Pectel SQ6M

Pictured above the is Cosworth Pectel SQ6M with it's pricey, hardcore, Deutsch Autosport connectors. With two 26 pin connectors and one 55 pin connector it is a competition proven engine management system. This is the engine controller chosen by the BMW factory to run its quad cam V-8 racing engine pictured below. The SQ6M is by far the best "Bang for your buck" as it handles every sensor you can throw at it and it comes standard with 4Mb of of up to 2000Hz data logging, advanced traction control and Fly-By-Wire. It also integrates with dashboard displays and, when you add up the costs of buying upgrades or adding options in lesser systems, the SQ6M comes out a cheaper alternative... Not inexpensive, but competition proven. None of this is cheap unless you just sit on the couch.

When you look at high-end professional motorsports engine controllers the top tier are Bosch, Magneti-Marelli, McLaren TAG Electronics, and Cosworth... Anything else should not even be considered. Of these, Cosworth offers the best value feature by feature and is the most affordable. The SQ6M is the controller of choice for RB Racing. If you want a peek at the high end F1 McLaren ECUs we offer this PDF Document. It also uses FPGAs for angle based computations like the SQ6M does.

Professional motorsports requires state of the art engine control and data acquisition systems to win. Like it or not, computers are here and the days of brass jets and seat of the pants opinions are simply part of a glorious past. We've been around long enough in the racing game to have witnessed and participated in the changes.

Pectel SQ Series ECUs: Used by BMW, Nissan, Toyota, Lotus, Citroen, Renault, Aston Martin, Ken Block (Ford)...You might get the idea that Pectel Electronics is your best choice for professional motorsports by seeing who has chosen Cosworth/Pectel.

Turbo Honda motor. Should be as fast as F1. Dallara chassis. Full Cosworth electronics.

M-Sport Ford with full Cosworth Pectel Electronics in mid-flight to Portugal WRC win.

Aston Martin cinched the 2016 WEC GTE Pro Championship with full Pectel Cosworth electronics. MQ12 Engine controller. Winner 2017 Le Mand 24h.

The Gibson 4.2 liter V8 is the spec engine for 2017 LMP2 cars. All Cosworth electronics. 25 of these started the 2017 LeMans 24h and one came pretty close to winning it when the LMP1 cars ran into issues.

The GibsonThe Focus RS build is a global collaboration between Ford Performance, Block’s Hoonigan Racing Division and U.K.-based M-Sport. Featuring all-wheel drive, a new EcoBoost® engine producing 600 horsepower, and a 0-60-mph launch time of less than two seconds, Ford Focus RS Rallycross cars are optimized for competition.
Power: 600 hp / Torque: 650 NM ft•lb. Capable of 0-60 mph/under 2 seconds.
Body: 2016 Ford Focus RS, seam welded and reinforced. M-Sport designed, homologated FIA-spec roll cage. Custom body design by Ford Performance and M-Sport, UK. Bespoke underbody protection.
Engine: M-Sport / Ford Performance designed 2000cc 4 cylinder, Garrett Turbo charged.
Transmission: Sadev 6-Speed Sequential along with Sadev rear diff and centre diff release unit.
Suspension: Reiger.
Brakes: Brembo.
Interior: Recaro seats, Cosworth Engine Management and data logging, M-Sport multi function bespoke steering wheel.
Wheels: OZ 8"x17".
Tires: Avon Rallycross controlled tire.

Only 24 of these are being made..All controlled by Cosworth Pectel electronics and a with Cosworth Pectel ICD dash.

Cosworth Pectel Electronics control the radical 2015 Nissan LMP1. Cancelled for 2016, Cosworth's engine and electronics worked flawlessly but the absence of flywheel or battery assist plus other issues doomed it. They did win thew PR war for coverage. Cancellation had team members scrambling for new jobs in motorsport. Tim Whitteridge managed the electrical and electronic systems for the Nissan LMP1 and is currently working as a Data Engineer for Magnus Racing.

The 2013 Nissan factory GTR race car is powered by a Pectel SQ6M featuring: Semi-automatic gearbox control, driver adjustable traction control, drive-by-wire throttle control and auto ‘blip’. Serious equipment for a serious race car. About $500,000.00.

The Renaultsport RS01 is extremely light at around 1,100 kg with a carbon monocoque chassis and a 500 hp 3.8 litre V6 twin-turbo engine run by a Pectel SQ6M Engine Management system with full traction control. Top speed over 300 kph. A very serious race car that is guaranteed to generate a lot of interest in the new Renaultsport Trophy championship series. A serious car with professional level electronics including the new Pectel ICD display.

If you have a spare million dollars or so lying around you can be the owner of a 640 bhp Lotus T125 with a Pectel SQ6M controlling a 3.5 liter Cosworth V8. Six speed semi automatic with paddle shift. Customers can purchase these and participate in a European race program.

Peter Solberg (Norway) the 2014 Rallycross Champion with Cosworth electronics. Motor preparation by Pipo Moteurs.

Pectel engine management for the closest thing to a Killer B Rally Car. 590 hp from a 2 liter engine. At the highest level of motorsports you only see Pectel, Magnetti-Marelli or Bosch engine management systems. Citroen DS3.

