Current Draw/Supply

[Eric]

Between your electric fan, ECU, display, etc. how much current do you draw? How much do you find your alternator can supply? How big of a battery do you use?

[Eric]

Between your electric fan, ECU, display, etc. how much current do you draw? How much do you find your alternator can supply? How big of a battery do you use?

[George]

Last year we had ECU, twin electric water pumps and electric fan.

We were two amps down at idle (1500rpm), we broke even at just over 2000rpm. We use an odeysee deep cycle battery, never had anyproblems. Car always retains a good charge as long as you don't spend ages idling.

UQ Racing Team Leader 2003
www.uq.edu.au/fsae (http://www.uq.edu.au/fsae)

[B Lewis @ PE Engine Management]

Hi Eric,

We have an F3 on an engine dyno with all of the goodies. I will make a couple of current measurements for you tomorrow.

Brian Lewis
Performance Electronics, Ltd.
www.pe-ltd.com (http://www.pe-ltd.com)
"Complete Engine Management Systems"

[Eric]

I'd appreciate it, thanks.

[B Lewis @ PE Engine Management]

Eric,

Sorry it took so long to get back to you. I finally had a chance to make some measurements on the F3. Here's our setup:

- Our ECU (PE-ECU-1)
- Stock F4I injectors and ignition coils
- External fuel pump
- Big whoppin' fan
- Normal sensors (TPS, MAP, Air Temp, Water Temp, Heated O2)

Excluding the cooling fan and the fuel pump, the whole system draws around 5A. Keep in mind that this changes quite a bit depending on the duty cycle of the injectors and the charge time for the coils. The fuel pump is good for another 4A and the fan is about 5A.

Let me know if I can help further.

Brian Lewis
Performance Electronics, Ltd.
www.pe-ltd.com (http://www.pe-ltd.com)
"Complete Engine Management Systems"

[DoItDoug]

What about the addition of electronic shifting? Anyone had any problems with the solenoids drawing too much current and draining the battery over the course of an endurance run?

Doug Temple
'02 VT FSAE
www.vtmotorsports.com (http://www.vtmotorsports.com)

[B Lewis @ PE Engine Management]

Hi Doug,

I believe that there were several cars last year going the electrical route without any problems using motorcycle batteries. Cincinnati was one of them (I think).

Brian Lewis
Performance Electronics, Ltd.
www.pe-ltd.com (http://www.pe-ltd.com)
"Complete Engine Management Systems"

[alfordda]

Yep, we have had a soleniod the past two years. As far as I know we have not taken any measurements on current draw. We have not completed the enduro the past two years (rain, leaky diff), but we have had many full days of testing, without any problems that would be considered the soleniods fault.

Daniel Alford