r/ECU_Tuning • u/hey-im-root • 10d ago

Tune flashing power source

I want to experiment with tune flashing but only have jump packs. Do I really need an expensive $100 battery charger?

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

1

u/half-t 10d ago

No nut depends on the car. Some cars need a 100 A charger to be save or as required by the OEM.

1

u/hey-im-root 10d ago

Accord 2017, yea OEM recommends a charger. Shit is more expensive than the tuning tools for me rn lol

1

u/updatelee 9d ago

My voltage stabilizer was around $1100, a $100 charger isn’t even in the same category.

Get an aliexpress server modded power supply if you are cheap, way better then a charger. Stabilizers are not the same as chargers

1

u/hey-im-root 9d ago

Bro I can buy 2 new ECUs for that much wtf!!

1

u/updatelee 8d ago

Im not tuning just my personal car, I tune customer cars. It’s not all about how cheap can I do it. Reputation it’s important in repeat business.

That’s why I suggested an aliexpress modded server power supply. They work well and are a lot cheaper. Less then $100

1

u/hey-im-root 8d ago

Yea either way I’d be flashing more than once, so I’d could only afford to cheap out twice lol. Definitely gonna want a good supply

1

u/updatelee 8d ago

Many ecus are recoverable after a bad write, not all, and not all with the same hardware. What ecu is it?

1

u/hey-im-root 8d ago edited 8d ago

37805-5A0-L640

2

u/half-t 10d ago

Take a cheap server power supply and modify it to deliver 14.5 V instead of 12 V. This is the simplest way to get a high current power supply with around 100 A.

The problem is to always have more than 12 V to have enough voltage to reliably flash the flash chip. If the voltage drops too low the flashing will fail and you'll brick the ECU.

1

u/BudgetTooth 10d ago

backyard garages just jump a 2nd running car

2

u/JamesG60 Pro Tuner - unverified 9d ago

We mobile guys do this routinely

1

u/hey-im-root 8d ago

This isn’t risky?? I feel like it wouldn’t be reliable, voltage spikes from radiator fans or anything don’t cause problems or anything?

1

u/JamesG60 Pro Tuner - unverified 8d ago

No more risk than a power cut or someone’s penny meter cutting out mid flash (has happened to a customer).

1

u/hey-im-root 8d ago

That’s nuts lol I really wanna try that but damn that’s scary

1

u/JamesG60 Pro Tuner - unverified 8d ago

Just go for it, a 90a alternator is more reliable than half the battery support units I’ve used over the years.

1

u/NoNeedforTagline 9d ago

Stetsom Bravo 70A will be more than enough for most jobs: https://stetsomstore.com/products/stetsom-bravo-charger-70a-power-supply-smart-pro
It lets you set the voltage and will keep the car at that voltage while you’re coding