Subaru in rear wheel drive only for the British Touring Car Championship. Cosworth SQ6M Electronics.

And another major player that uses Cosworth/Pectel Electronics...M-Sport. Add them all up and you can see the OEM's choose Cosworth/Pectel for their factory race efforts.

The SQ6M links directly to a variety of Racing Dash Displays. To the left above is the Pectel Intelligent Color Display and to the right is the Pi Research Omega D4 display. Both dashes feature competition proven Deutsch Autosport connectors.

The Pectel Intelligent Color Display in Digital and Analog Gauge mode. Incredibly flexible display with data logging. Can have up to 256 "screens". Different levels of cost for custom programming. Used by Porsche, Bentley and others on their factory race cars.

Cosworth aliveDRIVE data recorder/video system in the new Corvette. Also used in The British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) in it's motorsports format where it replaced less reliable systems including GoPro Cameras. Secure data transmission and subject to side by side playback review of incidents by the Race Stewards. Full integration into Pi Toolbox, the defacto standard in data analysis.

Another screen shot from the aliveDRIVE system. OEM integration in high volume Corvettes brings analysis, data recording and video recording to the consumer. Another professional tool for race teams that is reliable and fully integrated into the electronics.

The SQ6M also can connect to Cosworth's CFW277 (CAN)steering wheel with molded rubber grips and eight shift lights. Six CAN based switches and two rotary switches. 3.5" sunlight visible TFT display.

Pectel origins began at Advanced Engine Research (AER) where engine control units were developed for racing programs. Pectel was subsequently sold to Pi Research, and then to Cosworth.

The SQ6M was the result of a multi-year development at Pectel. One year was devoted to specification planning and two years to hardware and software development. Add up the number of engineers involved and multiply it by the number of years of development and you get a good sense of the complexity. We can appreciate this having developed our own, much less complex, closed-loop RSR Fuel Injection System. The development was geared to provide the maximum flexibility and reliability and to address accuracy, resolution, timing, and data issues on up to 20,000 rpm racing engines where crank and cam sensors and a myriad of many types of sensors are employed.

The SQ6M is protected on both power and ground circuits against both under and over voltages as well as voltage spikes from alternators. The ECU will shut itself down if the voltages are too high and will switch itself back on when the voltage returns to the more normal 8-18 volt bandwidth. Inputs and outputs are also protected to prevent damage to the ECU. Should there be a short or some anomaly these circuits will switch off to prevent damage to the ECU and will switch back on automatically when the fault or sensor is corrected.

Extensive engine diagnostics and internal registers will log intermittent failures which can be viewed in the software to speed the resolution of issues that would otherwise be very difficult to diagnose. Simple issues like a faulty switch or relay, a broken wire, a sensor failure or pinpointing a single failed injector can save an inordinate amount of time.

Being able to control single or multiple fly-by-wire throttle systems is an immensely complex issue that required six months of Pectel engineering effort. Multiple channels have to be monitored with complex algorithms to insure the system operates correctly under all conditions. The SQ6M will shut down the system if it ascertains there may be any failure or anomaly that is a safety issue. The computer code to do this had to be validated and this was an immense undertaking.

In that virtually all race and passenger vehicles have fly-by -wire systems these days, including some of the Harley-Davidson models and many modern sport bikes, this is an important advantage in choosing the SQ6M. No add-on modules are required. We should note that FBW throttles have to be approved for turbocharger applications...most are not designed for this. Bosch Motorsport DV-E5 shown above.

Here we have incorporated a Bosch FBW 60mm throttle body to our 139 CID Harley Bonneville motor. Two 2000cc injectors are used for the turbocharged engine...all controlled by the SQ6M. The programming is logical but complex and involved multiple PID functions.

Many of the pins in the Pectel SQ6M have two and sometimes three uses. Unused pins of the twelve injector circuits may be used to run valves such as in wastegate solenoid control. Any Pulsewidth Modulated (PMW) channel can also be used as an analog input measuring what sensor or input you choose to specify, all configurable in software. Users can choose from many pre-defined sensors or may define the sensor characteristics themselves. Using existing sensors as opposed to being tied to specific sensors hard-wired to a dedicated pin gives the user great flexibility.

Sixteen ignition output channels are available, eight for external coil drivers and eight for internal coil drivers all built into the ECU. There is no need to purchase a separate ignition system. Remaining pins can be configured as analog inputs or PWM outputs. Nothing needs to go to waste by being unused.

With user configurable map load sites up to a 125 site matrix (50 rpm x 25 load) and the ability to adapt to any cam or crankshaft sensor gives the Pectel SQ6M immense flexibility. It is extremely well thought out and proven in many years of competition.

The heart of the SQ6M is a Freescale Motorola dedicated 32 bit, automotive-specific, MPC565 microprocessor running at 56 MHz. An 8 cylinder engine running 20,000 rpm with a myriad of sensors will hardly use half of the processor's capability. To free the MPC565’s workload of running clock cycle calculations for crank sensors, cam sensors, multiple wheelspeed sensors, a second programmable logic controller a FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) is employed. Working at extreme speeds the FPGA is infinitely configurable with hundreds of thousands of logic gates and has the calculations ready exactly when the the MPC565’s coded instructions ask for them. Individual cylinder knock control requires this level of sophistication.

