Controlling Custom Maps With ECU Connect APP

Owned by Brandyn Mowat
Last updated: Jul 07, 2022
11 min read

 

Custom Inputs/Parameters in Pro ECU and ECU Connect APP

 

Custom Parameters

Custom parameters are an exciting feature developed in the RaceROM feature file (patch) that allows the user to interact with custom maps inside the ECU to control set points and maps in real time.  This allows the tuner to set up and control any of the most important ECU inputs and outputs, giving better control during tuning and after during normal operation.

Basic Configuration

To create the ECU Connect pages and make use of the Custom parameter features of RaceROM the ECU Connect related maps will need to be configured in the ROM. If they are not set up correctly the parameters and outputs will not be interpreted by the ECU and the device correctly. Not all vehicles support Custom Parameters, for a list of the vehicles that support this feature please see the ECU Connect Features overview page (http://www.ecutek.com/Products/Retail/ECU-Connect/Features-by-vehicle/Features-overview).

Below is the tree of maps as it is shown in ProECU and an example of how ECU Connect can display these parameters. There are many possibilities for different custom parameters, you can discuss these with your customers.

 

 

There are several different types of Custom parameter available, you will need to use the latest version of RaceROM feature file to get access to these, the list of available parameter types are;

  • Switches

  • Sliders

  • Numeric Buttons

  • Drop Down List Boxes

  • Momentary Buttons

You can select any of these in the custom parameter definition window on the ProECU map tree, below is the drop down list of custom parameter types in ProECU.

Each of these Parameter types has a different purpose and is displayed differently on the device. The outputs from the custom parameter can be used as values in a custom map X or Y axis or as the activation parameter.  Each parameter can be uniquely named to your requirements and it will be displayed in ECU Connect in ascending numerical order.

 

Custom Parameter Types

This section covers the different types of parameters available.

 

Switch

The first type of parameter is the Switch type, the default position is set up on ProECU by simply selecting the radio button required.  It is displayed as a simple On Off switch in ECU Connect.

 

 

 

The switch will output a value of 0 or 1 depending on the switch state, this value can then be used to influence or activate any of the custom maps available.  Below is a switch set up to activate custom map A when the value goes above 0.75 and switch off below 0.5.


It could also be used as an axis input to a custom map if you needed to switch something On or Off but do not want to deactivate the map. The set up below would impose a torque limit of 200Nm when the custom parameter switch is moved to the on position.

 

 

Sliders

The Slider Parameter allows the user to infinitely vary an output value which can be used by the ECU. The value is varied by simply positioning the cursor to a different place on the slider bar in ECU Connect.  This is useful for fine tuning custom map gains or traction controllers but can be used in any function of custom maps. To set up a slider simply select the custom parameter type and set the Minimum and Maximum values as well as the preferred default position of the slider for when the app is opened. 



 

Each section can hold up to 27 characters.

 

The minimum value must be below the max value and the default value must be between the minimum and maximum in order to prevent an error message

Sliders can be used as inputs into the axis of any custom map, this will allow you to modify a target and output or an internal channel by an amount set in the map at the axis cell set by the sliders value.  

The custom map will interpolate the values chosen by the slider in ECU Connect as it would with any other fuel or ignition map.

 

Numeric Buttons

The Numeric Buttons Parameter option is set up similar to the way you would set up the slider, the difference being the way it is displayed in ECU Connect and how it will only accept whole numbers.  The numeric value will set up or down in value according to the step value (but only a whole number) between the Minimum and Max values selected. To increase or decrease the values in ECU Connect simply press the + or – button in the app, the value will update as well on the device screen.

The numeric output of the customer parameter can be used in a custom map axis or activation parameter similar to the way that you would with other custom features

 

 

You must use a whole number as the step size. The default value needs to be between the Min and Max values as well. 

 


Listbox

The List box allows you to set up a drop down item that the user can select, this allows the tuner to set the up modes, targets, or text based settings for the user to apply via ECU Connect.  The text desired is simply entered onto each row of the listbox parameter map and the item row number corresponds to the output value of the custom parameter like below (the count starts at 0).

 

 

 

If too many characters or lines of text are added to the listbox, it will turn to red until the issue is fixed.

 

To use the listbox as an axis on a custom map you simply set up the custom map axis as the correct custom parameter then scale the axis appropriately.

Above you can see the axis is set up to use the custom parameter as an input and the axis has been scaled to take the first line with text value 1.1 as 0 in the custom map and subsequent values after that.  This could also be used to activate a custom map in the same way it was shown earlier using a switch.

 

 

Momentary Button

This feature functions the same way as the switch feature however it is only set to 1 when the button is pressed on the device, it will deactivate as soon as the button is not being pressed. This type of output could be used to trigger a timed purge map, a set overboost allowance or even a nitrous solenoid if desired. There is a small latency in activation depending on the connection speed so choose wisely when setting up. To use the push button simply name it as you need to and select the feature.

 

 

The button can be used to activate a map (and use the timer deactivation delay to hold the map on, or to momentarily change the value of a custom map instantaneously if there is a desire to do so.

 

 

Examples of custom parameter uses

  • Nitrous

  • Traction control

  • Boost control

  • Safeguards

  • Accel pedal modes

  • Timed maps

Here is an example list for a combination of the custom maps that could be used and how to set them up for these features. We’ve provided a sample ROM below in order to see what these tables look like in software THE MAP IS NOT TUNED AND IS DESIGNED AS A VISUAL EXAMPLE ONLY.

