One of the most powerful features of our ISIS Intelligent Multiplex System is its diagnostic capabilities. Unlike a traditional fuse and relay harness, ISIS is smart. When you wire your car, truck or vehicle with ISIS, you get a system that gives you feedback.
We build very simple tools into our MASTERCELLs, POWERCELLs, inMOTION cells and every other accessory to help you identify and fix electrical problems quickly. This helps you install the system quicker and solve issues that pop up quickly to get you back on the road.
All of our diagnostics start with our inSIGHT LCD module that is built into the MASTERCELL. If you are using our inTOUCH MAX, these diagnostics are done through the touch screen. inSIGHT gets you all of the critical information on the system: battery voltages, cell temperatures, status of outputs, etc. It also gets you indication of when switches turn on and off. This powerful feature lets you check your switches and make sure that they are wired correctly.
All of our cells have a "heartbeat" indicator on them. This simple light confirms that the cells are healthy and communicating properly. By simply checking for the hearbeat, you know that all of the cells are talking to each other.
Lastly, each output on the POWERCELLs and inMOTION cells have diagnostic indicators on them. These show you when the output is on, when it is off and when there is a bad connection to your load.
Watch this video to see how all of these diagnostic tools can be used together to identify problems in your car's wiring.
You can learn more about our ISIS Intelligent Multiplex System at this blog or at our website: http://www.isispower.com/.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Wiring Power Switch for inTOUCH MAX Screen...
We've just posted an updated version of the manual and installation guide for our ISIS Power inTOUCH MAX Touch Screen. We are always trying to make our literature clearer and more user friendly. Based on your feedback, we've cleaned up some of the text in the document and clarified a few things.
You can download the new manual from our Reference Library at this link.
The most significant change is that we added a diagram showing you how to wire in a switch to shut off power to the screen when you are not using the car. The screen draws power when it is running so you need to shut it down to minimize the drain on the battery.
Adding this switch is really easy. You just need to get a Double-Pole, Single-Throw switch. This kind of a switch is also called a DPST switch. Here are a few links of places where you can get these types of switches.
Here's one from Radio Shack.
Digikey has a big selection.
You can even source these from Ebay.
You can pick the switch that fits the layout for your car. The only technical requirements are that it has to be rated for at least 12-volts and must be able to carry 5-amps.
Once you have your switch, pick a convenient place in the data cable between the MASTERCELL and the inTOUCH MAX screen. Open the looming and cut the Red and Yellow wires. Strip them and connect them to the different poles of the switch. It is important that you never allow the Red and Yellow wires to cross with each other. This will severely damage your screen.
The Yellow wire in the harness brings regulated power from the MASTERCELL to power the electronics on the screen and the back light. The Red wire is the TX line for the data flowing to the screen. To properly shut down the screen, both of these wires need to be disconnected.
You can download a PDF of this application note from our Reference Library by clicking this link.
Please give our technical support team at call at (847) 232-1991 if you have any questions with your ISIS Power install.
You can download the new manual from our Reference Library at this link.
The most significant change is that we added a diagram showing you how to wire in a switch to shut off power to the screen when you are not using the car. The screen draws power when it is running so you need to shut it down to minimize the drain on the battery.
Adding this switch is really easy. You just need to get a Double-Pole, Single-Throw switch. This kind of a switch is also called a DPST switch. Here are a few links of places where you can get these types of switches.
Here's one from Radio Shack.
Digikey has a big selection.
You can even source these from Ebay.
You can pick the switch that fits the layout for your car. The only technical requirements are that it has to be rated for at least 12-volts and must be able to carry 5-amps.
Once you have your switch, pick a convenient place in the data cable between the MASTERCELL and the inTOUCH MAX screen. Open the looming and cut the Red and Yellow wires. Strip them and connect them to the different poles of the switch. It is important that you never allow the Red and Yellow wires to cross with each other. This will severely damage your screen.
The Yellow wire in the harness brings regulated power from the MASTERCELL to power the electronics on the screen and the back light. The Red wire is the TX line for the data flowing to the screen. To properly shut down the screen, both of these wires need to be disconnected.
You can download a PDF of this application note from our Reference Library by clicking this link.
Please give our technical support team at call at (847) 232-1991 if you have any questions with your ISIS Power install.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
ISIS Power Install in Built to Cruise Mustang...
