Detailed electrical specifications for the NW3S drag racecar

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NW3S Drag Racecar
Specifications and Details
Electrical and Electronics

NW3S SLAYER Drag Car, 3000GT racing VR4
Paint and Body Engine Drivetrain Fuel System
Wheels and Brakes Electronics Suspension Fluids
Interior Comm and Fire Control Parachute Nitrous

The electronics and electrical of the car is quite extensive. There are a lot of electronics that are involved in most all aspects of the build.

This page will try to cover some of the generalities of the electrical systems used in the car.

The alternator is the stock 110A VR4 alternator. The battery is mounted in the trunk and is a Optima 'redtop'. It is in a NHRA approved battery box. The feedline to the battery from the alternator is a 4 GA. The battery feed line to the cabin controls and engine area is a 0 GA. There is also a seperate 6 GA feed for the radiator fans and related system.

wiring buss and the AEM electronic boost solenoid

All of the wiring and electronic installations were done in house. We only use soldered and heatshrink terminals. Added special connectors and plated also where required or advantageous to the location or design.

Also used extensively are AEM electronics (such as the electronic boost controller shown on the left)


The main brain of the car is of course the ECU (engine control module). We use the AEM Engine management system. This controls not just the entire engine timing, fuel, cooling, and everything else but does the nitrous system, launch controls (anti-lag and two-step timing retard), turns fans and other things on/off based upon temperatures, and much much more.

The parameters from this ECU are also put out to the 8" LCD touch screen above the steering wheel and in front of the driver. This means that we can view just about any engine or vehicle parameter at any time. Changing the screen for a different driver or different run, purpose, or track is 1-2-3 and the parameters displayed is adapted.

As far as we know, we are the only race car to ever do parameter monitoring and layout this way!

AEM engine management system

The replacement of the factory ECU is the first step in setting up any car for serious horsepower and racing (or any kind). The flexibility it provides is extremely important as well as all the other parameters needed for complete car control.

We have a laptop also plugged into the ECU which further gives us long time logging abilities. We log / record many engine parameters at most all times.

 


Here's a birds-eye view of the list of controls and indicators inside the car.
The photo section for the interior has additional views and more pictures than here.

Here you can also see the LCD screen with the steering wheel removed.
There is also a 2nd screen up above for added information (non-crital engine data) but you
cannot see that screen in this photo.

The LCD screen obtains it's input graphics from the PC controlled
AEM ECU. We have digital and bar-graph display of desired engine parameters
in real time right on screen. Such as RPM, boost, speed, etc.

Parameters displayed can be changed to custom screens (for different driver or different
functions like track vs tuning vs troubleshooting, etc) all with a fast click of a
mouse. The LCD screen is touch enabled also.


cab shot of driver controls and indicator/warnings
click for large view

 

Interior controls needed to be located, installed, and wired
(with and without switch indication)

  • Main Power switch
  • Starter switch
  • Ignition switch 1
  • Ignition switch 2
  • Fuel pump power
  • Radiator 1 fan override
  • Oil cooler fans override
  • Fuel cooler fan override
  • Engine pre-oiler power on
  • Turbo scavenge pump override
  • Radio PTT switch
  • Interior radio speaker on/off
  • 12v charger outlets for PC and cabin cameras
  • Parachute release switch
  • Fire extinguisher release
  • Ignition cut (shutdown) switch
  • Intercooler temp display selector
  • Water Injection system power (on/off)
  • Intercooler CO2 liquid (Spray)
  • Nitrous System power
  • Nitrous Tank - open/close electrical switch
  • Nitrous tank heater on/off
  • Nitrous purge lines switch
  • Parachute charge system switch (trunk deck)
  • Battery high current jump connector
  • Clutch safety switch lockout / override
  • Linelock brake system power
  • Linelock brake system hold/release
  • Fuel controller override

Warning and indicators lights or audible warning needed to be located, installed, and wired

  • Oil pressure warning
  • Radiator fan on
  • Oil Cooler fan on
  • Parking brake on
  • Low voltage warning
  • Low oil pressure warning
  • Alternator charge indicator
  • Rear battery power on
  • Main cabin power on
  • Main power solenoid on
  • Water/alcohol injection : error,on,warning(low)
  • Turn signals
  • Headlights on
  • Parachute system pressurized
  • Parachute system pressurized (rear of car,trunk)
  • Parachute system ready
  • Intercooler temp readout
  • Nightlight power
  • Linelock system power on
  • Linelock - brake hydraulics locked/hold indicator
  • Fuel controller - tachometer feed

 

GAUGES/METERS Installed

  • Coolant temp (F)
  • Engine Oil Temp (F)
  • Engine Oil Pressure (PSI)
  • Air/Fuel Ratio (WB O2)
  • Fuel Pressure (PSI)
  • EGT Temp (F)
  • Boost pressure (PSI)
  • Battery voltage (cab)
  • Battery voltage (trunk)
  • Nitrous tank pressure (PSI)
  • Water Injection System Flowmeter
  • Intercooler temp (IN, OUT, Compare)
  • Fuel level

