924Board.org

RC · Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Posts: 2637 Location: Australia

Have been checking out the JAW kit and its compatibility with MS.
Notice at least one of our knowledgeable members on the forum there.
So before I spend my money can anyone who actually has one give their opinions of it.

TIA
Roger

endwrench · Joined: 07 Dec 2002 Posts: 1631 Location: Victor, Montana

I have one but haven't used it yet. Still need to build the wire harness and load the firmware. I promis to post as soon as I get the bugger up and going. No promisis when that might be

The guys over on the MS board seem pretty happy with it so far. It is still new enough to have some software glitches but the hardware seems pretty sound. Time will tell.

Todd
_________________
'79 924NA. Rebuilt 9.5:1, MSDS header, Mega Squirt Injection, MJLJ-EDIS Ignition, 1.6L Whipple Charger and Intercooler, 10lbs Boost, 944 Trans, Custom HD Clutch.
"simsport" said....superchargers are better than turbos its official!....

RC · Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Posts: 2637 Location: Australia

Thanks for your reply Todd. Thought you would have been up and running by now.

Alan seems to have put a lot of effort into developing this and I feel I would like to support him rather than the larger commercial manufacturers. Excellent follow up and support too.

Do you have a circuit diagram? Not worth trying to duplicate it but interested from a design perspective.

Also are you able to offer any leads on cheaper priced sensors. They all appear around the $60 mark plus shipping.

Regards,
Roger

macBdog · Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 1:01 pm Post subject:

I'm also keen to try this one out.
_________________
1979 931 with a 350 chev
1973 911E with EFI

macBdog · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 8:26 pm Post subject:

Update guys, I got one but I kind of buggered it up, heres the story:

I rushed through it after my success with MegaSquirt and buggered a few things up which I am now in the process of fixing. Apparantly you can't have both transistors on the board touching... and I thought it would be a good idea to ground both of them for heat reasons as you can see in the pic - DAMN! Hopefully I can resurrect it and get my fuel mapping spot on.

_________________
1979 931 with a 350 chev
1973 911E with EFI

endwrench · Joined: 07 Dec 2002 Posts: 1631 Location: Victor, Montana

Cool. I finished mine up but ended up having a problem with the board. Alan sent me a new kit. Shouldn't take too long to get it together. Took me longer to build the wire harness than the board. Keep us updated.

Todd
_________________
'79 924NA. Rebuilt 9.5:1, MSDS header, Mega Squirt Injection, MJLJ-EDIS Ignition, 1.6L Whipple Charger and Intercooler, 10lbs Boost, 944 Trans, Custom HD Clutch.
"simsport" said....superchargers are better than turbos its official!....

Petrovich · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 235 Location: Rockville, MD

WOW. Those are $60 each? That makes it about $120 for a set. Nice!

My Innovate set me back ~$250, but that came with a VDO gauge and what not. Still, almost twice the price.

Sounds like something I'd recommend to my broke friend who's trying to megasquirt his (formerly mine) bike

How many analog outputs does it come with?

RC · Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Posts: 2637 Location: Australia

What a bugger macBdog!

Both of those "transistor thingys" are voltage regulators. The 7805 is fixed 5V and the heatsink tab is at earth B- potential while the LM317 is adjustable and the tab is at the regulated output voltage which will be at a nominal 12V with a cold sensor. Actually supply voltage, 13.8-14.2 less the dropout voltage that is 3V for this reg. So you blew the 317 eh? No need to ask Alan for a new one and wait to get one from Canada, just go to your local Jaycar or probably Dick Smith store and get a replacement since they are very common and cheap.

A larger heatsink is a good idea actually. The 7805 can be screwed direct to your aluminium channel but use a mica or silicon insulator and screw bush on the 317 to isolate it. Thermal conductivity paste will improve heat transfer. Too bad you cut out around the 317 heatsink as the channel would dissipate the heat better with the reg mounted on it and give a neater unit. Obviously now there are 2 heatsinks at + and _ potential so be careful.

Havent yet got mine installed either or worked out where to position it.
Prefer to mount it on a larger heatsink too or possibly a diecast aluminium case. Upgraded the capacitors to higher spec tantalum for improved accuracy and reliability. Also increased the power supply caps to improve filtering of transient line spikes and noise. Seems to work OK on the bench and will get it installed soon. Welded the bung on and have the sensor and connector. BTW, the genuine connector is available from Tech Edge (Australia) for only $11.

Think the price of the kit was US$45 and $25 for the display with $10 shipping. Alan also has ready built units at only $20 or $30 more. It has 2 programmable analogue outputs.

Alan To (JAW) has just about got a new ready built wideband reader available for release (NAW) so may be an option for those that desire an easier? plug&play unit. Check it out at the JAW forum.

Roger

RC · Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Posts: 2637 Location: Australia

DOUBLE BUGGER MAC!!!

Just saw your pic again and realized that you have the IDC connectors arse about. You need to mount them BOTH on TOP or if you want to put the connector on the back of the display for a better flush mount they MUST BOTH be mounted on the BACK of the board.

The way you have it the connector terminals are transposed and will most likely short or blow the display driver at minimum. Hope you havent applied power but feel it may be a bit late if youve already shorted the voltage regulators.

Definitely change the one on the main board the same as mine is. The cut out on the connector must face the centre of the board.

Roger

macBdog · Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 4:07 pm Post subject:

Roger,

Yup realised the double error in my ways last night. Alan To from 14point7 has offered to replace my unit free of charge which is pretty nice seeing it was my stupidity that broke it and not a fault.

I think I'll take him up on the offer seeing as I buggered it up well and truly.

Thanks for your help though, good to see another JAW924 in the works.

Charles.
_________________
1979 931 with a 350 chev
1973 911E with EFI

RC · Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Posts: 2637 Location: Australia

MacBdog, what were you using to power your Jaw, car battery or smaller 12V supply, fused or not? Also were the 2 heatsink tabs shorted at all times power has been applied?

Reason is that if you used a low current supply and the heatsinks were always shorted this may actually have prevented any further damage to your unit with the reversed IDC connector. Its a gamble but theres a good chance of success by replacing the 2 voltage regulators. I can send you some but its hardly worth it as they are available at Dick Smith for $3 for both. 7805 5V reg and a LM317T.

I know Alan has remarkable after sales service. I`m sure he wants to build a good reputation since he knows 99.9% of the problems are caused by user error and not direct component failure. In fact semiconductor manufacturers are so confident of their quality control they offer no warranty. However he must have been previously scammed as he now wants the old unit back before he sends a replacement; fair enough. Will take 3-4 weeks for a round trip to Canada.

IMHO theres a very real possibility that you will have your JAW working tomorrow, for half the postage cost, after changing the regulators and connector position. May need some solder wick if you dont have a sucker, and keep the heatsinks isolated. Then if you dont have any luck you can still return it.

Roger

macBdog · Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2007 7:43 am Post subject:

Damn and blast! I wish I got your last post earlier, I've already put it in the post box. Alan recommended I send it back since there were multiple points of failure.

Oh well plenty of other things to do on the car while I wait

_________________
1979 931 with a 350 chev
1973 911E with EFI