This ultimately affects also Life Racing, Syvecs, and ProEFi as they also use the same 56 Mhz automotive powertrain MPC565 microprocessor.

Most automakers moved more than a decade ago to the Infineon TriCore family of processors as has Motec and recently even Harley Davidson for their M8 abd Revolution motors.

The benefit of the FPGA handling these issues becomes apparent in the violent world of motorsport or even the situations in normal driving. Hunting for traction coming out of a corner or headed down the course at the Bonneville Salt Flats, those fractions of a second wherein minute changes in torque are necessary, be it via ignition timing, throttle position, fuel delivery, or cam position, and being able to alter things in real time, and not burdening the microprocessor, can make the difference between winning and losing...or losing control. Think traction control and advanced ABS systems. More than 500,000 programmable logic gates process the angle based inputs like crank sensors, cam position sensors, and wheelspeed sensors. Bosch Motorsport, McLaren Electronics as well as Pectel all use FPGAs to support their ECUs. Bosch uses XILINX FPGAS in their LMP1 race applications.

Some people might be fooled by some new system that has 200MHz clock speed but is hampered by 20 x 20 matrices for timing and Lambda targets. Sensor latency, time transport of exhaust gases and other factors are the actual limits in model-based systems.

The SQ6M offers four fuel and spark maps switchable on the fly or controlled by user defined conditions. Add in 4 Mb of 2000 Hz data logging and fast Ethernet communications, GPS inputs, two NTK wideband control circuits, and more things than we will enumerate here and the SQ6M is by far your best option if you want the “best”...not to mention the fact it is cheaper than stacking up separate systems.

1. No $1,300.00 license for: Pit Speed Limiting, Switchable Fuel, Ignition and Boost Trimming, Knock Control, Intercooler Sprays, DBW and CAM Control, Traction Control, Gear Change Ignition Cut, Anti-Lag, Anti-Wheelie and Launch Control. These are all standard with the SQ6M.

2. No $2,800.00 Development License as everything you could possibly want to do is already standard. The SQ6M is ultimately configurable as it was designed that way. The trick with "Development Licenses" is that they are tied to the trained developer...i.e. unless you are the trained developer your ecu is tied to the developer. Being tied to the seller/developer is like being married with no chance of divorce.

3. No $1,500.00 Drive By Wire Expanders. No $1,000.00 Knock Modules. No $900.00 Wideband Lambda to CAN modules.

4. With the SQ6M the costs stop at the ECU...With others you quickly go past $10,000 in hardware, add-ons and licenses and are then tied to a developer/expert at $1,200.00 per day plus travel expenses. We do our own tuning, wiring and systems integration...and are not dependent on $1,200.00 per day specialists.

Pectel Caltool 3.6 Workspace (Currently 4.0)

Cosworth's Pectel Caltool 3.6 is the ultimate "Swiss Army Knife" of engine management software. There is nothing you cannot control or configure with this interface. Caltool and other Cosworth software is not available for download for demonstration purposes and is only sold with their engine management, data acquisition, and power control units.

In the case of Caltool 3.6 you must, on an annual basis, update the "Personality File" in your Pectel Caltool file structure. This maintains control of the software for the original purchaser.

Personalities

Everybody needs a personality. That is to say, one is required to communicate with a Pectel ECU and to open datasets. Personalities exist on a PC and authorise that PC to communicate with the equivalent Pectel ECU.

Personalities are small executable files that you run a single time on PC to install. These files are distributed by Cosworth or the appropriate developer. Only one Personality can be installed at a time, however they are easily over written by simply clicking a different one. The currently installed personality is visible by hovering over the little man in the lower right hand corner in Pi CalTool.

Most Pectel ECUs will be of the "Pectel External" (PEXT) personality type. This will allow access to almost everything the ECU has to offer. The vast majority of people will be using a PEXT personality as most ECUs are programmed as PEXT ECUs.

There are additional developers which will configure Pectel ECUs to use their own personalities (common ones include M-Sport and Mountune). If you have come across one of these ECUs and only have a PEXT personality, you will not be able to communicate with it. Developer specific personalities are distributed by each developer. Cosworth cannot supply these personalities. Developer specific personalities can be used to restrict access to certain maps or areas of the dataset on the ECU.

Datasets can be password protected for additional security, and the level of restriction can also be altered from:

·         Everybody – allow access to everybody regardless of personality

·         My Team – allow access to anybody with the same personality as me

·         My Team and Serial Number - allow access to anybody with the same personality as me, but only on the current ECU (determined by serial number)

Personalities are only used for Pectel ECUs and have no bearing on Pi products.

Software Help

There is no manual as the "Help" is embedded in the software. "Mouse Over" balloons and Help Menus provide built-in assistance. The complexity, i.e. the flexibility, of the software is geared for the professional motorsports engineer. As stated above 99.999% of the people have no business fiddling with any engine management software. The exponential nature of the number of inter-related entries requires an experienced approach strategy and, in general, both dynamometer and real world testing.

