THE CONTROLBOX
Our Open-source Control Box can be used to optimize the TORQAMP specially for your application. You can connect TPS, a PWM signal and or your intake manifold pressure as input signals and program the settings yourself. If you are not able to program the board, no worries, we have some standard settings/ programs that you can download from our website.
We developed a simple Control Box that gives more flexibility in controlling the TORQAMP. This Control Box is equipped with several inputs and the output sets the speed of the TORQAMP. The values measured and send by the Control Box can be easily shown on the screen of your notebook. Programming the Control Box is very easy, even if you have limited programming experience. It is based on the well known Arduino system. The software and PCB layout is open-source and available on our website. So take one of the example codes for easy implementation and alter the settings or be inspired by this project and make your own Control Box.
The Control Box is equipped with an analog input which you can connect to your Throttle Valve position sensor. The Control Box reads out the value and converts this to the TORQAMP speed you want. For example, 70% throttle is 80% boost.
The TORQAMP works great with a large turbo build and can eliminate turbo lag. In this case you also have to connect the Control Box pressure sensor to the intake manifold of your engine. The TORQAMP will spool up the large turbo and when the turbo produces enough pressure the TORQAMP will decrease in speed. This results in a much more responsive engine and a huge torque gain at the lower engine rpm.
When you run with an Open-ECU but don’t have an analog output, you probably have a PWM output available. If your have any experience with programming open ECU’s you can write your boost map in the Open-ECU based on your own parameters. The PWM output is converted by the Control Box to a speed setpoint for the TORQAMP.
implementation
The way you want to use the Control Box is highly depending on your implementation of the TORQAMP.
Naturally Apsirated boosting
When you have a TORQAMP on your naturally aspirated engine and you want to control the speed of the compressor with your throttle pedal.
Cars are already equipped with TPS sensors for decades, so it is easy to tap into this singal and directly connect to the Control Box.
You only have to connect 4 wires from your car:
- GND from battery
- 12V (extra nice to take a switched one from your car radio)
- GND from TPS sensor
- Signal from TPS sensor
This is the easiest way if you want to control the boost based on the throttle position.
In the software you can find a table which links the input of the TPS to the compressor speed.
NOTE: We don’t recommend to turn the compressor at low TPS values because you can simply add more air into your engine by opening the throttle valve. This will also drain your battery a bit. Take for example at 75% TPS signal a slow rotating compressor and at 100% TPS signal a fast rotating compressor.
NOTE: Boosting at low air mass flow will damage the TORQAMP compressor due to the surge phenomena.
Turbo Builds
The TORQAMP will work great with large turbo builds.
It spools up the turbo at much lower engine RPM’s providing a huge torque gain.
For this we developed Boost Control.
Boost control is an additon on TPS control.
You only have to connect 4 wires from your car:
- GND from battery
- 12V (extra nice to take a switched one from your car radio)
- GND from TPS sensor
- Signal from TPS sensor
In addition you connect the hose to the intake manifold to measure the pressure.
The TPS value will now provide a boost setpoint you want to achieve as boost in your intake manifold (for example 40kPa = ~6psi boost at 75% TPS.
When you hit the 75% throttle position the TORQAMP will spool up till the pressure is achieved.
When the turbo takes over the boost pressure the TORQAMP will spool down.
NOTE: Don’t try to achieve boost with a nearly closed throttle valve. This will damage the TORQAMP compressor due to the surge phenomena.
Programmable ECU
A lot of people are driving with an Open/Programmable ECU.
These ECU’s sometimes have analog outputs which could be programmed via a map.
This is great and doesn’t require the Control Box.
When your Open ECU has no analog output but only a PWM output the Control Box can convert this signal to a usable signal for the TORQAMP.