Microsquirt and relay board

MOLECULAR BOB · Post by **MOLECULAR BOB** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 4:05 am

I was planning to use the relay board and Megasquirt II originally, but having seen microsquirt, thought this looked like a better option. I already have the board on my car but not wired up, and was going to use a pre-made interconnect, so i was wondering if anyone is making interconect cables for relay board to Microsquirt.

Bernard Fife · Post by **Bernard Fife** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 9:21 am

MOLECULAR BOB,

I don't believe anyone is making a relay board to MicroSquirt cable commerically yet. I suspect this will happen at some point after MicroSquirt is released.

Such cables are a little less straightforward than with MegaSquirt, as there are more ignition options (both input and output).

Lance.

paul_f · Post by **paul_f** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 2:03 am

As the microsquirt has a very good connector as standard I would advise steering clear of the relay board, and just make the loom up using the wiring supplied with the microsquirt. Just get a 3 relay holder from vehicle wiring products or the like and wire the loom into that. Much more reliable than screw terminals.
Paul

Bernard Fife · Post by **Bernard Fife** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 8:25 am

Much more reliable than screw terminals.

Paul,

I don't agree with that. Unless they are overtightened and their threads stripped, screw terminals are very relaible, in my experience - we have had very, very few reports of failures of the terminal block.

However, the relay board is not sealed, whereas the AMPseal connector is. So it is definitiely a step up to the AMPseal connector. This should not dissuade people from using the relay board with MicroSquirt if it suits them and their installation though (I do).

Lance.

mrbell · Post by **mrbell** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 9:49 am

I agree w/ Lance. I've never had an issue w/ screw terminals. However, I am always a bit concerned about exposure to the elements with them. It's never been a problem, but something I've thought about.

Bernard Fife · Post by **Bernard Fife** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 10:08 am

mrbell,

Yes, I agree 100%. If I was going to drive a motorcyle to Alaska in the winter, I would want all sealed components, including heat shirk butt connectors, weatherpack sealed connectors, etc.

However, in a situation is which the relay board works well (under the hood in a 'normal' automotive environment), it should work just as well with MicroSquirt as it does with MegaSquirt.

So people really have to decide for themselves, based on their intended usage. However, there's no reason to reject the relay board out of hand without even considering it.

Lance.

MOLECULAR BOB · Post by **MOLECULAR BOB** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 4:01 am

Thanks All

The car i plan to squirt is a crossflow caterham 7, initially it will be spark only. Currently the relay board is sitting next to the cars fuse board, under the scuttle. Moving it would be no problem as there is no wiring installed yet, but the Caterham underbonnet is a bit more hostile than some. I had thought about putting the relay board into a larger case and using some gromets in the case to give some protection from moisure. Is this a good idea?

Should be able to wire up most of the relavent wires with the microsquirt pigtail and a DB37 one, and direct route the ones that are not covered via the relay board, does this sound like a plan? Please feel free to shoot me down as i havent had time to sit down and look at the two wiring diagrams side by side.

Bernard Fife · Post by **Bernard Fife** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 7:40 am

MOLECULAR BOB,

Sounds like a plan, that's what I did. You might want to have a few small breather holes in the case, to avoid condensation building up.

There's more here: http://www.microsquirt.info/uswiring.htm#relayboard

Lance.

MOLECULAR BOB · Post by **MOLECULAR BOB** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 1:21 am

Just seen the updated info page and it includes a wiring scheme for Microsquirt to the relay board, so all i need to do is wait for the units to become available.

paul_f · Post by **paul_f** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 5:52 am

I was thinking more of the enviromental consideration rather than reliablity.

It would seem a shame to have real nice connectors for the microsquirt, and then add an extra set of connectors in which could cause unreliability.

However its up to you anyway