We have put together a 298 page PDF of Caltool 3.6 Software to give you a brief glimpse of it's structure and capabilities. There are about 8800 parameters possible within the Pectel software. Since a late model OEM Corvette has 8,627 variables in their ECMs this seems to be about the right level of complexity. Direct Injection Diesel ECUs currently employ about 12,000 variables. As stated above, it is, truly, the "Swiss Army Knife" of engine management software... Professional level to be sure. The PDF is 12.8 Mb.

For a complete listing of the programmable parameters in CalTool 3.6 we have prepared a 219 page PDF listing these. If you can't control what you are planning to do with this you might as well contact a higher power or go back to bench racing.

Tuning Strategies

When we developed our Autocal.V6 Program many years ago we did so to bring all the variables into account at the start and generate a fuel map that was based on horsepower and one that had mutiple torque curves built into the calculations. The calibration generated by Autocal.V6 freed us from the "dog chasing his tail method" wherein you start adjusting the wrong things like warm up curves and another dozen or so modifiers that influenced the fuel map when you should be working on the base fuel map. This is sort of an equation or model airflow (VE) based method of tuning. This was only the starting point however.

We determined that point editing still had to be done and that you had to have complete control of the base injector on-time. These days people like AEM (Infinity) and Motec (M1 Series) have gone to model based VE (Volumetric Efficiency) tuning where you enter basic data like engine size, injector characterizations, fuel pressure etc and then start adjusting relatively small VE tables, typically 20x 20 or 20 x 17 martices. They no longer have large base maps like the Pectel SQ6M (Up to 1250 sites) where you can fine tune base values down to 1/100th of a millisecond. Advanced math and interpolation functions in the SQ6M's CalTool Software make tuning very precise.

Being able to point edit gives you 100% direct control over everything. If you generate spark and fuel maps plus all their modifiers in advance, like we do, you can concentrate on the fueling without worrying about the other things that modify it. In F1 they have over 3000 sites on their fuel map as they do not want to deal with sensor latency issues...Every sensor has a response time. For example the fastest wideband sensors have response times of about 1.36 Ms.

With the SQ6M we have four switchable fuel and spark maps...think 8 x 1250 sites to get things perfect for different fuels and conditions.

Harley Davidson Delphi ECMs use VE model based tuning and it sucks. On the face of it VE model based tuning is seductive but it's sort of like making love through a bed sheet. It's better to predict then have absolute control of things so you can be a hero or a zero. Let your hand or fingers do the shifting and skip the automatic slush boxes.

Pi Toolbox

The absolute standard in Data Aanalysis is Cosworth's Pi Toolbox. It is used with the data logging capabilities of Pectel Engine Controllers and Intelligent Dash Displays (optioned up to 2 Gb). Pi Toolbox is purchased separately from CalTool and requires a security dongle to operate. Rice Racing in Australia provided this video to give you a peek at Pi Toolbox in operation. Peter at Rice Racing teaches automotive theory and Pi Toolbox is the ultimate tool to analyze things.

SQ6M Communications Cable

Ethernet (4 wires), Serial (3 wires) and CAN ( 6 wires) in one cable. Ethernet for fast tuning. CAN for displays like Cosworth's ICD and data acquisition. Serial for SQ6M firmware updates. Six foot cable on left 12 foot cable on the right. For dynamometer work we extend the Ethernet cable to up to 25 feet.

Ethernet, serial, and CAN communications take up 13 pins of the Pectel ECU. One way to handle this is to use a Deutsch Autosport 13 pin connector. We use a flanged AS010-35PN Bulkhead Receptacle on the motorcycle and make a commo cable using the mating AS610-35SN Plug. Deutsch Autosport caps seal the connectors and Raychem adhesive lined boots seal the 13 wires on the harness and the communications cable.

In this particular case we are not using an ICD Display (CAN). We can add this in the future. We chose to populate the harness with the six CAN wires to add the display later.

PDF on SQ6M communications cable. Macintosh: Option Click to downloads. It's important to get the TX/RX correct on the Ethernet wiring.

Simplify Your Engine Management

Mike Geokan's Bonneville Bullet is being upgraded from a MSD MC-4 and our own RSR Fuel Injection to the Pectel SQ6M. We get rid of these two boxes and a tangle of separate wiring systems and gain a sophisticated data acquisition system in one small SQ6M controller.

You don't have to spend $4,000.00 for a Racepak data logger and sensors as the Pectel SQ6M does all of that. You can log 4 Mb worth of dozens of channels at sample rates of 2000Hz (2000 measurements per second). In addition, you don't have to spend $10,000 on a Motec Engine Controller by the time you keep adding options and additional boxes. There is no need to add on knock or wideband lambda modules. Thermocouples, wide band NTK and knock sensor inputs, as well as sophisticated PID functions are all standard. Racepak systems only log at 100 to 1000 times per second. It's best to keep it in one box, one integrated software system.

On the ignition side you also do not have to purchase a clunky $1,100.00 MSD MC4. From the ignition standpoint you can support a very sophisticated closed loop knock sensing strategy without any additional boxes. The MSD does not do knock detection.

Add up the Racepak and MSD numbers and add in a lesser engine controller for $3,000.00 and you are way more expensive that using a Pectel SQ6M, not to mention the three software packages instead of one.