We've been working with Mike Raburn of Drive 9 Media and StangNet.com. They have been working on their Built To Cruise Mustang and have it wired with our ISIS Intelligent Multiplex System.
The BTC Mustang started our life as a 1989 Fox Body 5.0. It has been completely reincarnated as a new ride. At its core is a 2011 Coyote V8. We've blogged about this engine before and have shown you how to wire its ECU into ISIS. Check out that post here.
They completely re-wired the car with our 3-Cell Kit. You can get more information on their ISIS install, plus the overall project at the http://www.stangnet.com/ forum. This link will take you to the thread for the build. There are a lot of good pictures of where they placed their MASTERCELL and POWERCELLs in the car.
Check it out and keep watching their forum for more updates.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Tony Candela's New Book
We've blogged about Tony Candela before. He is a seasoned car guy who knows a thing or two about electrical systems and how to wire a car. His first book, Automotive Wiring and Electrical Systems has become one of the great references for guys in their garages. When you have a question about good practice on wiring your car, turn to this book.
Tony just followed up with a new book titled Automotive Electrical Performance Projects. This book takes you to the next step covering topics from audio to EFI and everything in between. This is a great addition to the book shelf in your garage.
You can learn more about the new book, including where you can purchase it, at this link.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
From the set of Chop Cut Rebuild...
Greetings from Southern California. I've been out here for the past few days with the crew from WAS Productions and Classic Industries taping an episode of Chop Cut Rebuild.
CCR host, Dan Woods and his team have been rebuilding a 1972 Duster. It was in a pretty sad state when they started but it is shaping up to be an awesome ride.
Wiring harnesses specific to that vintage of MOPAR are practically impossible to find. They turned to us to wire it with our universal 3-Cell Kit for all of the usual vehicle functions: headlights, turn-signals, fans, brake lights, etc. They also added our inMOTION Motor Controller Cell for the windows, lock actuators and the exhaust cut-outs.
The install went really well. We spent yesterday getting cells mounted, power cables run from the battery and harnesses roughed in. Today, we wired the switches to the MASTERCELL and taped the process. Everything said and done, we wired the car, tested everything and cleaned up in 2 days with a camera crew hanging around looking over our shoulders.
You can catch the unveiling of the car at the Classic Industries booth at the 2011 SEMA show in Las Vegas. Until then, they are keeping a lot of the details of the car hush-hush. You will have to wait until then to see the finished product.
The new season of Chop Cut Rebuild will air on SPEED TV in October. Watch their website at www.ccr.tv for dates and check your local listings. The episode featuring the ISIS install in the car will air just after the new year. We'll keep you all posted as we get close.
Thanks to Dan Woods, Edgar Soler, Edward Peghin and the whole crew for a great time and a job well done.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Heartland Customs on Cover of Vette Magazine with ISIS Install
Here's another great customer car with ISIS installed in it that is making a spash in the media. The C2ZR1 built by Heartland Customs of Purcell, OK is featured in a great acticle in Vette Magazine, including an awesome cover shot.
Jeff Page and his team at Heartland Customs started with a 1964 Corvette and created a piece of art powered by an LS9. The details in this car are what really make it. The carbon fiber accents, the customer gauges and the interior set this apart from any thing else out there.
They wired the C2ZR1 with our standard ISIS 3-Cell Kit, inLINK and inMOTION.
You can learn more about Heartland Customs at their website by clicking here. You can contact them at:
128 N. CanadianPurcell, OK 73080
405-527-4526
info@Heartlandcustoms.us
You can catch pictures fo the C2ZR1 build and videos, including details on the ISIS install, at their website by clicking here.
You can catch their article in Vette Magazine by clicking here.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
ISIS Power's Mike Weber Wins TTF Class at 2011 NASA National Championships at Mid-Ohio
Just to continue our winner theme for tonight, we're proud to announce that Mike Weber, our engineering manager, won the TTF class at the 2011 NASA Nationals Championship at Mid-Ohio last weekend. In his 1995 777 Infinity G20, Mike beat his best lap time at Mid-Ohio and reset the track record for TTF, beating his previous record by 0.4 seconds.
Congratulations to Mike.
Congratulations to Mike.
Team Superlite Wins Super Unlimited Class at 2011 NASA Nationals at Mid-Ohio
On behalf of our entire team at ISIS Power, we extend a hearty congratulations to Fran Hall and his team at Race Car Replicas. Over last weekend, they won the National Auto Sports Association (NASA) National Championship for the Super Unlimited Class. Driven by Ryan Ellis, they didn't only just win, they dominated this class for the entire season.
