MDAC Sparkdog PF Upgrades a Rabbit Engine Control Unit From an Arduino Due to a Teensy 3.5

MD Automotive Controls (MDAC) has released an add-on board for the popular Rabbit engine control unit (ECU), designed to replace the Arduino Due with a Teensy 3.5 while offering additional features including a peak-hold driver and drive-by-wire (DBW) throttle control: The Sparkdog PF.

"The Sparkdog PF extension PCB is a plug in controller for the Rabbit ECU. It provides an alternative to the Arduino Due controller, providing for the Teensy 3.5 instead," the company explains. Additionally, the Sparkdog PF extension PCB hosts a second MK10 microcontroller that controls a 4-channel H-Bridge driver, 4-channel Hall Effect VVT inputs, 2-channel VVT outputs and a powerful PWM mode solenoid driver."

"I made the Sparkdog PF extension PCB to allow users to integrate a more powerful DIY controller and add all the hardware needed to run a modern DBW VVT [Drive-By-Wire Variable Valve Timing] engine. The PCB is populated with all of the components that appear in the schematics, and is supplied with the headers so you can attach the Teensy 3.5 that is sold separately."

The board is claimed to be compatible with the Rabbit ECU versions 1.2 and 1.3, and can be purchased as a populated PCB from MDAC's Tindie store. Additional information, including schematics, can be found on the MDAC website.