You don't want to end up with two or three different systems and a spaghetti mix of wiring in your engine control and data acquisition. The Pectel SQ6M can log all of your sensors and engine parameters keeping everything neat and tidy with Deutsch Autosport and DTM connectors all wrapped in DR25 heat shrink and adhesive boots and transitions.

Raychem 90 degree boots are shrunk to the three Deutsch Autosport connectors.

1st Generation Pectel SQ6 / SQ6M /SQ6M12 Mount

The Pectel SQ6M does not come with any mount...that's always up to the installer. We machined up a prototype mount for testing that isolates the SQ6M in rubber and also allows the mount itself to be mounted on rubber isolators or directly to a flat surface. After we verified the mount in the installation we sent it off for hard anodizing and will do the final installation with stainless steel hardware.

Hard anodized black finish, with the SQ6M surrounded by rubber and held in place by stainless steel hardware with four point rubber isolation mounts or directly mounted to a flat surface.

Mounting the Pectel SQ6M

We found the perfect place for the Pectel SQ6M inside the Road Toad's fairing. Although the Mil-Spec wiring harness will be sealed, we prefer a protected environment for the electronics. Four bolts (turn signals) and six screws and the Road Toad's fairing shell pops off. We machined and anodized an aluminum rubber isolated mount for the SQ6M and bolted it in the metal tray.

Oh yeah...The metal tray... That's where the radio was. We don't need no stinking radio...and the radio's faceplate opening becomes part of our new turbo dash.

2nd Generation SQ6, SQ6M, SQ6M12 Mount

Here, prior to anodization in hardcoat grey, is the new mount that fits both the SQ6 and SQ6M Pectel ECUs. Six high temperature 90 degree silicone extrusions hold the ECU on four sides, the bottom and under the hold down clamps on the top and sides of the ECU. Stainless steel metric 6mm x 1.0 socket head cap screws with stainless lock washers are provided.

The two hold down clamps have 90 degree silicone rubber extrusions that hold both the sides and the top of the SQ6 and SQ6M series ECUs. Four 6mm x 1.0 x 25mm stainless socket head cap screws with lock washers hold the ecu in the mount. An important consideration is the effect of vibration on connector pins and sockets. Encasing the SQ6 or SQ6M in rubber and further isolating the billet mount reduces the stress on the ecu connections which, if solidly mounted, would increase fretting of the pin socket interface over time.

High frequency vibrations keep the motorsport harness makers in business i.e. predicted service life and planned replacement harnesses based on hours of use and the usual teardowns.

The mount is designed for four optional isolation mounts, also in high temperature silicone. These are available in different durometer ratings. 70A high temperature silicone orange durometer mounts pictured above.

30A, 40A, 50A, 60A and 70A durometer mounts are available from the industrial distributor McMaster-Carr, Part Numbers 4403K plus 588, 622, 644, 67, or 71 respectively for the varying durometers. We can supply these at our cost US $40.00 (purchase cost plus shipping) if you so choose. Colors: 30A (black); 40A (green); 50A, 60A and 70A (orange). These are secured to the mount with four 6mm x 1.0 x 16mm stainless socket head cap screws with lock washers.

If the isolation mounts are not used, 6mm x 1.0 socket head cap screws can be directly used on the four corners. The cost for the mount is $250.00 without the four isolation mounts or $290.00 with the isolation mounts.. The mount is hard anodized dark grey. Included is one extra foot of 90 degree silicone extrusion.

The six extrusions are held in place by red high temperature RTV (supplied). Apply the RTV to the underside of the extrusions, wipe off any excess, and bolt in the SQ6/SQ6M and let the RTV cure 24 hours to hold the extrusions in place.

Fully captured, there is no metal to metal contact with the ecu. Compatible with Deutsch Autosport connectors as well as the 88-Way SQ6 Bosch Junior Timer connector pictured above. The fin structure and case thickness where the hold down clamps are located is the same for both the SQ6 and SQ6M.

Pectel Anti-Phase Boost Control

Using two fast-acting and quick-venting solenoids the Pectel SQ6M will control the boost pressure to both sides of the wastegate's diaphragm. Being able to quickly vent and pulse width modulate (PWM) the solenoids allows a very precise boost control. Gone is the old Dial-A-Boost venting pneumatic manual controller. Boost strategy gets tied into gear selection, traction control, and other factors including throttle position. Deutsch DTM connectors connect the solenoids to the SQ6M harness. We use 1/4" (6mm) reinforced slicone hose for boost pneumatics as it does not kink, is highly durable and is high temperature (engine compartment) rated.

Cosworth Engine Control

Cosworth MQ12 series engine controller doing its thing with 650hp and Ken Block. Cosworth Motorsports are well proven at the highest level of competition. The MQ12 is the bigger brother of the SQ6M that we use. Ken Block videos show what is possible with a high boost four cylinder, four wheel drive, WRC hot rod. The central nervous system is Ken Block and the MQ12 controller.

Cosworth Pectel Multi Function Display (MFD) used in Ken Block's Fiesta. Motorsports does get expensive...no Stewart Warner or Autometer gauges. More Deutsch Autosport connectors. Keeps tab on everything that is going on in the vehicle. Twelve user programmable switches and a TFT VGA color display to keep the driver and co-driver informed.