We're honored to be a sponsor of their SLC 01 Race Car. Fran and his team wired this car with our ISIS Intelligent Multiplex System. Our ability to handle abuse, heat, dirt and water helped them take this victory. You can see the RCR press release on the ISIS system at this link.
The SLC is an amazing car and you can find our ISIS system standard on it. The best part of this car is its versatility. It can be your daily-driver super car with all of the creature comforts. It can also be your gentleman's track car for the weekend race warrior. Also, as shown this season, it can be a powerful track car that puts everything else out there in its place. The choice is yours.
You can learn more about Race Car Replicas and their full lineup of vehicles at http://www.superlitecars.com/.
Thanks to SLC crew member Will Campbell, here are a few extra facts about the SLC track car and its history this season.
We're honored to be a sponsor of their SLC 01 Race Car. Fran and his team wired this car with our ISIS Intelligent Multiplex System. Our ability to handle abuse, heat, dirt and water helped them take this victory. You can see the RCR press release on the ISIS system at this link.
The SLC is an amazing car and you can find our ISIS system standard on it. The best part of this car is its versatility. It can be your daily-driver super car with all of the creature comforts. It can also be your gentleman's track car for the weekend race warrior. Also, as shown this season, it can be a powerful track car that puts everything else out there in its place. The choice is yours.
You can learn more about Race Car Replicas and their full lineup of vehicles at http://www.superlitecars.com/.
Thanks to SLC crew member Will Campbell, here are a few extra facts about the SLC track car and its history this season.
- In all the races the SLC has entered this year, it sat on the pole 11 times – every time the car got to qualify, it sat on pole.
- Ryan Ellis drove the car to a first place finish in every race it finished.
- The car only ran two short test sessions and 4 race weekends - including the National Championships weekend- yet still managed to completely dominate the field in every race it entered, including most importantly, the National Championship race. They had their share of new-car teething issues, but it is very unusual for a new car to be so fast right out of the box. It’s almost unheard of for a new car to have both the pace and the reliability to win the National Championship.
- The Superlite Coupe went to two tracks this year in NASA, and shattered the lap records at both tracks. How often does a new car unload from the trailer and go immediately to breaking lap records at every track it sees? We still hold these records, incidentally.
- The SLC was fast in all conditions, usually taking the weekend's fastest lap time in the dry, but was equally fast in the rain. On Thursday, Ryan drove the SLC in the rain to a pole position for that days qualifying race that was 6 seconds faster than the rest of the field, and took the fastest lap time of the day, across all classes, including a TTR Radical and even the open wheel Formula Mazdas. In a series where qualifying can be won or lost by tenths-- or less-- this was massive, and a portent of what might be to come. The car was so good in the rain that Ryan asked everyone to do a little rain dance for the Championship race. For those who understand the dynamics of fast, high-powered mid-engined cars, this is surprising, and more than a little unusual, and speaks volumes about the confidence Ryan has in the handling ability of the SLC in wet and dry conditions. The takeaway is that the SLC is benign at the limit in all conditions, which is essential to fully exploit the potential of the car.
- The Superlite Coupe didn’t achieve the records it has by just throwing a big HP number on the wall. In fact, we gave up several hundred horsepower to some of our competitors, and won instead on superb driving, and a car with unmatched handling. Ryan was able to put the car anywhere on the track he needed to, which is especially important when working traffic. This year we competed against Porsches with 700+ HP, a 1200 HP Mustang, several stockcars with ex-NASCAR SB2 engines with around 800 HP, and a Lister-Corvette with a reputed 850 HP. We ran the SLC with 525 HP to the wheels, which was around 600 HP at the crank. Next year Fran promises to find more power, which should bring us to parity with more of the rest of the field.
- The Superlite Coupe didn’t arise from a modern factory in Zuffenhausen surrounded by hundreds of man-years of race car design and development resources, or in some hallowed ground in Maranello that has spawned decades of successful race cars, or even from a company devoted to making pure racing cars, but from a small shop just outside of Detroit led by a person with a vision to produce insanely great cars that are actually attainable, and a few craftsman that helped to achieve it. The significance of this is hard to overstate: the SLC, in its first months of racing, conquered very mature race cars from Porsche, Ferrari and others that had massively more time and resources devoted to their development. It’s a classic David and Goliath story, with a local Detroit twist.
