MSD 7730 "Power Grid" - anyone using one?

Any one tried MSD's new programmable box, the 7730 "Power Grid" ? Intrigued by the box and how it could be used on TAFC. Comments?

 

Yep.. Works great. Crew Chief's best friend!! Can be used almost any way you want.. like a 6 shooter, RPM based timing, gear based timing, gear based shift lights.. If used in conjunction with a crank trigger, you can set a maximum allowable timing in the defaults, so no matter how hard you try, the timing will never go above that point as long as your trigger system is correct.

It's also a data logger, so you can set it up to start logging when the engine is over 6,000 if you want to spy on the driver and see how high they peg the burnout on you. lol. The other nice thing is that it records RPM at a higher sample rate than the Racepak normally does, so if the limiter gets hit for some reason, you can see how high it really went. Plus it records when the shift light is sent power, so if the driver "claims" they didn't see the light, and the shift light comes on when the box powers up, you can say "it was on for a full second". I also like that you can plug it in while you're warming up and get a live feed. And if your Racepak is new enough, you can link the box to Racepak and put all the data in one place.

 

Power Grid

Besides the basic unit itself (7730), what other MSD items do you need to make it all work for a MSD 44.

 

How difficult has it been to get the clutch switch set up to trigger the unit? In our application, the trigger has been the question. How to best trigger the unit? My thought has been to use a toggle switch attached to the clutch linkage. The clutch lickage is attached to the bell housing in the car makeing can removal an issue when doing clutch work if the mechanics of the switch is hooked between the linkage and the frame.

 

power grid

thats all you need, 7730 box hooked up to the 44 mag, very easy to set up,and real easy to use.

 

Do you use a clutch switch to apply 12V to the Dk Blue wire? If so, does driver's clutch habit affect the operation of the box? If the 12V is applied then the driver pushes the clutch again, how does it affect the box? This is where I'm confused.

 

THanks Mike, believe I got it now. This box could be interesting!

 

We actually use a full throttle switch instead of the clutch switch. Works great and unless the system is reset, the box doesn't restart itself. The only thing to be cautious about is setting your shift light/gear parameters. We set the parameters too tight at first and on an ugly lap in low gear, it thought it had run through third by the time low gear shift light was supposed to come on.

 

Burnout limiter has it's own 12v input lead, it only works when you have a button for it or some sort of input on the leads telling it it's in burnout mode, so what would that have anything to do with the launch? Box runs on mag, or base timing until you tell it otherwise. System thinks it's in launch mode until WOT switch is tripped. Our driver doesn't have to hold the Launch switch is on the same system that triggers fuel timers on WOT. Easier to wire for us since all the stuff was in place already instead of trying to mess with a clutch switch. Resets the same way as fuel timers, on the same button. Pretty simple.

 

With all of the features on the MSD unit and it's low price...why would anyone use Leahy's new all in one timing/fuel control unit at a cost of over 1500.00 dollars ? Seems like the MSD is a no-brainer.

 

msd

Got to agree with that other then use the side for your fuel timers not unless you could work them with the msd some how. Seems way more advanced IMO

 

Mike, thanks for the reply. I use the Leahy controller now with a six shooter to control my timing and the other channels for my fuel. I want to be able to remove timing at the hit then add it back in more gradually than I can now with the six shooter. The only down side is that with the six shooter I can change chips in the staging lanes quickly if I need to. With the power grid I need to be hooked to a laptop or powerpad.

 

So, let me get this: as long as the 12V is applied to the Dk Blue wire, the system is in "run" mode? Reading the instructions makes me think that you apply 12V to reset, then remove the 12V to go into run mode. As stated, if you use the WOT switch, it would apply the 12V and keep power applied unless the driver pedals. This would not perform the reset as I inderstand it.

Am I still confused? or, just trying to make it more complicated than it really is.

 

little of both.. Our WOT is attached to an air switch, so once triggered, it stays that way unless you reset it by bleeding off the pressure, which the driver can't do from where they're sitting. So even if they pedal, the timing doesn't revert back to launch and start over. Until the WOT is hit, the box is in "launch mode". 12v tells it it is in launch mode, once removed it starts the timers and goes into run mode and stays that way until 12v is applied again. So WOT disconnects the 12v from the box in my case.

 

Thanks JustinatAce. I follow the logic now. I like the air switch system. Already use air switch for WOT marker in data logger, all I would need to do is add pressure switch with check valve to system. This way, at WOT the switch stays closed until manually reset in the pit.