 

Example ROM Custom Parameters

The custom parameters for the above ECU connect Custom Parameter screen are set up using a combination of the maps below.  Keep in mind that they do not need to be done in this exact manner, it can be made more or less complex depending on your needs.

Additionally while some maps are better suited to different sized tables, with some appropriate tweaks you should be able to use any of the custom map tables to make any of these maps

 

 

Traction Control

Custom Input Definition and Name

Name - Traction Control

Definition - Slider

Min to Max – 0 to 1

Default – 0.5

Min text - Traction Control OFF

Ma Text - Traction Control ON

Custom Map M Setup

What is the Map?

Slip Value for TC

X Parameter

Wheel Slip Ratio (If your vehicle does not have this channel you can make a custom map that compares front/back left/right wheel speed to calculate wheel slip.

Y Parameter

Custom Parameter 1

Output

Replace Calculation 2

Activation

Activation above a threshold. Threshold is front wheel speed above 5 kph with deactivation below 3kph

 

Custom Map O Setup

What is the Map?

TC Ignition Retard Output

X Parameter

Output of Custom Map M

Y Parameter

Engien Speed RPm

Output

Add value to channel Ignition TIming

Activation

Activation above a threshold of Accel Pedal Voltage above 3.75v deactivate below 3.5v

 

 

 

Custom Map P Setup

What is the Map?

Throttle closure table based on RPM and % torque reduction with reduced impact at low engine RPM

X Parameter

Output of custom map M

Y Parameter

Engine Speed/RPM

Output

Throttle Target Multiplier

Activation

Above a threshold of Accel pedal voltage above 3.75v and deactivate below 3.5v

Traction control can be configured in a number of ways and setups which can give gains in controllability but increase the number of custom maps used.

 

 

 

 

Boost Control

Custom Input Definition and Name

Name - Boost Control

Type - Slider

Min to Max – 0.4 to 1.2

Default - 0.6

Min text - 0.40 Bar

Max Text – 1.2 Bar

 

Custom Map B Setup

What is the Map?

Boost Pressure Target in Boost Absolute

X Parameter

Accel Pedal (v)

Y Parameter

RPM

Output

Replace Calculation Value 1

Activation

Always Active

 

Custom Map C Setup

What is the Map?

Boost Target Limit and Overboost Map

X Parameter

Custom Parameter 2

Y Parameter

Unused

Output

Use as max for calculation 1

Activation

Always Active

 

Custom Map D Setup

What is the Map?

Over Boost Addition Map

X Parameter

Custom Map C Result

Y Parameter

Custom Map N Result

Output

Add value to calculation 1

Activation

Always Active

 

Custom Map E Setup

What is the Map?

Base WG Duty Cycle

X Parameter

Custom Map D

Y Parameter

RPM

Output

Replace Boost Control Solenoid (CPC solenoid for vehicles using that custom output for boost control)

Activation

Always Active

 

Custom Map F Setup

What is the Map?

Overboost Button Import and Timer

X Parameter

unused

Y Parameter

unused

Output

Replace Channel out put of calculation channel 1

Activation

Active channel custom parameter 5, activate above 0.75 deactivate below 0.5. Timing deactivation delay timer of 15 seconds (to give a 15 second overboost when the button is touched)

 

 

 

Throttle Response

Custom Input Definition and Name

Name - Throttle Response

Type – List Box

Min to Max – 0 to 3 (Eco, Normal, Sport & Race)

 

Custom Map Setup

What is the Map?

Accel Pedal Multiplier for Throttle Sensitivity

X Parameter

Custom Parameter 3

Y Parameter

Accel Pedal (v)

Output

Throttle Target Multiplier

Activation

Always Active

 

 

Fail Safe

Custom Input Definition and Name

Name –  Fail Safe

Type - Switch

Default – Off

 

Custom Map G Setup

What is the Map?

Oil Temperature Failsafe

X Parameter

Oil Temp

Y Parameter

RPM

Output

Replace Calculation Value 1

Activation

Always Active (This is required to reset the calculation for the boost target calculation.

 Other failsafe maps could be set up as maps H to J if desired but in this example we have kept it simple. You would set the output of these maps as 0 or 1 and add them to the calculation channel. Alternatively you could use as minimum for channel value but having addition allows you to log the number of failsafe’s active more easily (if the input to Map L is 2 there are two fail safes active)

Oil temperature is typically not identical at all load levels and RPM, typically you’ll want to have a different failsafe level of pressure at different points as (for example) maintaining the same level of pressure at idle vs 7000RPM will typically cause damage on a vehicle.

Custom Map K Setup

What is the Map?

External Pressure Sensor Input through CPC (Simple Method)

X Parameter

CPC Pressure Sensor

Y Parameter

Coolant Temperature

Output

Add Map Output to Calculation Value 1

Activation

Always Active (This map must always be active to set the calculation channel for the failsafe output map to use)

 

 

 

Custom Map L Setup

What is the Map?

Failsafe Output Map

X Parameter

Custom Map K Result

Y Parameter

RPM

Output

Use as maximum for channel value on throttle angle output

Activation

Activates on custom map K output above value of 0.75, and deactivates below 0.5

Timer

Deactivation timer of map set to 15 seconds (to give the engine time to stabilise before allowing more throttle)

Display

Check engine light displayed on dash when map is active

 

 

 

 

Over Boost Mode

Custom Input Definition and Name

Name –  Over Boost Mode

Type – Button

 

Custom Map Setup

What is the Map?

 

X Parameter

 

Y Parameter

 

Output

 

Activation

 

 

 

 

 

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