- The factory-built SLC that won the National Championship race so convincingly (it had lapped almost the entire Super Unlimited field, some of them a couple of times) shares almost everything with the standard SLC kit that anyone can buy. And the race-specific parts are readily available, and on the shelf, for those customers who want to buy a clone of the 01 car. This is in distinct contrast to some other manufacturers that don’t actually race what they sell, despite appearances.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
ISIS Configuration Sheet
A lot of guys wonder where the best place to start is when the wire their car with our ISIS Intelligent Multiplex System. We always suggest starting with the manual that comes with the kit. You get a bound copy in the box that comes with your kit but you can always download a copy from our reference library at this link.
Once you familiarize yourself with the manual, turn your attention towards the configuration sheet that was included in your kit. This is your road map to wiring your car. It steps you through the process, line-by-line, function-by-function.
We do everything by wire color. There are a bunch of wires on the MASTERCELL input harnesses that are identified by a primary color and a stripe. All of the POWERCELL output wires are identified by a primary color.
Check out this video for more information on the configuration sheets, what they tell you and how to use them.
We have a bunch of different standard configurations. These are options when you order your ISIS 3-Cell Kit. Our most common is our front-engine. You can download the configuration here.
We also have a rear-engine configuration that puts the ignition and starter functions on the rear POWERCELL. You'd use this if you have a rear or mid-engined car. You can download this configuration sheet at this link.
We also have specific configurations for the Factory Five GTM and the Factory Five Hot Rod. You can download those configurations from our Reference Library.
We will continue to add specific configurations as customer demand requires.
Wiring the Brake Switch...
Okay Guys,
Here's the next installation in our ISIS Power install video series for our 1955 Ford F100 panel truck.
We just wired in the brake pedal switch into our ISIS MASTERCELL. Just like the rest of the switches in the truck, this is really easy.
Remember that the MASTERCELL works when you ground the input wire. To make the brake lights in the back of the car turn on, you simply connect the MASTERCELL input wire to ground when you press the pedal. One terminal on the switch connects to the MASTERCELL input wire, the other connects to ground. This can be a connection to the chassis or can be through one of the included ground wires in the MASTERCELL input harness.
We're using a switch that works on the brake fluid pressure.
When we press on the brake pedal, the fluid pressure increases. There is a diaphragm internally in this switch with a set of contacts that connects the two terminals together electrically. One of these terminals connects to the MASTERCELL input wire for the brake lights. The other connects to one of the ground wires in the MASTERCELL harness. We used these terminals from Waytek to connect the MASTERCELL 22-AWG wires to the switch.
There are many other types of brake switches. They all will wire the same way to the MASTERCELL inputs. Here are a few good examples.
The last one is my favorite. We had been making these at Littelfuse since the 1964 1/2 Mustang. Some of my early projects as a manufacturing engineer were working on the automation machines for these switches. Remarkably, the switch has remained practically unchanged since the beginning.
Check out the latest video talking about how to wire this switch into our ISIS Intelligent Multiplex System.
You can check out our entire video series showing off how we're wiring our 1955 Ford F100 panel truck with our ISIS Intelligent Multiplex System at http://www.isispower.com/ISIS-F100.
Here's the next installation in our ISIS Power install video series for our 1955 Ford F100 panel truck.
We just wired in the brake pedal switch into our ISIS MASTERCELL. Just like the rest of the switches in the truck, this is really easy.
Remember that the MASTERCELL works when you ground the input wire. To make the brake lights in the back of the car turn on, you simply connect the MASTERCELL input wire to ground when you press the pedal. One terminal on the switch connects to the MASTERCELL input wire, the other connects to ground. This can be a connection to the chassis or can be through one of the included ground wires in the MASTERCELL input harness.
We're using a switch that works on the brake fluid pressure.
There are many other types of brake switches. They all will wire the same way to the MASTERCELL inputs. Here are a few good examples.
Check out the latest video talking about how to wire this switch into our ISIS Intelligent Multiplex System.
You can check out our entire video series showing off how we're wiring our 1955 Ford F100 panel truck with our ISIS Intelligent Multiplex System at http://www.isispower.com/ISIS-F100.
ISIS Technical Support
I had a customer ask a good question in an email today. ISIS is this new whiz-bang electrical system for his car. Are we going to be available to help him if he has questions when he is wiring his car?
