Making ECU for Motorbike Engine

Projects Discussion and Showcase Product Design
1

Hello everybody

I have actually a motorbike with carburetors from 1992 that is control by an old electronic "ECU" that basically control the spark advance according to the RPM.

I would like to replace this ECU with an homemade system that can be configurable.

First I would like to give some Specifications :

  • the all system is working in 12V so I need to find a solution to go from 12v to 5V in entry and from 5v to 12V in exit
  • the reaction time of the system has to be maximum 1ms
  • I have an hall effect sensor on the bike that give me the RPM but the analogic signal is growing up with the RPM from -8V/+8V at 1000RPM to -34V/+34V at 6000RPM (this sensor could be replace)
  • I need to control "Old style" coil that need a square signal to control them.
  • According to the RPM and the position of the Engine I need to control the exact moment of spark in the cylinder

The system is simple in theory but I need some help to resolved the problem of 12v to 5v and to know if it can be fast enough to control the spark advance.

(Entry) RPM and Engine position -> ARDUINO -> Signal for coil activation (Exit)

I have the RPM and Engine position with the same sensor by 1 long teeth follow by 3 Small.

Thank you for your help and sorry for my bad English

2

Are you planning to build a complete replacement system and THEN test it, or are you planning to build a parallel system and then test the new system, or are you planning to build a replacement single component at a time and test while being able to go back to the old component if necessary?
Please describe you complete plan for this project.

1 Like
3

On one side I will simulate the CODE on some simulator if possible or by trying to reproduce the signal of the old component.

The problem is about the physical delay I will get and the real analogic signal will have on the bike. I can test the entry and the Exit independently out of the engine. So trying to get RPM and Engine position first, then trying to make a spark with the spark system of the motorbike and then I will test it on an old motor with 2 cylinders. If it work I would like to use it on a 4 cylinder engine.

4

This sounds like a fun project, but I have my doubts about whether you have the necessary resources or tools to accomplish it. Projects of this nature are typically carried out by a team of engineers, technicians, and other specialists.

What is the background of your team? How many members have experience in electronics engineering, programming, etc.?

5

Take care of the delay by adjusting the timing signal start.

6

I am not making this tool to sell it or anything. I am a WorldSuperbike Engineer so I know pretty well all of the parameter, the problems and the details of this project. If I can't do it with an arduino I will try with something else. But my goal is to make it cheap because I make it only for fun. I have register on the motorbike the signals I need to analyse and create, about the code I am not worry at all but my first problem is about the feasibility of this project with an arduino

7

This I know but I am scared the delay will be longer than the time between 2 signals start

8

Which Arduino are you considering?