Hi everyone!
So at work we have several engine simulators and for the ones we currently have engine speed sensors connected to we went about it by using a DC motor spinning a magnetic pulser disc (found here) with the sensor mounted directly in front. Though this works fine, I'd like to start building improved versions of these engine simulators from scratch due to the ones we have being a complete Frankenstein mess over the years. Instead of using moving parts I'd prefer to be able to control the engine speed signals more digitally.
Last week I purchased one of these from Amazon in high hopes that it would generate the signal I was looking for since engine control modules interpret "digital" signals. However, when playing around with the little PWM generator a bit I couldn't seem to get any engine RPMs to generate. While in data monitoring mode, the only thing that I could see change was the "Engine Speed State" parameter. The 3 values available were "High", "Low", or "Triggered." With the PWM frequency below ~30 Hz the values would bounce back and forth between High and Low. Once I surpassed ~30 Hz then it remained on "Triggered" with any frequency higher than that. The actual engine speed RPM never really registered but occasionally you could see a number value pop in there for a split second.
Note: I believe the sensor we have hooked up to it right now is a hall effect style sensor. I'm not sure how to determine what the original sensor type would be off of the original vehicle but I assume it's most likely a hall effect.
Here are my questions/concerns:
1. Is a PWM signal the correct one to generate or do I need a sine or other waveform that the engine control module would need as input in order to output to a square wave on its own?
2. Is there an easier method to simulate this?
Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance!
So at work we have several engine simulators and for the ones we currently have engine speed sensors connected to we went about it by using a DC motor spinning a magnetic pulser disc (found here) with the sensor mounted directly in front. Though this works fine, I'd like to start building improved versions of these engine simulators from scratch due to the ones we have being a complete Frankenstein mess over the years. Instead of using moving parts I'd prefer to be able to control the engine speed signals more digitally.
Last week I purchased one of these from Amazon in high hopes that it would generate the signal I was looking for since engine control modules interpret "digital" signals. However, when playing around with the little PWM generator a bit I couldn't seem to get any engine RPMs to generate. While in data monitoring mode, the only thing that I could see change was the "Engine Speed State" parameter. The 3 values available were "High", "Low", or "Triggered." With the PWM frequency below ~30 Hz the values would bounce back and forth between High and Low. Once I surpassed ~30 Hz then it remained on "Triggered" with any frequency higher than that. The actual engine speed RPM never really registered but occasionally you could see a number value pop in there for a split second.
Note: I believe the sensor we have hooked up to it right now is a hall effect style sensor. I'm not sure how to determine what the original sensor type would be off of the original vehicle but I assume it's most likely a hall effect.
Here are my questions/concerns:
1. Is a PWM signal the correct one to generate or do I need a sine or other waveform that the engine control module would need as input in order to output to a square wave on its own?
2. Is there an easier method to simulate this?
Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance!