Brad, that's a GREAT addition. Nice work! I especially like the fact that you've mentioned calibrating at the speed you're most concerned with. For everybody, make sure you calibrate speedos at the speed you're most concerned with (22, maybe?) Brad, just in case you might be the only one who really knows how to use the system...how does it work? Empty, ballasted, at 18, 20 and 22?
Chris, in a nutshell....Accuski doesn't work well in speed-hold mode at wakeboard speeds, and doesn't work at all when ballasted to any degree.
1) Accuski uses pitot tubes in our boats. Pitots suck, but they're just part of the problem. We can't simply replace the pitots with paddlewheels because the Accuski controller only has one 'pulse' input, and that's dedicated to tachometer functions. The reason Accuski has to use the 'pulse' input for tach in the Epics is because our engine control computer has a non-standard way of reporting RPMs. There may be a way around this if we built a 'frequency doubler' to modify the tach signal from the ECU into a more standard version. In that case, we could ASK Accuski to reprogram our firmware to use the normal tach input and reassign the pulse input for paddlewheel input.
2) Accuski control response is insufficient for our engines and the adjustments are not available to the user. This control response function and lack of adjustment to it is the number one reason Accuski is worthless for wakeboarding in our boats. Our engines require more throttle action to hold speed (compared to a 5.7L) due to their smaller displacement.
Perfect Pass addresses the first by not needing a rpm input (Accuski doubles as the gauge driver, so if we were to pull it, we'd lose tach signals on the dash). It addresses the second by allowing the user access to control response entries.
I'm still a proponent of trying to get Accuski to work, for a few reasons, some of them good. The problem with that is we'd need help from Accuski and they're not too interested in helping a small fish, when their main business is struggling.
The quick answer is to follow Pete's excellent work and buy the system that's BEING supported by the manufacturer.
The longer answer is to convince Accuski to help us do a few things. I recon that if we built a doubler for the tach, installed paddlewheels and edited the Accuski cruise-control portion, we'd have her done. I'd like to get rid of the Auto Pull-up funtion, and all those 'skier weight, crew weight, rpm offsets, etc., and replace it with, "Select loading: 1-up to 1000 pounds, 2-1000 to 2000 pounds, 3-2000 to 3000 pounds, and 4-over 3000 pounds" Each would have different control response. In the calibration pages where we adjust speedo cal, we'd also add an entry to adjust the control response scaling (like an offset) for people with off-nominal environments (tow prop, engine mods, high altitude ops, etc.). I personally would also require the foot switch to be installed, not for pull-up, but as a safety device.
A third alternative would be to start from scratch (it looks like the two-player market might become a monopoly pretty quick, so.....) I'm very sure that a super cool, simple, cheap system could be made for most makes/models. Different life, probably ;-)
