[phuz]

I understand that the 4C system is electro-magnetic. Being an electromechanical engineer, its easily understood that to strengthen an electromagnetic field, you supply more current. Does anyone know the numbers (amps) of what the 4C system uses in terms of each of the three settings?

I'm just curious if the change in current between the modes is anything significant.

 

[JARMO]

Re: Question about operation of 4C (phuz)

NO -> coz the shock is changing CONSTANTLY....it aren't just 3 "static"-settings like the other brands have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's in theory possible that 1 shock get's the softest possible dynamic's even in ADVANCED mode (dunno if VCC did allowed THAT in their SUM-sw)
Maybe they programmed if the car get's airborne (shock went beyond max-outwards-movement) they programmed it that way the suspension gets as softest as possible to minimize impact for occupant

just dunno

Maybe you could measure someway the "3" settings....level and not moving...then you have someway 3 "static" measurements

 

[JimLill]

Re: Question about operation of 4C (phuz)

it is not electromagnetic like a Cad...

it is solenoid valves that work along the lines of the injector.... you feed a pulsed signal in.......

 

[rogersampson]

Re: Question about operation of 4C (phuz)

AS Jarmo pointed out, the system is dynamic, advertised to be CALCULATING changes up to 500 times per second. The shock response time is in the range of 5 to 20 ms, and the overall system response time is 10 to 30 ms, so you can see that actual adaptions are not occuring at the 500/sec rate.

That being said it is a PWM signal to the solenoid controlled valve in the shock.

Low currents give lower damping forces

Higher currents give higher damping forces

All of this is under control of the SUM, taking inputs from the various sensors.

I have not looked at the actual PWM signal, nor measured the AVERAGE current of the solenoid.

 

[phuz]

My whole reason for asking is because it seems that driving around in advanced mode all the time would draw the most current, and I didn't know if this had any impact on the alternator or charging system.

 

[JRL]

Re: (phuz)

It actually works the LEAST in advanced. Fewer perameters.
It sort of goes still and stays there (for the most part)
Yes, I'm oversymplifying but it's true that in advanced the SUM and the shocks do the least amount of changes Also, don't worry about the alternator. No one that I know of has actually had a problem with it in the R (yet

) in 3 years)
Actually that's the one thing that's pretty good with Volvos, their alternators, very few failures across the entire line

 

[rogersampson]

Re: (phuz)

Keep in mind that the entire system, all four shocks and the SUM processor are on a 15 Amp fuse. As Jim stated it may well be that the processor is not doing as much work in Advanced mode, however the solenoid valves do draw the most current when the valve orifice is the smallest.

I think we are discussing nits here. The system draws less than the audio power amp, (unless it is in thermal shutdown), and I agree that Volvo alternators are not a problem.

If I were forced to guess the average current of each shock I would guess around one Amp. It is a Monroe part, but I have no data from them.

 

[stevectsai]

Re: Question about operation of 4C (phuz)

Hey man, you had a 1987 Nissan 200SX SE V6? that car is very hard to find, very sneaky fast car for its time. I almost got one except back then I was a student and no cash.

 

[phuz]

Well, if the whole circuit is on a 15amp fuse, then current draw is far less than what I imagined.

Yes I bought the 200SX because I was building the engine in my saab. Got the SX for $800 from a local guy and it was extremely reliable for the beating I gave it.

 

[rogersampson]

Re: Question about operation of 4C (stevectsai)

I am not sure about the Nissan, but I do know the liter Gixxer will put just about anything with four wheels to the curb!

There are several other sport bike owners here, do a search if interested.

 

[phuz]

tried doing a search but came up empty on recent and archived content. maybe im not using the right strings....i will start a thread in the motorsports forum