The Electric Turbo Camaro Project

This is something that is obviously centered in the automotive world but is also dependent on microcontrollers so my 2nd episode belongs here more than anywhere else:

Here's the first video if you need some context on what's going on:

What a HUGE undertaking! And on top of everything, you want it to synthesize voice error messages?

I see this and there seems to be so many questions unanswered.

Why not just grab a sound or MP3 player board and record your error messages? Hire someone with an interesting voice to do the recordings for you. Could be fun..

How does the car engine deal with suddenly having pressure instead of vacuum in its intake? Will you need to change the injection map to make this work?

Can you retard the spark when the knock sensor triggers?

Why run it off a battery? Wouldn't it be better to feed the power from the car's alternator?

Impressive interface. That must have taken a LOT of typing! :slight_smile:

-jim lee

Hey Jim. Thanks for the feedback!

The MP3 board would be the logical thing to do of course but would be out of character for me. I like doing things the hard (retro) way :wink: I already chose all my sound bites tonight. Ready to assign error codes! TBH I had thought about doing real voice but the only way that would be worth the effort for me to do is if I had the money to hire a hot Japanese girl to do all the messages and I just don't have the budget for that at the moment so maybe I'll make it a stretch goal.

The engine (an LS3) has had its MAP sensor replaced by me with a 3 BAR sensor so it has its normal 0-5V range mapped between 0 and 3 atmospheres. Once it exceeds 1 atmosphere it's in boost but nothing special happens on the sensor, it just reads a slightly higher voltage. My fuel tables do need to be special, yes, but I've already upgraded my car's computer to accommodate a boosted table so no issues there. I'm also running in open loop so I have maximum control.

No, I cannot retard the timing. That is something that only the car computer can (and will) do. However I do have the ability to shut down whatever is boosting the car when I detect KR so I can at least stop what's causing the knock.

The battery is necessary for 2 reasons. 1) the alternator is a parasitic loss that takes away from the power you are making and 2) it can't supply the 300 amps I need to run the blower

Most of the code consists of GUI formatting and IF statements to handle the many possible states the system can be in based on all the sensors etc but all in all it isn't gigantic or anything. Chipping away at it night after night makes it seem manageable.

I had thought about doing real voice but the only way that would be worth the effort for me to do is if I had the money to hire a hot Japanese girl to do all the messages

No no no no no... You have that one wrong. Its a Camaro. Loud American rubber burning, gravel spitting monster. You need a Texas/Southern girl with that syrupy accent. "Y'all going to need to shut that there thing down honey. Looks like its gettin' s tad warm."

-jim lee ( Had 70 1/2 RS Camaro in High school. What a BLAST that machine was. Big 'Ol go-kart. )

Hahaha I really can't argue with you on that. Guess I need to buy myself a Nissan Skyline if I wanna hear Kaori-chan's voice on the weekday commute so I can leave the weekend free for a drive with Savannah with some sweet tea in the cup holder.

WOW! both the whole project and the controller. Please keep us updated.