Crane Fireball XR and MSII

Adam Dustin · Post by **Adam Dustin** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 6:02 pm

Im looking for information on using the crane xr700 optical triggering system to run megasquirt II. I have found a bunch of info relating to megasquirt'n'spark, but not much for msii (v.3). I have read that the signal (grey wire) does not put out enough voltage for ms to recognise it (and i experienced this when i got no spark hooking msii into that wire). Has anyone used this ignition system effectively with msii?

the next thing i will try is taking the signal after the amplifier box, but i dont know if msii has enough juice to effectively trigger the coil.

any info out there. anyone done this before.

Adam Dustin · Post by **Adam Dustin** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 7:05 pm

so upon further reading, msii cannot run off of the negative side of the coil due to its advanced state in the ignition stage. so my question is, is there a way to effectively amplify the signal from the optical sensor, so msii can pick it up if i cant control spark from the (-) side of the coil?

im hoping im not s.o.l. with this ignition system. would be a terrible waste of money.

Bernard Fife · Post by **Bernard Fife** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 7:42 pm

Adam,

What you need is a transistor - these are amplifiers by nature. An NPN transistor hooked to a 5 Volt source (collector) and ground (emitter) with a resistor to limit the current, and switched by the optical sensor (again with a resistor to limit the current to the base) will do what you want.

There's an intro here: http://www.technologystudent.com/elec1/transis1.htm

For a practical solution see: http://www.msefi.com/viewtopic.php?p=93343#93343

Lance.

Adam Dustin · Post by **Adam Dustin** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 7:28 pm

so msii needs around a min of 1.8v(?) to for ignition triggering. is there a maximum voltage?

basically what im asking is can i run a simple 12v transistor or do i need to bring the voltage down (with resistor or voltage regulator or alike) before and use the 5v transistor described in the link above.

Adam Dustin · Post by **Adam Dustin** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 8:44 pm

i ask because i want to do this outside of the ms board. i did not build it and am a bit hesitant to dive into a completed working board. i have a friend who can make me up something independed with out too much trouble, assuming i have accurate info.

arnold · Post by **arnold** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 2:27 am

any progress? I would like the same application