The Cosworth MQ12 has an additional 300Mhz processor to support the MPC565 and FPGA...plus a 4th Deutsch Autosport connector for a total pin count of 180. It does get complicated. These are used in top tier two-wheeled World Super Bike, four-wheeled Le Mans, and no-wheeled Offshore boat competitions. First Class.

Prodrive WRC VW's and Rallycross Minis use Pectel MQ12

The Cosworth MQ12 is the one controller that operates at this level of motorsport that you can buy off the shelf. It's main competition are the far more expensive engine management systems from Bosch Motorsport. VW Golf SCRC for Chinese Rally Championship and the Mini for WRC (World Rally Car) and RRC (Regional Rally Car) competitions.

MQ12 engine controller for the Aston Martin run at Le Mans.

Endurance racing Toyota factory RV8KLM engine that uses the Cosworth Pectel MQ12 controller. The gold insulation shields the inlet system.

V8/Hybrid 2014 Le Mans Factory Toyota TS040 uses Pectel electronics. 1000 Horsepower. 2014 Endurance Championship with the Pectel MQ12.

World Superbikes also use Cosworth Engine controllers.

Cosworth Antares

2018 Cosworth Antares ECU. The new high end controller from Cosworth. Capable of in cylinder pressure monitoring. Latest processors.

SQ6M Traction Control

The Pectel SQ6M comes standard with a complex traction control strategy. When you have 300-360 hp on tap on two wheels it's a good idea to have full electronic control over traction. We've added front and rear wheel speed sensors to the Road Toad. Our advanced electronics ecu will monitor front and rear wheel speeds and can adjust boost, timing and fuel in real time. Important when wheelspin gets beyond certain parameters.

This becomes very important at Bonneville where a torque-based strategy is useful to find traction and keeps speeds going upward where the conditions vary as you head down the salt. Front end FPGA keeps track of the angle based computations...way faster than "seat of pants".

Wheel Speed Sensor for SQ6M Traction Control

When the rear wheel starts going way faster than the front wheel and we're losing traction and speed we can use algorithms to do something about it. Things learned on the Road Toad get transferred to the Bonneville Bullett. The SQ6M has a very complex advanced Traction Control strategy. Take a read of this document before you decide on some lesser form of engine management.

Rear wheel speed sensor. Same as the front with 48 teeth. A combination of many inputs determines how traction control is implemented. DR25 heat shrink covers the sensor wires going to a Deutsch DTM connector. We engineered the same setup for the Bonneville Bullett.

Rotary ECU Map Selection Switches

Rotary ECU Position switches are a fact of life in Formula 1...Fuel, suspension, traction control, braking bias and whatever the rules allow these days with the spec ecus from McLaren Electronics are all switchable on the carbon fiber steering wheel.

We make up our own Rotary Map Switches that have to survive on a Harley-Davidson. We set these up for four and eight map positions . Traction control maps (8), fuel (4) and spark (4) maps...all changeable on the fly.

We encapsulate the Rotary ECU Map Position Switch in epoxy to waterproof it and use DR-25 heat shrink and formed boots to protect the wiring and install a three position Deutsch DTM connector. Now if we could only get paid as much as Lewis Hamilton to ride around on our 126 Orca Powered Road Toad. Three wires: 5V, Ground and Signal. We use 22759/16-22 gauge wire with the signal wire color coded for the intended use. A fixture holds four switches while the potting compound, a two-part epoxy, cures over 24 hours.

Here is the final assembled switch with the laser cut stainless steel mounting bracket and faceplate. Laser cut slots allow the faceplate and the mounting bracket to index to each other. We stamp the switch positions into the faceplate. The entire assembly is sealed for reliability. We label the color of the signal wire so it can marry up with the appropriate DTM connector on the wiring harness. 3/16" DR-25, 5/8" ATUM and 1/4" adhesive-lined heat shrink seal the assembly. It has to survive salt baths at Bonneville.

Eight Position Traction Control Rotary Switch. Seven resistors set voltages from 5 VDC to 0 VDC in equal steps.

SQ6M Knock Sensor

The Pectel SQ6M has inputs for two acoustic Knock Sensors. Shown is a mount kit for our ORCA Harley Motors...we only use one knock sensor on the V-Twin. A PDF on Pectel Knock Control Strategy shows the complexity of it.

Aircraft Circuit Breakers..Not Fuses

For the Pectel SQ6M portion of the electronics we are using Aircraft circuit breakers that "pop up" and are push to reset. A lot more expensive than fuses but these do not "blow" and you can see the offending circuit immediately.

Pectel SQ6M Wiring Diagram...Bonneville Bullett Turbo Harley

We make an initial drawing of the wiring diagram but this will only aid in planning purposes. The actual harness has to be measured on the bike with all the hardware in place. It is critical that there be no strain or interference issues and that serviceability is planned for.

Next we use a 4' x 8' whiteboard to layout the wiring harness. We use 3/4" adhesive tie wrap pads, plastic tie wraps, velcro, and white gaffers tape to hold the main harness and connector leads in place. The adhesive pads can be removed or relocated without damaging the boards surface.

