Up Into Fourth
Posted 26 June 2023 - 01:34 PM
Once upon a time, long, long ago, when the Sparkrite was advertised on the BBC by Raymond Baxter in an episode of Tomorrows World, I thought that having a "Micro-processor" in my Cooper S would be the envy of Hereford Motor Club.
Does anyone remember them, and does anyone use one now ?
Moved Into The Garage
Posted 26 June 2023 - 05:30 PM
Yes, I remember them and fitted one to a Subaru I mistakenly bought.
I did remove the computer though before I sold it and still have it. Great bit of kit and had a lot of different functions.
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 26 June 2023 - 07:39 PM
wow just watched a vid on youtube about one of these. thats impressive for the time.
could easily do something simular with an arduino now. I do like the ice function, i have thought about that for my rally car before!
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 27 June 2023 - 05:31 AM
Are you referring to the red box that clamped to the coil with a little toggle switch on the end.
I bought one because my much younger self thought it looked 'cool'
Didn't seem to make much difference but in those days I knew nothing.
Edited by MikeRotherham, 27 June 2023 - 05:50 AM.
Up Into Fourth
Posted 27 June 2023 - 06:04 AM
Are you referring to the red box that clamped to the coil with a little toggle switch on the end.
I bought one because my much younger self thought it looked 'cool'
Didn't seem to make much difference but in those days I knew nothing.
No.
The voyager was more like a Halda, not an ignition enhancer.
Gurgle it.
Up Into Fourth
Posted 27 June 2023 - 06:10 AM
I vaguely remember reading an article about a Voyager being involved in either 0-60 MPH or 1/4 mile acceleration comparisons, but nothing that I read now, mentions that sort of feature.
..is NOT a girl!
Posted 28 June 2023 - 08:04 AM
wow just watched a vid on youtube about one of these. thats impressive for the time.
could easily do something simular with an arduino now. I do like the ice function, i have thought about that for my rally car before!
Mpguino - measuring fuel flow will still be a challenge if you don't have an injector pulse to sense.
Up Into Fourth
Posted 28 June 2023 - 09:25 AM
Up Into Fourth
Posted 29 June 2023 - 12:32 PM
I have just acquired a "One careful owner"
Did there used to be a little turbine thingy that fitted in the fuel line for this?Steve..
Yes, you are correct. It is about the size of a 2p coin.
I have just acquired a "One careful owner" box of bits and some instruction.
Unfortunately, the gadget which holds the magnets that feed pulses from the prop-shaft / drive-shaft, is missing, so any help reconstructing that, would be welcome.
Super Mini Mad
Posted 29 June 2023 - 01:49 PM
Could Spider post a picture as he has got a complete one or PM it to you.
Up Into Fourth
Posted 30 June 2023 - 04:13 PM
Could Spider post a picture as he has got a complete one or PM it to you.
Good idea, I'll PM him as you suggest.
I'm thinking of knocking something up that I can clamp onto the 'pot-joint'.
Moved Into The Garage
Posted 30 June 2023 - 06:20 PM
Since the thread started, I have been meaning to snap off some photos. I'll tie that bow around my finger a bit tighter this morning when I go in the shed.
Moved Into The Garage
Posted 30 June 2023 - 06:50 PM
Could Spider post a picture as he has got a complete one or PM it to you.
Good idea, I'll PM him as you suggest.
I'm thinking of knocking something up that I can clamp onto the 'pot-joint'.
Since the thread started, I have been meaning to snap off some photos. I'll tie that bow around my finger a bit tighter this morning when I go in the shed.
The original speed / distance sensor on these is a very simple inductive pulse set up. There's some magnets and a coil nearby on a bracket. Here's a very similar set up on a Mini that I did for Cruise Control;-
I'll add though, while the original Sparkrite set up was very similar, that's about the technology of the day. The 'issue' with this is at low speeds the output from the pick-up coil is very low and the computer can't pick them up. More magnets help here, however there is a limit as to how many you can fit as there needs to be a change in magnetic poles as 'seen' by the coil. If there's too many magnets, the coil won't detect any change and will have no output. I had 4 magnets and it wouldn't register below 8 kph (5 mph). That will (and as I found) lead to some inaccuracies in any measurement that involves speed or distance. If I was to install one today, I'd fit an active sensor that uses a Hall Effect device. These are not sensitive to speed and will register down to 0.001 mph if you like ! They work with any movement. I'd also drive it off the speedo drive rather than magnets on the pot joint so it averages between both wheels rather than just one.
This is just such a device I made recently for driving my Speedo (it's electronic) and also the Cruise Control;-
I'll post up some photos of the Voyager shortly.
Up Into Fourth
Posted 30 June 2023 - 09:01 PM
Thank you.
Do the trigger magnets alternate North / South, past the detector ?
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