VEMS v3 ECU User manual

12/16/2012
Installation Instructions and Setup Guide | Jason Russell

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Table of Contents
Initial Information ........................................................................................................................................ 4
Legal isclaimer ....................................................................................................................................... 4
Planning Guide ......................................................................................................................................... 4
Getting Started ............................................................................................................................................ 5
Power up on the bench ............................................................................................................................ 5
Grounds ................................................................................................................................................... 5
Power Grounds .................................................................................................................................. 5
Sensor Ground ................................................................................................................................... 6
+12V Supply ............................................................................................................................................. 6
Connecting serial port .............................................................................................................................. 7
Connect essential sensors ............................................................................................................................ 8
Crank Trigger ............................................................................................................................................ 8
Connecting the primary trigger (Crank) ................................................................................................... 8
Configuring the crank trigger ................................................................................................................... 9
Connecting the Secondary Trigger (Cam) ................................................................................................. 9
Configuring the Secondary Trigger (Cam) .............................................................................................. 10
Temperature Sensors ............................................................................................................................. 10
IAT – Inlet Air Temperature .............................................................................................................. 10
CLT – Coolant Temperature .............................................................................................................. 10
TPS – Throttle Position Sensor ............................................................................................................... 11
Configuring the TPS sensor ................................................................................................................... 11
Secondary Sensors ..................................................................................................................................... 12
WBO2 ..................................................................................................................................................... 12
EGT ........................................................................................................................................................ 12
Knock .................................................................................................................................................... 13
Primary Outputs ........................................................................................................................................ 14
Connecting Ignition Components .......................................................................................................... 14
Example coil connections ................................................................................................................ 16

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Single coil ......................................................................................................................................... 16
Coil pack .......................................................................................................................................... 17
Coil on plug (COP) ............................................................................................................................ 18
Using the Stepper Motor river to control Ignition ............................................................................... 18
Ignition Setup ......................................................................................................................................... 19
Index engine .......................................................................................................................................... 20
Injector Model ....................................................................................................................................... 21
Injector Outputs ..................................................................................................................................... 22
Secondary Outputs ................................................................................................................................ 22
Inputs ......................................................................................................................................................... 23
Misc Outputs ............................................................................................................................................. 23
List of Authorized Resellers ........................................................................................................................ 24
Appendix .................................................................................................................................................... 25
Connector pinout ................................................................................................................................... 25

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Initial Information
Legal Disclaimer
The authors, advisors, manufacturers, website maintainers or anyone involved in shipping or
support are NOT responsible for consequences - even if it's proven that any injury, damage or
inconvenience is directly caused by their advice.
No applicability of the hardware, firmware, other software, instructions, or documentation for a
particular purpose is claimed.
ll installers, diy-ers, and users are responsible for testing, installing, programming and using
their units.
You understand that modifications are suitable to ruin your engine. Modifications usually
invalidate any emission related certification, and most often invalidates the license to use the
equipment (eg. car, snowmobile) at all. For off-road use only.
You understand that like any electronic or mechanical equipment, they can fail. Failing
equipment in a vehicle can be fatal.
You are responsible for compliance with the laws of your jurisdiction.
If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is found to be invalid by any court having
competent jurisdiction, the invalidity of such provision shall not affect the validity of the
remaining provisions of these Terms and Conditions, which shall remain in full force and effect.
No waiver of any of these Terms and Conditions shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver
of such term or condition or any other term or condition.
In short, we can not cover every conceivable scenario. Please be aware of the consequences and plan
accordingly. Be safe!
Planning Guide
Things you need to know before ordering an ECU:
•Crank trigger type
•Trigger wheel
•Cam trigger type (if applicable)
•Number of Cylinders
•Number of coils
•Type of coil (logic level or high current)
•Number of fuel injectors
•Type of fuel injectors (high impedance or low impedance)

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•Type and value of temperature sensors
•Any accessories or options you may want
•MAP sensor range (2.5 bar, 3bar, 4bar, or external)
Order info, options, ignition outputs, EGT, Knock,
Getting Started
Initial Power up
Connect all the grounds
Grounds
From the outset it cannot be stressed enough just how important grounding is. 95% of all noise
issues are due to poor grounding.
Grounds need to be connected with a clean connection and thick wire, and near the ECU. There
are two branches so the fluctuation of power signals do not interfere with the measured signals
(most importantly: the trigger):
Power Ground handles the noisy and high currents generated by driving injectors, coils and
solenoids.
Sensor Ground handles 0 to 5v signals from crank, throttle and temperature sensors. VR-trigger
sensor at low RPM (cranking) is the most sensitive to noise.
The GROUND rules:
•connect Sensor GN (EC36 pin 26) and the 4 Power GN s with short (preferably 10..15cm, max
20..30cm from EC36), strong (preferably 0.75mm2 or stronger) wires.
oPower Grounds & Sensor Grounds MUST terminate at the same point - Common
Ground. Run the wires into a single ring crimp so that there is no chance of one ground
coming free.
•Keep the Power Ground connection (EC36 pin26, 5,21,22,32) pins to the Common Ground point
short max 0.1 .. 0.3m,
ouse strong wires. Preferably all 5 wires should be 0.75mm2 or stronger. Some
installations (particularly with no PWM-ing) could tolerate somewhat longer wires, but
why risk it ? (ground problems are like ghosts, very hard to track down). The length of
wire(s) from this common ground point to battery / chassis can be longer (and usually
are long). Strong wires must be preferred (total 4mm2), and not longer than necessary.
But at least nowhere near as sensitive as the wires right at the ECU.
oconnect the ground of the sensors to the Common Ground point or to the sensor ground
branch, that is EC36pin26.
oConnect Power Grounds to the Common Ground point, or anywhere you like (except the
sensor-ground branch)
•Failure to connect Sensor Ground and Power Ground will damage your VEMS. Even on the test
bench !