Thread: Monitoring IC temps

Well, I say it like it would be an easy task, but it may not be as I have not seen a GM pump in person. But the concept is simple enough. Just use a hall effect sensor to monitor the pump/motor shaft. That said you would need some sort of trigger device on the shaft or something pre-existing on the shaft that could used as a trigger, such as a notch or something like that. It would be the same principle in which the crankshaft position sensor works. The vanes on the back side of the balancer trigger the CPS. Cut out spots change the state of the CPS, and it changes state again when the tabs run between the slots in the sensor.

That all said, I like your flow detector even better. Though you could get away with a low cost one if you could find a small diameter pipe that had s spring action lever in it with an external tab or lever. The flow would act on the spring lever and cause the external one to swing one way when there was flow. Mount a hall effect sensor or even a micro switch on the pipe so that when there is flow the lever acts on the hall effect sensor or micro switch to close a circuit, such as power to an LED or something like that.

You could even go further and have a set up where if the lever went the other direction (indicating no flow) it could disrupt the boost bypass solenoid and limit boost. Oh if only I had a machine shop again.

The GM pump is sealed so there would be no modding it, although that is a nice idea. However to continue with your thought. I wonder how much of an energy field is generated but the pump and if it would be detectable. I used to build field strength meters to detect RF. Thanks Scotty! If that pump motor isn't sheilded too heavily, there may be a way to place a pickup coil close enough or even wrapped around the housing to make high sensitivity meter movement move. No external power required for a FS meter, and no physical tapping into the system itself.

Thanks for making me think in a totally different direction.

Brian, I agree with you on the IC. It's the reason I talked myself out of my Stage 3 last year. However with a scan gauge, and some type of system to let me know the pump is working, I feel relatively safe. Anything can happen and usually does to me. This is why this time I want to monitor the pump...somehow.
As far at the IAT sensor, I was thinking it could be epoxied into a 3/4 PVC pipe so that the wires or wire entry point wouldn't be exposed and just let it do it's thing. Do you know the effective temp range, min max resistance, and whether it increases or decreases with temp?

Originally Posted by IndeedSS

The GM pump is sealed so there would be no modding it, although that is a nice idea. However to continue with your thought. I wonder how much of an energy field is generated but the pump and if it would be detectable. I used to build field strenght meters to detect RF. Thanks Scotty! If that pump motor isn't sheilded too heavily, there may be a way to place a pickup coil close enough or even wrapped around the housing to make high sensitivity meter movement move. No external power required for a FS meter, and no physical tapping into the system itself.

Thanks for making me think in a totally different direction.

I like that idea as well, the only possible issue I could see from it would be other RF sources such as the ignition system or voltage transients in the electrical system, but if it works it would be a sweet idea for sure. The more current that thing pulls the more of a field there will be as Im sure you know. If the RF occurs at a specific frequency you could even put in discrete circuitry to detect that as a type of confirmation it is the pump running rather than some type of interference from engine operation.

definitely interested in more info on the thermistors. IF the temp sensor can be made cheap enough, then I wouldn't be against having one of those along with the pickup coil type, since I know those can be done cheaply if there a strong enough field generated.

Originally Posted by Ron Vogel

Enco - Guaranteed Lowest Prices on Machinery, Tools and Shop Supplies


You can slip the ss probe under the hose into the coolant stream. Been using them for years. Just under $20 a pop, you'll need 2

I've searched their site under several keywords, but it's not coming up. nvm DOH

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?P...&PARTPG=INLMK3

Thanks Ron. This is the quick cheap and easy method for the time being.

Ron how durable are these thermometers? Daily driver on all of the time, or track only?

Originally Posted by Ron Vogel

Enco - Guaranteed Lowest Prices on Machinery, Tools and Shop Supplies


You can slip the ss probe under the hose into the coolant stream. Been using them for years. Just under $20 a pop, you'll need 2

Why do you need 2 by chance? For IN and OUT I assume? I'm thinking about giving one of these a try.

What kind of IC temps do you see? Does Engine bay heat affect it much if any?

Originally Posted by Iron Indian

Why do you need 2 by chance? For IN and OUT I assume? I'm thinking about giving one of these a try.

What kind of IC temps do you see? Does Engine bay heat affect it much if any?

I ordered 2 but am going with something else. Let me know if you want one... or two