Wires in this harness are MIL-22759 16/18/20 and 22 gauge. Deutsch DTM Plugs and Receptacles use a mix or gold and nickel plated pins and sockets. Deutsch Autosport Connectors are used for the SQ6M. Different wire colors prevent confusion and we also label each wire. This particular harness has 49 outboard connectors. The SQ6M itself has 107 pins. In the case we are using 73 of them.

Concentric Twist Layers

The stiffness of the harness will depend largely on how the underlying wires are arranged. The correct method is concentric twisting where successive layers are twisted in opposite directions...One wire surrounded by six wires, with each successive layer adding six additional wires i.e. 1-6-12-18. The twisting of the wires gives the harness additional flexibility and reduces strain on the wires. The above table provides some insight into the methodology.

We twist the wires CW and CCW the best we can by the above format, but we always run into issues with 2-1 and 3-1 splices so we don't go the extra mile to put in dummy filler wires to get the 1-6-12-18 etc layers. We do the concentic twisting and secure the runs with Mil-T-43435B Lacing Cord. We label each wire with 1/8" yellow shrink tube covered by clear Raychem RT-375 clear shrink tubing.

We leave the exit branches about 4" longer than necessary and then trim the wires to length for the connector. You can slide the labels up and down the wire with a bit of force. Labels are necessary for us as we are constantly interrupted and brain fade sets in.

DR-25 1", 3/4", 1/2", 3/8". 1/4" and 1/8" is being used in this harness. Raychem 202A153, 202A142, 202A132 and 202A111 straight boots are being used with Resintech RT125 epoxy sealing the branches exiting the boots. Raychem ES2000-1, -2 and -3 tubing seals wires exiting the DR-25 on branch legs to sensors, circuit breakers, relays etc. Raychem ATUM is used to seal connector backs.

Raychem DR-25 covers the main harness and the branches. Connectors are installed and sealed. Each branch is labeled with the connector number as well as the function. Kapton tape covers exposed wires before they have Raychem boots heat shrunk. In this application we have over 50 outboard connectors to keep track of. Without documentation future issues as well as current assembly would be very difficult.

Service Loops

"Service Loops" are used on Mil-Spec / Deutsch Autosport circular connectors for wire sizes 16 AWG to 30 AWG. The purpose is to provide strain relief to the wire termination and to provide a surplus length for repair purposes. It is not an aircraft procedure per se and is only used in military and motorsport applications.

Looping Tool and Procedure

The process is to crimp and insert the wires into the connector either singularly or two at a time. Use an 1/8" or 3 mm round-nosed tool to form a loop in the wires. You can grind down and modify a machinist's scribe or small screw driver to make a looping tool.

On circular connectors it is recommended to start at the center and work outwards if the numbering system runs clockwise or counterclockwise. For rectangular or circular connectors identified in rows, it is recommended to work row by row. Loops should face inwards. Loops must be staggered to minimize any increase in the cable diameter. When looping is complete all loops should face inwards to give a neat appearance and to insure that the wires are not trapped or damaged if an adaptor or back fitting is present.

If your connector is already terminated and the wires are shrunk with DR-25 it gets a little more difficult as you will have to press back the connector to bow the wires. You may have to cut back on the harness DR-25 to free up the wires.

All of this is a bit stiff to wrestle with so holding the wiring harness, the connector, and the looping tool at the same time is a bit interesting. Think ahead.

Raychem boots are used to seal wiring branches. Resintech RT125 epoxy seals the exits and tie wraps provide additional strain relief.

Labels on all connectors help keep track of things. Documentation is maintained on both the internal and external structure of the harness.

Pressure Sensors

The stock in-tank pump and regulator simply will not suppport 360hp. We convert the Road Toad to an external 700 hp racing fuel pump, filter and regulator assembly. The gas tank is modified for a return or bypass port and all fuel lines are upgraded to 3/8". Rubber isolated components, laser cut mounting brackets, AN fittings and fiberglass sheathed fuel lines all make sure the 126 Turbo Orca will not run out of fuel.

We use a 0-100 psi pressure transducer to monitor fuel pressure.

The turbo exhaust manifold is plumbed for the 0-100 psi back-pressure sensor. High temperature stainless tube and flexible high temp wire tubing allows for engine movement. As boost pressure rises you need to plug in correction factors for the NTK wideband sensor's output.

We also monitor oil pressure. The Pectel SQ6M allows you to set safeguards and correction factors in software for changes in sensor readings. Planning out all the sensor locations for speed, pressure, temperature and Lambda readings takes a bit of planning. At lawyer rates we'd go belly up quickly. The curse of speed and technology.

How do you test an SQ6M before you go to Bonneville...SQ6M Simulator

Well, you build a SQ6M Simulator which allows you to test Pectel Caltool programmed functions. When you get to the Salt Flats it's too late to see if things work.

All inputs are simulated including: map switching, traction control switching, front and rear wheel speeds, engine oil pressure, fuel pressure, 3 Bar MAP sensor, inlet air temperature, engine temperature as well as dual thermocouples. Laser cut stainless steel panels. Fuel pump output to flow injectors on separate flowmeters. Digital gear indicator and Bosch DV5-E5 60mm FBW throttle body. L.E.D.s for panel power, SQ6M power, external fuel pump and water injection activation.

