There was a time when the size of your car’s rear tire could severely inhibit dragstrip performances. The only “power management” available was your own foot and optimal traction was had by stuffing the largest tire you could under the car. If you were planning on building a radical engine for your muscle car you had to plan on running some radically sized tires too, if you ever wanted your car to hook up and perform. There wasn’t a magic spell that could ensure your car would stick. There is still no such spell, but thanks to today’s advanced electronics, like MSD’s Power Grid Ignition System, drag racers can produce enormous horsepower and torque and not have to worry about blowing their puny tires off when they launch. Electronically controlled power management is what we’re talking about here, and although it’s nothing new (MSD’s Digital 7 boxes have been allowing racers to manipulate timing for over a decade), the way they do it is improving and, judging by this versatile system, both the hardware and software are getting more effective, yet simplified.
The Power Grid Ignition is MSD’s latest digital system, and it features technology that makes installation, as well as tuneability much simpler than the previous Digital 7 boxes, such as the 7531 box, which has been a staple part number in small-tire heads-up drag racing for the last several years. The Power Grid setup consists of a controller box (PN 7730), ignition box (PN 7720), a CAN-bus hub (PN 7740), and various modules that allow the user to control different areas of their engine. Timing ramps, rev limits, traction control, all can be almost infinitely adjusted with the Power Grid, and the user interface (the computer screen display) is so simple compared to the old program. That alone is enough reason for drag racers to make the switch over to the new system.
Here’s a shot of the main...
Here’s a shot of the main screen from the MSD View program. Each tab in the upper left represents a different parameter of your engine/car. Individual cylinder, rev limiter, engine rpm, all can be selected and modified by the tuner.
It’s designed using CAN-bus, an automotive and aerospace technology that allows devices to communicate with each other within a vehicle without a host computer. MSD has designed modules that feature specific functions, such as launch and rpm control, which easily tie into the Power Grid using a hub, making installation a breeze. Since it can be used with both MSD and RacePak’s (a popular data logger company) existing products, it’s a great setup for the serious racer. The Power Grid allows you to combine various systems together in order to relieve the complications that go with running multiple interfaces. In other words, the Power Grid puts all the log screens in one area. The Grid is a great upgrade for those racers who already have a 7531 and RacePak data logger because it allows the user to view both unit’s data on a common screen. Before, users would have to view each separately, inconveniently.
MSD made it easy for racers...
MSD made it easy for racers who currently run a RacePak system and the older Digital 7 box to adapt the Power Grid into their cars. Msdignition.com actually lists a bunch of different instructions to incorporate the Power Grid into popular setups racers may already have.
It’s engineered with a powerful 32-bit micro-controller and the Power Grid is monitored using all-new software called MSD View, which is very comprehensive and an easy program to navigate. Being USB compatible means it can be updated via download from
msdignition.com and the Windows-based software is designed with tabs to help racers easily select different programming windows and parameters. Also, the data acquisition files of the ignition are captured on a micro SD card for ease of storage and review. One nifty thing about the setup is the CAN-bus technology reduces the amount of wiring, so for those racers looking to shed every ounce, the Power Grid system is light in weight, relatively.
If you are a casual gearhead who rarely races his car, the Power Grid has a lot of features you may not ever use. There are adjustability features that cater to the top-tier drag racer, but what you’ll care about is the super hot spark the Power Grid ignition box produces. According to MSD, the 7720 ignition box produces an even hotter spark than the Digital 7 boxes (200-220 mJ compared to 190 mJ). This means a more complete burn and ultimately, more horsepower, and we can all use that.
The Power Grid Controller...
The Power Grid Controller is what makes this system function and it can actually be used with any MSD Ignition box or even the hard-core Pro Mag that the upper echelons of drag racers run. While it is compatible with all MSD boxes, the controller itself has been specially designed to mount to the Power Grid-7 box.
All the data is stored on...
All the data is stored on an SD card, which can be transferred easily to your laptop. Racers have even been known to email their data to a tuner across the country during a race to get an expert’s opinion. Some tuners can even make changes remotely from their own laptops.
West Coast drag racer Terry...
West Coast drag racer Terry Barkley also uses the MSD Power Grid on his Chevy, but instead of using the boost retard like Eddie Rios does, Barkley has his Grid set up to control the four stages of nitrous oxide that gets sprayed into his race car every weekend.
Looking at MSD’s diagram,...