The answer is absolutely YES.
We know that ISIS is new to the market. Even though we've been selling for the past three years, we're still educating customers on the advantages of the ISIS Intelligent Multiplex System over a traditional fuse and relay based wire harness. We know that the worst thing that we can do for our business is to drop a new product out in the market, especially one associated with the electrical system of a car, and not give guys a way to get their questions answered quickly.
As a place to start, this blog was created as a simple resource to learn about the product. We post on new things that we're working on. We also get common customer questions about wiring your car with ISIS answered here. This is also the place to get the expanded content on our 1955 Ford F100 panel truck install. In addition to the videos that you can find on You Tube, we post extra pictures plus commentary about the step-by-step installation process in this truck.
We also have an interactive forum on our website. This is a place where guys can post questions and get answers from other customers or our technical team. You can get to our forum by clicking this link.
We also have a lot of resources available on our website to help with the install. Our reference library is full of our manuals, configuration sheets and application notes to help you through the install. You can get to the reference library on the ISIS Power website by clicking this link.
You can also contact us through our website by clicking this link. These emails are monitored closely. Our internal metric for responses to emails is in less than 24 hours but in most cases it is far quicker than that.
Lastly and most important, there are real life people working behind the scenes at ISIS Power located in our offices just outside of Chicago. You can call us directly at (847) 232-1991. Hit option 2 to get to our technical support group. We all wear a lot of hats here at ISIS Power, so at any point in time you could get connected to Mike, Dan, Wes, Jay or either of the two Jims. We're all car guys who happen to know a thing or two about wiring cars and electrical systems. We know that sometimes there is nothing better than speaking to a real person when you're stuck on a problem.
We know that a lot of guys do their work on their cars on the weekend. Usually, there is at least one of us in the office on Saturdays working on something. If not, any voice mails left on the technical support line get emailed to all of us. If we're not in the office, someone will get back to you as quickly as possible so leave a message.
The answer is absolutely YES.
We know that ISIS is new to the market. Even though we've been selling for the past three years, we're still educating customers on the advantages of the ISIS Intelligent Multiplex System over a traditional fuse and relay based wire harness. We know that the worst thing that we can do for our business is to drop a new product out in the market, especially one associated with the electrical system of a car, and not give guys a way to get their questions answered quickly.
As a place to start, this blog was created as a simple resource to learn about the product. We post on new things that we're working on. We also get common customer questions about wiring your car with ISIS answered here. This is also the place to get the expanded content on our 1955 Ford F100 panel truck install. In addition to the videos that you can find on You Tube, we post extra pictures plus commentary about the step-by-step installation process in this truck.
We also have an interactive forum on our website. This is a place where guys can post questions and get answers from other customers or our technical team. You can get to our forum by clicking this link.
We also have a lot of resources available on our website to help with the install. Our reference library is full of our manuals, configuration sheets and application notes to help you through the install. You can get to the reference library on the ISIS Power website by clicking this link.
You can also contact us through our website by clicking this link. These emails are monitored closely. Our internal metric for responses to emails is in less than 24 hours but in most cases it is far quicker than that.
Lastly and most important, there are real life people working behind the scenes at ISIS Power located in our offices just outside of Chicago. You can call us directly at (847) 232-1991. Hit option 2 to get to our technical support group. We all wear a lot of hats here at ISIS Power, so at any point in time you could get connected to Mike, Dan, Wes, Jay or either of the two Jims. We're all car guys who happen to know a thing or two about wiring cars and electrical systems. We know that sometimes there is nothing better than speaking to a real person when you're stuck on a problem.
We know that a lot of guys do their work on their cars on the weekend. Usually, there is at least one of us in the office on Saturdays working on something. If not, any voice mails left on the technical support line get emailed to all of us. If we're not in the office, someone will get back to you as quickly as possible so leave a message.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Check out the latest from Custom Images Corvettes...
We haven't done a customer highlight post in a while. We've been too focused on our ISIS 1955 Ford F100 panel truck build. This one is particularly cool because it shows what you can do with ISIS when you get creative.
Josh Powers of Custom Image Corvettes is a repeat customer of ours. He has wired many of his customers' Corvettes with our ISIS Intelligent Multiplex System. His latest creation, KAOS, is a great example of what you can do with ISIS to make your car stand out from the crowd.
