How could they make it any easier ?

 

Well, actually the instructions are pretty easy to understand and easy to set up. I think I got everything connected and set up the way they say. Is just when just try to see how it works that the product is not working the way they say that is going to work. And now I have to re- do some of the connections. No big deal.

 

All the solenoid does is open and close the line based on duty cycle. Whether that raises, lowers, or does nothing to the boost pressure, depends on myriad factors, including how the solenoid is installed. The solenoid has 3 holes in it. If plumbed one way, 100% duty cycle is always closed. If plumbed the other way, 100% duty cycle is always open. One way is for internal gates where you want 0% duty cycle to be always open. The other way is for external gates where you want 0% duty cycle to be always closed.

Gain is usually the amplitude of a signal. A larger gain usually means a higher voltage amplitude, which may improve the response of the electronic device. Because devices which operate using a pulse ("PWM") must switch on and off rapidly, a higher gain also means a larger transition time between on and off positions, which can have side effects depending on the device in question (it might seem like raising gain also raises duty cycle, where it may simply be 'jamming' open the solenoid faster and delaying the closing time )


Most of the time, when boost controllers act exhibit weird behavior it is the installation. The lines need to be large enough, and dedicated (no "T's"). They need to be pressure tested for leaks. The lines cannot be excessive in length. Some solenoids are position sensitive and only work upright. The solenoid mount needs to be vibration resistant, rubber O-rings are often supplied with high quality products (greddy, HKS) to isolate the solenoid from the mount.

As to "how much to turn it up" I suggest using a boost controller with a dial. Take the vehicle to the highway and put it in a numerically high gear like 4th, step down on the pedal and gradually turn the dial while watching the boost gauge climb.

 

I'm sure there is a pulse width modulation involved and what you say is true . But according to the Innovate instructions, the gain is simply an increase in duty cycle. Gain is calculated as a percentage of what the current duty cycle is set at. For example, if your waste gate duty is set at 30% and your gain is 50%, the controller will gain up to an additional 15% (max duty with gain would be 45%) max with gain= (gain% * duty%)+ duty%.

 

You are right. "Gain" in terms of a PID controller (Which boost controllers are) is a mathematical constant which the mircocontroller uses to calculate how to react to closed loop feedback, in order to produce the desired result.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PID_controller

 

Gain does not (should not*) equal duty cycle, or it would be called duty cycle. There are different kinds of gain in control systems, and not all boost controllers operate the same way or use a gain term or coefficient. Many boost controllers have no way of detecting error%, so to say that gain is a constant in a mathematical control loop is not always accurate. Really, it is anyone's guess what the gain dial does on a given boost controller.

For example the greddy profec B Spec-II boost controller, it uses a start boost, duty cycle, and gain to control boost. There is no "desired boost pressure" setting, so the controller never knows when it has "overshot" or "undershot" a target boost, thus there is no error % loop, no steady state error%, no way for a mathematical formula or control system closed loop function to use the gain % setting this way to steady the boost pressure.

Personally, I believe the common boost controllers output is a single pulse width based on the duty cycle setting, and an amplitude of current based on the gain setting. The only thing left in such a system would be phase shift, which I believe is not relevant to solenoid operation unless it occurs during said operation without being commanded.

 

At the point your in I wouldnt even worry about adjusting the gain yet until you get your target boost level set with the dc. As for trying to figure out an exact % to start with or how much to increase it by to hit the boost you want.Your only answer is true seat time and not be lazy because every setup will react differently.

My gfb controller i started with everything at 10%. I set my overboost to 16psi.I would adjust the dc by 10% increments during a long highway run in 4th and roll into it and monitor peak boost and dial it down. Gain was adjusted to better control turbo spool up after having my dc dialed in,which I have set the gain to 10%.

Your going to have to take your time and get to know your setup and what it does and doesnt like then lock it in.