Other

  • Nitrous tank pressure readout (trunk)
  • CO2 pressure and regulator output for parachute system
  • Defi Tachometer shift light and system
  • A-pillar progrssive shift light rpm indicator
  • pressure switch for nitrous system (lockout safety)
  • Fan indicators (under hood for tuning) - radiator 1, radiator 2, oilcooler, scavenge pump on
  • Manual parachute deployment (safety override)
  • LCD screen for AEM EMS parameters display-driver
  • LCD screen for AEM EMS parameter display-topside/roof
  • Added ECU input sensors - MAP voltage, WB O2 (two), oil pressure, coolant temp(s), boost pressure, voltage, fan controller

warning light indicator cluster Some starting out electrical layouts of warning lights array (left) and one of the power busses for the incab controls. cabin electrical buss for in-cab controls and systems

There are many driver indicator and warning systems in the car. On the left you see the Brake Lock and Hydraulic Indicator light. We use HURST brand hydraulic line lock solenoid
(see Other for more info and
photos on the LineLock System)

Just to the left of those in foreground is the progressive Ecliptech shift light system mounted on the A-pillar area of roll bar..

In addition to the progressive shift light we have a DEFI tachometer system (pictured far right) that includes a shift light. While the LCD screen does show the driver the rpms and other parameters we find it is very useful to have a standalone tach and one that is analog. It is fast to read while still being able to judge in advance the rate of increase or decline. It is also there if a parameter screen fails (backup). One of the nicest tachometers I've ever worked with!

The only problem with DEFI is they change models so frequently and then drop other previous models it is hard to keep up and / or get parts for their older electronics. That and some of their items I had as favorites they don't make anymore. Seems they change every 2 years or something. PITA.

 

For the most part the main shift light used is the progressive Ecliptech shift light system. Because the lighting is progressive is makes it much easier and faster to time the shift at the exact moment,

driver brake and hydraulic indicator and warning lights

DEFI BF tachometer for racing
power off mode

Tach view once power is turned on.

 

DEFI tachometer with shift light.

stepper motored tach

side view of DEFI racing tachometer

peak light and memory on the DEFI tachometer

 

ecliptech progressive shift light system
The progressive Ecliptech shift light system is probably one of the most advanced shift lights available!


 

trunk battery and NHRA approved box

Left trunk area showing the battery (in NHRA box), fuel cooler is in front of that. Voltage meter for quick status read and fuel pump/system fuses and solenoid.

 

High current connection (200 Amp) for a fast jump to the main battery if needed. Forklift style connector makes it easy and heavy duty.

hi amperage connector for fast high power jump to main battery

 

The control area in the cab (forward passenger side area) monitors the battery voltage and which power controls are one or off (rear main power, cabin power, 80A solenoid control feed).

power control monitoring in the cab

As with many of the images on this page you can see more detailed photos and angles at the photo interior section of the website.

Further specifications about the installed AEM water injection system are at the OTHER section of the build pages.


Launch control area

Switches for:

  • Clutch safety over-ride
  • Fuel system / controller over-ride (full fuel pump output for racing mode)
  • Line lock system for hydraulic lockup - power enable and the steering wheel switch connector (for the switch on wheel to hold brakes on)
    (more photos and info HERE)

Above that is the fuel cell level gauge and warning indicators.

  launch controls - clutch over-ride, line lock brake hydraulic control, fuel controller over-ride and connection to steering wheel switch

CNC machined custom switch plattes and control plates

AEM gauges and COBO switches on custom CNC plates

 

We utilized CNC custom switch plates with color inset and aluminum engraved. Panels made by FrontPanel Express company.

For gauges we use mainly the AEM digital series. Digital is much faster reading than analog.

We would have gone AEM serial gauges but we need the laptop hooked up at the same time and that can cause a problem. So standalone digital gauges was the answer.

Some systems or installs are borrowed from the aircraft industry or custom made for us (such as the cobo switches from Italy).

Center driver controls and readouts.

All of the controls and switches can be viewed further at the WhatIsIt page.

Much of these controls are automated and do not need driver intervention or input. Other uses involve over-ride for safety or redundancy.


PC laptop mount system

We use a Gamber-Johnson PC (laptop) mount. This is the same style and model used in many emergency vehicles and is super heavy duty.

The mount has to be very solid but still be able to rotate and swing where we want it. Either for tuning, or up out of the way, or for enabling the logging functions (one of the more important aspects of the PC in the car).

Here is a view of the mount without the PC installed and in two different positions.

It can quickly telescope or rotate for access by driver, passenger side, or inbetween then swung out of the way safely.

in car mounting system for the PC/laptop

PC mounted in the car PC in the mount inside the 3000GT

Fan and cooling power buss area with indicators

On the left is the under-hood fan power buss and the indicator system (behind driver side headlight).

This is for quick monitoring of the cooling fans (radiator and oil cooler) and turbo scavenge pump operation when working on a running engine and at the track.

For more on the cooling system and/or fans see the ENGINE area of the build menu.

 

On the right is the fuel controller in the trunk area.

There is not a lot of info on this page on the fuel system or nitrous as those are covered in their own page (see build menu).

More on the fuel system can be found HERE

aeromotive fuel controller

fuel controller indicators


   
wide view of driver controls and in cab area. CLICK FOR LARGER VIEW
click for larger view

Our rocker switches were made for us by a company in Italy. Cobo International made us some awesome custom rockers and they look great. They were pricier than just going plain but unique sometimes is worth the extra effort (or price). They also made our custom warning indicator panel and fuel level system.

For each area of the control system, photos, or a more specific labeling of what each does you can go to the WHAT IS IT page and each section can be clicked on for a close up and explanation of each control panel or system.


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