He resurrected Killer, built originally by Chris McDonald. You can learn about the legacy of this car at Chris' website by clicking here. Josh's refresh is certainly a head turner. That monster 427 has a grumble that you can feel through your computer screen.
Josh installed our 3-Cell Kit with inLINK and inMOTION into KAOS. We did some custom programming for him to get some pretty unique features, especially through inLINK including controlling his lights and windows remotely. We also created a sequential turn-signal pattern for him that eliminated the need to add any external components. Check out this video where he is showing off the car's tricks.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
What's in the box?
Our ISIS Intelligent Multiplex System is a very unique product. We give you a revolutionary way to wire your car, truck or specialty vehicle. Unlike a traditional fuse and relay system, ISIS reduces the total amount of wire in your car and gives you advanced features that you can't get from products on the market today.
We put this quick video together to show you what you get when you order one of our 2 or 3-Cell kits. This is a comprehensive, universal wiring system that gets you everything from the cable from the battery, to the primary fuses to the input harness that connect to your switches and the output harnesses that connect to your functions in the car. Wiring your headlights, turn-signals, ECU, audio, windows, locks and others could not be easier.
Check out this video to get a complete run down of what you get with your ISIS 2-Cell or 3-Cell Kit.
We put this quick video together to show you what you get when you order one of our 2 or 3-Cell kits. This is a comprehensive, universal wiring system that gets you everything from the cable from the battery, to the primary fuses to the input harness that connect to your switches and the output harnesses that connect to your functions in the car. Wiring your headlights, turn-signals, ECU, audio, windows, locks and others could not be easier.
Check out this video to get a complete run down of what you get with your ISIS 2-Cell or 3-Cell Kit.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
ISIS Coverage in GM High-Tech Performance
John installed our standard 3-Cell Kit with inMOTION, inLINK and inRESERVE.
John wrote up a great article that shows off the features and benefits of our system. You can check out the article at this link.
John has also done a ton of other cool things with this Third-Gen, including a completely customized dash. Check out the GM High-Tech Performance website for the full history on this car.
You can check out the rest of our ISIS media coverage at our website by clicking here.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Update on the ISIS Power Rear End
Okay Folks,
The install of our Heidts 4-link rear-end is coming along well on the chassis for our 1955 Ford F100 panel truck.
We removed the old hangers for the original leaf-spring suspension. After a little grinding and pounding, the rivets came out easily. Per the Heidts instructions, we opened these holes up to 7/16" for the bolts for the new mounts for the new 4-link. These mounts bolted directly in place. Check out this video for more.
Once that was done, we removed the old cross member from the back of the chassis. Again, a little persuasion with a grinding wheel and a mallet and the rivets came right out. These holes were expanded to 1/2" per the Heidts instructions. From there, the new cross member bolted right into place. This new member serves as the upper mounting points for the coil-overs for the rear. Check out this video for more commentary.
Our next step is to get the 4-link components dry fitted to the chassis. We'll also mock up the engine and transmission to get the pinion angle and use that to set the angle for the differential. Watch for that in future videos.
You can download the instructions for the Heidts 4-link rear-end by clicking this link. You can also catch our entire install series for our ISIS Intelligent Multiplex System in our 1955 Ford F100 panel truck at our website by clicking www.isispower.com/ISIS-F100.
Stay tuned for more updates on the F100 project.
The install of our Heidts 4-link rear-end is coming along well on the chassis for our 1955 Ford F100 panel truck.
We removed the old hangers for the original leaf-spring suspension. After a little grinding and pounding, the rivets came out easily. Per the Heidts instructions, we opened these holes up to 7/16" for the bolts for the new mounts for the new 4-link. These mounts bolted directly in place. Check out this video for more.
Once that was done, we removed the old cross member from the back of the chassis. Again, a little persuasion with a grinding wheel and a mallet and the rivets came right out. These holes were expanded to 1/2" per the Heidts instructions. From there, the new cross member bolted right into place. This new member serves as the upper mounting points for the coil-overs for the rear. Check out this video for more commentary.
Our next step is to get the 4-link components dry fitted to the chassis. We'll also mock up the engine and transmission to get the pinion angle and use that to set the angle for the differential. Watch for that in future videos.
You can download the instructions for the Heidts 4-link rear-end by clicking this link. You can also catch our entire install series for our ISIS Intelligent Multiplex System in our 1955 Ford F100 panel truck at our website by clicking www.isispower.com/ISIS-F100.
