Chamber Pressure Monitor

[Fingers]

Been a while since I have posted anything on this. Some people have been asking about them again so....

I am now on Rev 3 of the monitor. The electronics have come a long way as you can see below.

But that is the internals. Here is the finished box

They come with all the cables sensors and software you need to tap your engine. The electronics run off the USB bus on your laptop.

McRat has come across the VW glowplug/pressure sensor, but I don't know if they are going to be compatible with these systems or not.

 

[McRat]

The VW sensor will require tapping and drilling your stock LLY head glowplug port, and it will not work on LBZ+'s. Problem, is it's 10mm fine thread instead of 10mm normal like LLY's.

It has an odd connection for the electrics too:

 

[Fingers]

Now that I have seen the connector, that is a simple push style coax connector. They have hijacked the shield connection to provide the power for the glow plug. Grounding is through the glow plug body.

Do not use a volt meter to trace the connections, you could fry the sensor. Most have a very low current tolerance unless this one has internal protection. To be safe you need to use a current limited probe.

How much do these cost? brand names? Part numbers?

 

[McRat]

I'll look in the AM. About $145 retail, readily available, the $44 one is NOT the right one.
Application is 2009 VW TDI.

 

[slowlmm]

The VW sensor will require tapping and drilling your stock LLY head glowplug port, and it will not work on LBZ+'s. Problem, is it's 10mm fine thread instead of 10mm normal like LLY's.

It has an odd connection for the electrics too:

could you make and adapter of sorts that fits in the glow plug hole then thread the sensor into that ?

 

[duratothemax]

cool. Made by Beru I assume?

 

[duratothemax]

could you make and adapter of sorts that fits in the glow plug hole then thread the sensor into that ?

they are both 10mm.... Something is going to have to get drilled/tapped/modified no matter which way you slice it.

 

[McRat]

Yup, 4.4 volts. VERY close to the LLY sizing, only the stupid fine thread creates a problem.

 

[duratothemax]

probably be just as easy to wait for the 2010 dmax pieces. Might even fit without redrilling/tapping.

 

[McRat]

The 2010 has piezo injectors, I thought the glowplugs were normal. I'll have to check.

 

[Fingers]

The thing will be if the sensor is fast enough to actually catch peak pressures or if they are slow devices that you can use to project what the peak pressure was. At that price point, I suspect a slow sensor.

For engine management applications, you do not have to, nor do you really want to see the pressure spike signal. You only need an indication of the combustion event.

 

[McRat]

Dunno, but prices go down when make 100,000 of something.

 

[paint94979]

Dunno, but prices go down when make 100,000 of something.

lol

 

[Fingers]

Maybe, but that is about 1/4 the price of a high speed sensor without the glow plug.

 

[mytmousemalibu]

Great thread guys, glad to see the chamber psi stuff back in circulation again! Very, very, intresting stuff! Whats one of thoes boxes gonna cost Fingers? PM if ya preffer. Any other options for pressure sensors? Does it really need to incorperate a glow plug? Get 7 cylinders goin, the last ones gonna light!

 

[McRat]

Maybe, but that is about 1/4 the price of a high speed sensor without the glow plug.

At least. I paid about a grand for a sensor. Even when I knew Beru was working on something.

The VW sensor is probably not the answer unless we can somehow modify the sensor itself instead of the head, and you're right, we don't know the electronics on it, so it might not even be useable.

My shelves are full of stuff that is "cool" but has no realistic application.

 

[slowlmm]

I like the looks of johns system so far since its complete. when i have a few extra bucks i want to get one

 

[NemesisDP]

How about the big rigs? I thought that I had read somwhee that the new trucks had somthing like this already. Looked all over but can't find where I read it.

 

[McRat]

I like the looks of johns system so far since its complete. when i have a few extra bucks i want to get one

Just to clarify to everyone, I'm not making cylinder pressure systems. I built one for my truck, but now I switched from LLY to LBZ heads so I can't use it.

I recommend Jonathan's system based on good reviews I read from users.

 

[McRat]

How about the big rigs? I thought that I had read somwhee that the new trucks had somthing like this already. Looked all over but can't find where I read it.

Far as I know Beru holds the patent, and from what I read, the first use in North America is the TDI.