Why Does Everyone Love PDMs?

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A lesson on power distribution module (PDM) configuration.

Power distribution modules are rapidly becoming a viable alternative to conventional fuses and relays when it comes to wiring the power distribution circuits in performance applications. In this webinar we’ll take a look at the ECU Master PMU 16 (Power Management Unit) and how we’ve integrated it and programmed it to work in our Toyota 86. In particular we’ll focus on the communication between the PMU16 and the rest of the MoTeC electronics fitted to the vehicle using CAN messaging.

NOTE: A PDM, PMU and PDU are all the same thing with different names, much like how variable cam control is called something different by each different car manufacturer.

Due to the current global situation we thought we'd help keep you guys out there entertained and release some of these otherwise paid access only webinars to you for FREE, to help pass the time. If you enjoyed this lesson and want more make sure you let us know via a thumbs up and comment below.

0:00 - Introduction
0:30 - What is a PMU and why do we want one?
5:15 - Cost
7:45 - Analogue inputs
8:40 - CAN bus inputs
9:00 - CAN based switch pads
12:20 - PMU software overview
14:35 - Logging
16:15 - Controlling current flow to devices
20:30 - Output monitoring
21:30 - Analog input monitoring
21:50 - Workflow
30:30 - CAN setup
33:30 - Wiper control
34:45 - Logging setup
35:35 - Built in gyrometer - automatic power shut off
36:35 - CAN keypad
37:50 - Questions

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WHAT IS A PDM?

A power distribution module (PDM), power management unit (PMU) and power distribution unit (PDU) are all the same thing with different names, much like how variable cam control is called something different by each different car manufacturer.

Over the last few years we’ve seen PDMs become more popular and more affordable which means we’re seeing them pop up in more and more cars running at the grass roots level. These units replace the conventional fuses and relays we need to control and protect the various electrical circuits on our car with solid state electronics to control current flow. This dramatically simplified the wiring installation and can also improve reliability. With a conventional fused circuit, if the current is excessive then the fuse will blow to protect the components and you need to stop and replace the fuse to get going again.

With a PDM the fusing current can be adjusted in software and the unit will simply shut off the circuit if the fusing current is exceeded. The smart part however is that you can then configure the PDM to wait a specific amount of time before retrying the circuit that just failed. You can also set how many times the circuit will retry before failing permanently. This can often be enough to nurse a car with a failing electrical part back to the pits for repair. It’s also possible to log and display the current draw on each circuit so you can see exactly what’s going on with every part of the electrical system.

At this point a PDM is still going to end up more expensive than using fuses and relays but when weighing up options most enthusiasts overlook the cost involved with mounting and wiring the relays and fuses. When you factor that in, upgrading to a PDM often isn’t going to cost substantially more and by the time you consider the advantages it can start to look pretty attractive.
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