The Boost controller uniquely allows the driver to dial down the amount of manifold boost pressure developed by the supercharger. Higher manifold boost pressures and resulting higher compression temperatures increase the onset of detonation. This situation can lead the engine's computer to apply knock retard to alleviate this condition. A simple turn of the Boost Controller's knob will dial down the manifold boost pressure to safely eliminate detonation and knock retard.
The purpose of changing supercharger pulleys is to adjust the amount of manifold boost pressure developed by the supercharger when under wide open throttle. With the Boost Controller, leaving on a smaller pulley for higher maximum boost pressures can now be dialed back by adjusting the boost knob. The smaller pulley can now dialed back to essentially be a larger pulley at the turn of a finger.
The supercharged engine requires higher/premium octane fuels (typically ~91) due to the higher compression temperatures supercharging causes. Using higher octane fuels holds off detonation and keeps the engine operating safely. However, this comes at the price of higher fuel cost at the pump. The Boost Controller can be used to reduce the supercharger boost pressure to a level where low octane fuels (typically ~87) can be used safely in the engine and money can be saved at the pump.
The amount of manifold boost pressure directly relates to the amount of horsepower developed by the engine. Allowing other drivers who are not familiar or have no experience with controlling the high horsepower levels produced an overdriven supercharger. The Boost Controller can easily and conveniently tame down the horsepower level with a quick turn the boost knob.
Weather conditions can change that can affect the amount of boost that can be safely run in the engine. Cold weather can allow higher boost pressure and supports more horsepower. Hot weather tends to reduce the amount of boost that can be safely run. With the Boost Controller, the driver can dial up and down the boost pressure corresponding to the climate conditions. Therefore, the engine's power output can be adjusted to be both safe and optimal for the driving conditions at any time.
The Booster Controller is a microprocessor based boost controller. It uses proprietary developed control technology that enables precise boost level control of any Eaton supercharger that incorporates a boost bypass valve. The small, compact design of the control module allows for mounting nearly anywhere in the passenger compartment. The simple electrical hook up only requires a plug-&-play harness to be connected to the engine and the three wires within the harness to be routed into the passenger compartment. These three wires are connected to the controller and a simple ground connection under the dash completes the electrical hookup. No wires within the car need to be cut or spliced. The controller draws less than 25 milliamps of power and uses existing engine control circuitry protection. Therefore, installation does not require any additional fusing or circuit protection.
The Boost Controller incorporates three status lights.
- The Red Power light comes on when ever the engine receives ignition power and indicates the Boost Controller is powered up.
- The Yellow Full light first blinks twice when the unit is powered up to indicate the microprocessor has booted up and is active. There after, the Yellow Full light indicates when the controller's adjustment knob is set of full boost. This light illuminates to ensure the driver that the supercharger will product the maximum amount of boost the engine is capable of producing.
- The Green Boost light illuminates any time the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) commands the supercharge to produce boost pressure. However, rather than the engine producing maximum boost all the time, the controller intercepts this signal and controls the engine's boost level to the amount set by the Boost Controller's boost adjustment knob. When the Green Boost light is off, then the engine is not commanded to produce boost.
The boost adjustment knob can be set from minimum boost all the way to maximum boost. The maximum and minimum amount of boost the engine produces is dependent on how the engine is set up. For example, on a stock engine setup that produces ~8 PSI of maximum boost, the controller can dial this back to as little as ~2 PSI minimum boost. Any setting between Min and Max will be proportionally between these two levels of boost. Any changes made to the boost adjustment knob are applied instantaneously, no time delay or no powering down and back up to have the settings take effect. Therefore, changing the setting while in boost will dynamically change the engine's power output.
The Boost Controller also incorporates specific circuitry to prevent the PCM from triggering any Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs). The result of this feature is the Boost Controller will not set the Check Engine/Service Engine Soon lamp in the dash.
