MSefi.com read only forum (Jan.15,2018)

First to mention that I'm looking for the cheapest MSv3 kit just for an experiment. So my option is the unassembled kit. But I found pretty cheap option for ordering the required components directly on http://www.megasquirt.info/ that leads to digikey. However I'm unable to find cheap option for the PCB.

So I have 2 questions:
1) Where I can order the V3 PCB from?
2) Is the firmware available for free download and is it legal to use it for free or I should pay for it?

Looking at the digikey prices it seems that with the I should be able to assemble the MSv3 for less than 100USD + the price of the PCB. The other required stuff is skills to assemble the board (I should manage to do that), programmer (to upload the firmware to the CPU) and some knowledge how to configure the maps so I'm able to startup the engine. Am I missing something and am I getting the picture correct?

If you look in the B&G CPUs and PCBs section of our site, we have partial kits with just the PCB, MAP sensor, and processor. That's how we buy them from B&G, and may fit your needs.

Hi, Brum - welcome to the madness!

The firmware is indeed free, and is downloadable from the MegaManual site.You'll also need the TunerStudio tuning software that you'll install on your computer in order to control / program the MS. You can download the free "Lite" version of TS from the EFI Website.

Tuning the various tables is usually straight-forward but non-trivial; do some serious reading of the posts here to gain an insight into some of the issues you may run into. If you DO have problems, ask away - just be sure and post a datalog and a copy of your TunerStudio .msq file, so we have some background to go with it.

Check your prices carefully - Matt and the gang at DIY charge a pretty good price for their full kits. Not many electronics distributors will sell you the "everything else" you need after the PCB, MAP sensor and processor for less than the difference between the partial kit and the full kit - especially when you factor in shipping!

Good luck!

brum wrote:First to mention that I'm looking for the cheapest MSv3 kit just for an experiment. So my option is the unassembled kit. But I found pretty cheap option for ordering the required components directly on http://www.megasquirt.info/ that leads to digikey. However I'm unable to find cheap option for the PCB.

So I have 2 questions:
1) Where I can order the V3 PCB from?
2) Is the firmware available for free download and is it legal to use it for free or I should pay for it?

Looking at the digikey prices it seems that with the I should be able to assemble the MSv3 for less than 100USD + the price of the PCB. The other required stuff is skills to assemble the board (I should manage to do that), programmer (to upload the firmware to the CPU) and some knowledge how to configure the maps so I'm able to startup the engine. Am I missing something and am I getting the picture correct?

Best way is to check out Ebay for a secondhand one, not tested and warranted. If you can build one, you can fix a faulty one. IMHO, you'll not save much by getting the partial kit then buying the required extra parts. I've bought quite a few used ones in the UK from Ebay - and the faults are almost always where they've been modified. It's surprising how many can't solder properly.