Stay tuned for more updates on the F100 project.
Fuse Sizes...
Okay Guys,
Here's the answer to another popular question that we get from customers when they're wiring their cars with our ISIS Intelligent Multiplex System.
What size fuse should they use for the different outputs on the POWERCELL?
Remember why the fuse is there... it is there to protect the wire not the end load. There is no need to protect the headlamp with a fuse but you do need to protect the wire going to the headlamp. A fuse is a thermally operating device that is intended to be the weakest point in an electrical system. If the system is carrying too much current, you want the fuse to open intentionally, protecting the rest of the system. You never want your wire to be the weakest point in your electrical system.
Fuses are designed to protect against two kinds of faults. The most common is a short circuit. Let's say that the wire to your headlights gets pinched against the chassis and breaks the insulation. You now have a very low resistance path to ground which will carry a lot of current. You want the fuse to open before the insulation on the wire gets hot enough to cause damage. The other scenario is a low-overload. These are usually resistive connections to ground that will still carry enough current to damage the wire.
To properly select the size of the fuse that you need to consider two things.
First, what is the minimum gauge of wire that the fuse needs to protect? All of the output harnesses on the ISIS POWERCELLs use 14-AWG wire. But, if you spice our output wire to a wire with a smaller gauge, you need to size the fuse to protect the smaller wire.
Second, you must understand the current draw for your load connected to the output wire. The fuse must be large enough to handle the steady-state current of the load plus any inrush that the load may have. Anything inductive (motors, coils, solenoids, etc) have inductive inrushes that could be up to 10 times the steady-state current draw. Incandescent bulbs also have inrushes. Remember that the resistance of the filament in the bulb is a function of its temperature. When the bulb is cold, the resistance is low so it can carry more current. As the filament heats up, the resistance increases as does the current flowing through the bulb. The inrush through a light bulb can be 5 to 10 times its steady state current.
LED lights draw far less current than their incandescent brothers and have no inrush. You can use a much smaller fuse.
Here is a simple chart to use as a reference for sizing your fuses.
Headlights- 20-amp
Starter solenoid- 20-amp
Ignition- 25-amp
Fuel pump- 25-amp
High-Beams- 20-amp
Turn-signals- 15-amp
Cooling fan- 25-amp
Power window regulator- 20-amp
Lock actuator- 15-amp
Parking lights- 15-amp
Horn- 10-amp
Use this chart as a guideline to pick your fuse sizes. You may need to adjust depending on the gauge of wire connected to your load and the specifics of your load.
Contact our technical support group at (847) 232-1991 for more details.
Here's the answer to another popular question that we get from customers when they're wiring their cars with our ISIS Intelligent Multiplex System.
What size fuse should they use for the different outputs on the POWERCELL?
Remember why the fuse is there... it is there to protect the wire not the end load. There is no need to protect the headlamp with a fuse but you do need to protect the wire going to the headlamp. A fuse is a thermally operating device that is intended to be the weakest point in an electrical system. If the system is carrying too much current, you want the fuse to open intentionally, protecting the rest of the system. You never want your wire to be the weakest point in your electrical system.
Fuses are designed to protect against two kinds of faults. The most common is a short circuit. Let's say that the wire to your headlights gets pinched against the chassis and breaks the insulation. You now have a very low resistance path to ground which will carry a lot of current. You want the fuse to open before the insulation on the wire gets hot enough to cause damage. The other scenario is a low-overload. These are usually resistive connections to ground that will still carry enough current to damage the wire.
To properly select the size of the fuse that you need to consider two things.
First, what is the minimum gauge of wire that the fuse needs to protect? All of the output harnesses on the ISIS POWERCELLs use 14-AWG wire. But, if you spice our output wire to a wire with a smaller gauge, you need to size the fuse to protect the smaller wire.
Second, you must understand the current draw for your load connected to the output wire. The fuse must be large enough to handle the steady-state current of the load plus any inrush that the load may have. Anything inductive (motors, coils, solenoids, etc) have inductive inrushes that could be up to 10 times the steady-state current draw. Incandescent bulbs also have inrushes. Remember that the resistance of the filament in the bulb is a function of its temperature. When the bulb is cold, the resistance is low so it can carry more current. As the filament heats up, the resistance increases as does the current flowing through the bulb. The inrush through a light bulb can be 5 to 10 times its steady state current.