Pectel SQ6M firmware times out the FBW motors if the engine is not running after 1 minute. The SQ6M Simulator allows us to "run" the motor and work on PID functions and programming of the 167 FBW categories.

The Harley twist grip (PPS) is spring-loaded, so we hold it open when checking injector flow.

Simulator Update...Shift Button

In order to check gear change programming we added a momentary shift button.

Simulation

Here we are running tests on the 139" Bonnevile Bullett's programming: 6700 RPM with a soft rev cut at 6750 RPM; 30 PSI Boost; 5th Gear 312 MPH; ID2000cc Injectors; 2640cc fuel @ 43.5 PSI; 500 HP; testing wheel slip and Traction Control settings. Pectel SQ6M Controller. To accurately measure total ccm at specific programming intersects we use two 2000cc glass beakers.

NTK L2H2 Lambda Test Stand Calibration

NTK L2H2 Test Stand for sensor linearization: Propane with a variable air bleed and three 18mm x 1.5 ports. Used for calibrating two NTK L2H2 Lambda meters against a known calibrated meter. Flowing Nitrogen gives Lambda 1.0 (14.57:1 AFR). Free Air at one end of the scale and propane/air mixtures for richer points .780 Lambda (11.36 AFR).

Pectel SQ6M engine controllers have 33 points to linearize or calibrate for each of the two NTK sensors. The SQ6M has internal NTK amplifier and heater circuits, so no external devices are required. Alternatively you can purchase a $1,200.00 drum of test gasoline and a $1,200.00 bottle of Lambda calibration gas to do your testing.

Alternatively, simply use the Cosworth/Pectel "Band 10" NTK Lambda Sensors with Deutsch Autosport Connectors. Pectel CalTool Software lists twenty "Band" designations i.e. 1-20 for NTK Lambda sensors but only the "Band 10" is the Pectel supplied one. The "Band" numbers were used to account for sensor variations but only Band 10 is supplied these days. CalTool software also lists AUTO_CALIBRATION for NTK sensors but this was never operational.

The SQ6M is also configurable for a 0-5V input from an externally amplifed wideband sensor (Bosch LSU4.9 ot NTK) as well as simple narrowband (0-1VDc) sensors. In this regard it offers ultimate flexibility. Keep in mind O2 or Lambda correction is just a trim function and that base fuel maps and fuel modifiers have to be correct.

Word of Advice...On your project

Once you decide on a project involving some form of advanced engine management be aware of the complexities and costs involved...Then there is the issue of "experts". Your project can go soaring cost-wise and you won't have a clue on setting up the wiring, the software or tuning issues. Time and money as they say. Someone has to be paid for their time and expertise. Be prepared.

Be wary of those who offer delays, excuses and who are spreading fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) about Cosworth/Pectel and other suppliers products because they have burned their suppliers and customers by using them as ATMs to float their failing business. We do our own work as we have firsthand knowledge of the intersects between people, their projects, and so called "experts"... People who drank the purple Cool-Aid, dropped 20+ large ones and got years of promises and delay.

Specifically, we know of two customers who paid well North of $20,000.00 for high end motorsport ECUs and ended up having to pay twice, as the first seller, who held the developer license, totally screwed up. This got straightened out by a second developer at $1,200.00 per day for on-site trouble shooting and, later on, custom software updates at $3,500.00 per pop. Does get out of hand.

There are a few reputable engine management consultants and dealers out there for higher end engine management systems like Pectel, Bosch Motorsport, Motec, Life Racing and Syvecs (nee Life Racing). Check their references with former clients before you fork over your money. Make phone calls to recent clients. If they do not provide references do not deal with them. Motec tuners like John Reed , Shane (Tuned by Shane T) Tecklenburg, Tim Whitteridge (tim@motorsportselectronics.com) of Motorsportselectronics , and Eric Scheib of Electron Speed are reputable.

Shane Tecklenburg tuning a Motec M130 on Tom Bookhamer's 120 Inch Bonneville bike on the RB Racing's Superflow CycleDyn. We use 30 feet of 8" stainless tubing for exhaust extraction with an 8" Blower. The blower draws in 1725 CFM of free air mixed with the exhaust and extracts it far away from the operators and the building. Shane has more time on dynos in more places all over the world than about anyone we have ever met. Shane is the "go to guy" when you get serious about Motec electronics.

Shane stepped off the airplane after a 25 hour flight from Bahrain ...tuned a Harley and headed home. He lives close by so it was a tight but convenient schedule for Tom and Shane. Tom all the way from Florida and Shane all the way from EKanoo racing in Bahrain. Strange world of racers. As for costs, tuners like Shane charge less than half of what a new lawyer charges per hour or per day. By the time tuners like Shane, John Reed , Eric Scheib, or Tim Whitteridge arrive they are the least expensive part of the project. Figure at least $1,000.00 per day plus expenses to have them calibrate your system plus aditional expenses for licenses and custom ecm code development.

In our case we deal with Cosworth directly. They are engine and engineering people...we can deal with that. Racers. The SQ6M can do anything. No development licenses. We do our own tuning.