Looking at MSD’s diagram, the Power Grid has very simple hookups. Also note that there are modules in place on this drawing that don’t have names, so we can expect to see more trick upgrades for this system in the future. We speculate a shift light-related item, possibly Power Grid gauges, who knows?
The Launch Remote module is...
The Launch Remote module is another trick piece of the Power Grid system; this feature allows the tuner to make launch retard changes to the system without a laptop. We’ve seen these modules on cars that run heavy amounts of nitrous.
The Launch Retard screen is...
The Launch Retard screen is where those with high-powered, small-tire cars control the horsepower when they take off. When you’re running a lot of boost or nitrous, this becomes very important if you want the car to leave properly.
The 4-Connector CAN-Bus Hub...
The 4-Connector CAN-Bus Hub may look like a humble piece of plastic, but it’s this junction block that makes the Power Grid easy to hook up and expand. You can simply plug a module into this unit using the already-crimped connector and the MSD View software will pick it up. Until everything goes wireless, this is the best.
In hard-core drag racing, controllability is king. Being able to program and monitor every aspect of your car and make changes accordingly is what separates the winners from the losers. One team who often wins with an MSD Power Grid is West Coast’s Eddie Rios, the tuner for Al Jimenez’s supercharged second-gen Camaro. Running as quick as 7.14 and as fast as 205 mph in the quarter-mile, this car actually holds the unofficial title of fastest car on leaf springs. We contacted Rios to pick his brain about how he uses the Power Grid to control one of the most powerful drag radial cars in the country.
Chevy High Performance: What prompted you to start using the Power Grid, and what did you run before?
Eddie Rios: We used the MSD 7531 box for years, which was great for getting the car down the track, but it lacked the ability of controlling the timing in a time-based retard. You could do time-based retard, but it had to be done through different nitrous retards. Now with the Grid you can make a whole graph and map out a retard table in time-based and in turn, control timing at any point in the run. On top of that, you can log what the Power Grid is doing through the RacePak data logger. We use the time-based retards, gear retard, shift retard, and the two-step rev limiter on Al [Jimenez’s] car.
CHP: How does the installation and display screen compare to the older Digital 7 box?
ER: Pretty much the same for installation, but the RacePak connection is a nice feature; it’s connected using one plug. The program [MSD View] is way more user-friendly and easier to navigate than the old one. I also noticed quicker upload and download times, and much more precision on the graphs also.
CHP: Do you use any of the Power Grid modules like the ARC module?
ER: I haven’t used the ARC module yet, since it only recently became available, but I do plan to use it because we use a time-based rev limiter in the 7531, which people refer to as “dots”. I read that it will also incorporate a driveshaft speed-based limiter also, which will come in very handy.
CHP: Do you think the Power Grid is a good upgrade for a radical street car?
ER: For some of the more powerful street cars, yes, but I really believe it’s a necessity in any heads-up drag race car. These days, if you’re trying to be on top in a class, you need to have a Power Grid and a RacePak, period.
Power grid Specs and Features
Features:
Four steps of rpm limits: for burnout, turbo spool, launch, and over-rev protection
- Output switch triggered by rpm, pressure, or time
- Timing based on engine rpm and gear value
- Advanced individual cylinder timing based on gear or time
- Five retard stages for nitrous
- USB connection for ease of programming
- Shift light settings for each gear
- Ignition data acquisition accepts multiple runs
Specifications:
Spark energy: 200-220 mJ per spark
Primary voltage: 545-570 V
Secondary voltage: 50,000 V
Spark series duration: 20-degree Crankshaft Rotation
RPM range: 15,000 rpm with 14.4 V
Voltage Required: 12-18 V, negative ground
Current Draw: 1.3 amps per 1,000 rpm
Weight and Size: 2.9 pounds, 71/2 inches long by 5 inches wide by 21/4 inches high
The CAN-bus technology allows you to expand the system using modules that can be easily added using a hub. MSD’s ARC module for example, allows you to set rpm limits based on slew rate (rpm acceleration) or based on time since launch. Designed to limit wheel speed, this add-on allows the tuner to finely tune their car’s launch characteristics, optimizing performance. In the event that engine and/or driveshaft rpm increase(s) at a pre-programmed rate, the module’s software will retard the ignition timing and/or rev limits in order to prevent excessive wheel speed. This data can easily be accessed and modified using the MSD View software on a laptop computer.