LED lights draw far less current than their incandescent brothers and have no inrush. You can use a much smaller fuse.
Here is a simple chart to use as a reference for sizing your fuses.
Headlights- 20-amp
Starter solenoid- 20-amp
Ignition- 25-amp
Fuel pump- 25-amp
High-Beams- 20-amp
Turn-signals- 15-amp
Cooling fan- 25-amp
Power window regulator- 20-amp
Lock actuator- 15-amp
Parking lights- 15-amp
Horn- 10-amp
Use this chart as a guideline to pick your fuse sizes. You may need to adjust depending on the gauge of wire connected to your load and the specifics of your load.
Contact our technical support group at (847) 232-1991 for more details.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Happy Labor Day from ISIS Power
Happy Labor Day to all from our team here at ISIS Power.
We hope that you all get a chance to spend your time with friends & family and get out to enjoy the last of the summer weather. We salute all of you in your contributions to helping to grow our economy.
In celebration of the holiday, our offices will be closed for Monday September 5th. We'll all be back in on Tuesday the 6th for regular business hours. We'll be returning emails and voice mails then.
The ISIS Power Team.
ISIS Power Truck Front End Update
Okay Guys,
The Heidts front end is welded onto the new chassis for our 1955 Ford F100 panel truck. After we tacked in the boxing plates, we test fit the front cross member and checked for square. The Heidts instructions are really comprehensive and they walk you through all of the steps clearly.
To locate the front end, we had to measure 19 3/4 inches from the center line of the hole from the original hanger mount for the old leaf-spring. This defined the center line for the cross member. We measured, spotted in the cross member then measured everything again. We tacked it in and checked again. Once we were happy with things, we welded everything up. After a little work with the grinding wheel to clean up the welds, it looks awesome. Next, we're going to dry-fit all of the front suspensions components so that we can set our ride height. We'll need that to get the pinion angle right for the rear end.
Check out our progress...
You can catch our whole ISIS power install series at our website by going to www.isispower.com/ISIS-F100. You can also learn more about the Heidts products at their website by visiting http://www.heidts.com/.
The Heidts front end is welded onto the new chassis for our 1955 Ford F100 panel truck. After we tacked in the boxing plates, we test fit the front cross member and checked for square. The Heidts instructions are really comprehensive and they walk you through all of the steps clearly.
To locate the front end, we had to measure 19 3/4 inches from the center line of the hole from the original hanger mount for the old leaf-spring. This defined the center line for the cross member. We measured, spotted in the cross member then measured everything again. We tacked it in and checked again. Once we were happy with things, we welded everything up. After a little work with the grinding wheel to clean up the welds, it looks awesome. Next, we're going to dry-fit all of the front suspensions components so that we can set our ride height. We'll need that to get the pinion angle right for the rear end.
Check out our progress...
You can catch our whole ISIS power install series at our website by going to www.isispower.com/ISIS-F100. You can also learn more about the Heidts products at their website by visiting http://www.heidts.com/.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Preparing the Boxing Plates
Okay Guys,
The first step in our Heidts IFS install is to tack in the boxing plates. These reinforce the frame rails of our 1955 Ford F100 chassis to make them stronger. They need to carry the load of the suspension cross member and all of the forces from the wheels. They also need to carry the load of the engine.
Heidts does a great job of making this kit complete. The plates are precision cut to fit exactly against the frame rails. We did a little work with the wire wheel to prepare the surfaces for welding and mocked up the plates with clamps. Once we had everything lined up, we tacked the plates to the frame. Check out this video for more details.
You can read through the instructions that Heidts gives you in the kit by clicking here.
You can check out the whole installation series at this blog or at www.isispower.com/ISIS-F100
The first step in our Heidts IFS install is to tack in the boxing plates. These reinforce the frame rails of our 1955 Ford F100 chassis to make them stronger. They need to carry the load of the suspension cross member and all of the forces from the wheels. They also need to carry the load of the engine.
Heidts does a great job of making this kit complete. The plates are precision cut to fit exactly against the frame rails. We did a little work with the wire wheel to prepare the surfaces for welding and mocked up the plates with clamps. Once we had everything lined up, we tacked the plates to the frame. Check out this video for more details.
You can read through the instructions that Heidts gives you in the kit by clicking here.
You can check out the whole installation series at this blog or at www.isispower.com/ISIS-F100
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