cycle.

Or do i need to be running a stronger spring to reach around 16 psi (want to keep some good low range for BBG).

Thanks
Start to slowly increase the variable frequency. I have mine set at 35%. (also using 7 psi spring)

What is your setup? Can you post your calibration? I have messed with the BBG a lot and feel like I have a pretty good feel how it works. I can floor it in second with no wheel spin (holds 10-11 psi). In 3rd and 4th I reach 18-22 psi.

Re: MAC Solenoid Boost levels & spring strength

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2014 1:35 am
by DV8
1158 wrote:Start to slowly increase the variable frequency. I have mine set at 35%. (also using 7 psi spring)

What is your setup? Can you post your calibration? I have messed with the BBG a lot and feel like I have a pretty good feel how it works. I can floor it in second with no wheel spin (holds 10-11 psi). In 3rd and 4th I reach 18-22 psi.
When you say variable frequency do you mean increase the fixed duty? My variable frequency is already set to 32hz which helped increase the boost a little.

If you did mean fixed duty cycle then i've already gone from 40% (which gave me wastegate pressure) right up to 80% which only gave me an extra 4 psi.

Not too worried about the BBG yet - still trying to find more boost using fixed duty cycle.

Re: MAC Solenoid Boost levels & spring strength

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2014 5:52 am
by AREA876
Post your calibration and check your hose connections because you should be getting a lot more boost than that at 80%.

Re: MAC Solenoid Boost levels & spring strength

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2014 6:44 am
by DV8
AREA876 wrote:Post your calibration and check your hose connections because you should be getting a lot more boost than that at 80%.
Calibration on the boost screen is:
Maximum boost at 100% duty/normally closed
Fixed Duty Cycle - 80%
Activation Pressure - 4.7 PSI
Variable Frequency - 32 Hz

These are my hose connections - already checked for blockages.

Image

Re: MAC Solenoid Boost levels & spring strength

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2014 6:57 am
by AREA876
Try setting activation pressure to 1 psi

Re: MAC Solenoid Boost levels & spring strength

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2014 7:01 am
by AREA876
Which ECU are you using and does it have the boost components installed

Re: MAC Solenoid Boost levels & spring strength

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2014 7:50 am
by DV8
AREA876 wrote:Try setting activation pressure to 1 psi
Previously the early activation seemed to make it worse - but i'll try it again. :)
AREA876 wrote:Which ECU are you using and does it have the boost components installed
I'm using an S300 - unsure of any further version details but i can find out if needed?
Yes PWM components have been added and tested.

Re: MAC Solenoid Boost levels & spring strength

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2014 11:16 am
by 1158
DV8 wrote:
1158 wrote:Start to slowly increase the variable frequency. I have mine set at 35%. (also using 7 psi spring)

What is your setup? Can you post your calibration? I have messed with the BBG a lot and feel like I have a pretty good feel how it works. I can floor it in second with no wheel spin (holds 10-11 psi). In 3rd and 4th I reach 18-22 psi.
When you say variable frequency do you mean increase the fixed duty? My variable frequency is already set to 32hz which helped increase the boost a little.

If you did mean fixed duty cycle then i've already gone from 40% (which gave me wastegate pressure) right up to 80% which only gave me an extra 4 psi.

Not too worried about the BBG yet - still trying to find more boost using fixed duty cycle.
Yes, increase the variable frequency. But do it slowly, 1 or 2 % at a time. I increased it 10% when I was messing around and went right to boost cut lol.

And that fixed at 80% is quite high. Mine was at 42% but I've been using BBG so long I don't remember what psi that was giving me.

Re: MAC Solenoid Boost levels & spring strength

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2014 11:29 am
by DV8
1158 wrote:Yes, increase the variable frequency. But do it slowly, 1 or 2 % at a time. I increased it 10% when I was messing around and went right to boost cut lol.

And that fixed at 80% is quite high. Mine was at 42% but I've been using BBG so long I don't remember what psi that was giving me.
Cool i'll try that - with the default box ticked it didnt seem any different though and thats like 78hz (see above)


For anyone who thinks it'll help here's my Tune & a Datalog

Re: MAC Solenoid Boost levels & spring strength

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2014 11:36 am
by 1158
Nothing jumps out to me in cal file. Leave the fixed at 80% for now and start to increase the variable slowly. I bet your boost comes up (make sure you have a boost cut set). Then you can start playing with the fixed/variable to get the levels you want.

Good luck and let us know.