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A new approach can bring big relief when building a race car. Such is the case with our 2014 Camaro dubbed “Project True SStreet.” The LME-built supercharged 427 cubic-inch LSX in the Camaro puts down serious power, but that means nothing when the car won’t start. The long-term fix finally came from modernizing True SStreet’s electronics to a power management unit.
The problems began as more and more race components were added to the car. The team began encountering significant electrical issues during testing. Traditional methods of wiring had created a tangled mess of wires and switches. This eventually led to an overloaded circuit.
Project True SStreet was filled with electrical gremlins that made it difficult to get clean passes at the track. The best solution was to simplify the wiring with a PMU.
Taking a step back and building a better, modern way to reliable and scalable power was needed. “We had a fuse that kept popping, and it was preventing us from running the car,” Seth Ward, Project True SStreet’s crew chief and technician, said. “We wanted to obviously fix the overloaded circuit and clean up the wiring. We also wanted to do cleaner switches and have control to turn some things on or off. Installing a Power Management Unit (PMU) just made sense.”
Why a PMU Beats Traditional Wiring
A PMU is a modern and more efficient way to simplify electrical circuits. The PMU is a solid-state computer that replaces traditional fuses and relays. Its outputs are programmed through software to distribute power to components such as the fuel pump(s), cooling fan(s), the ignition system, and more. If a circuit gets overloaded, then the PMU shuts it down and resets. No need to trace a blown fuse.
A PMU makes it easier to wire any vehicle. You can control how and when devices or vehicle systems are powered. It's like having a full set of intelligent relays wired into the vehicle.
A PMU can also take input from across the Controller Area Network (CAN) system. In modern vehicles, the CAN network links independent systems such as the engine, transmission, traction control, braking, and more. The communication network lets these systems share data over a single wiring system, called a bus. When the PMU “listens” and “talks” across the CAN bus, it can trigger programmable virtual switches under certain operating conditions. For example, it can turn on the electric cooling fan when engine temperature reaches a given point, or shut off the fuel pump if the engine stalls.
Enter ECUMaster
Project True SStreet was in dire need of a reliable electrical system. To assist in the project, Ward reached out to ECUMaster, whose North American headquarters is located in Garland, Texas. “The support guys were awesome. Anytime I had a question or any issue, they were super quick and happy to help me.”
On the left you have True SStreet's original wiring job. The image on the right shows just how much the ECUMasters PMU cleaned up the wiring.
Chris Law, Marketing at ECUMaster, confirmed that an ECUMaster PMU-16 was the right fit for Project SStreet and Ward’s goals. “Switching from traditional fuses and relays to a PMU greatly simplifies wiring while improving reliability and control,” Law comments. “You’re not only saving weight and space, but also eliminating common failure points. Plus, you can set up advanced behaviors like delays, timers, and conditional logic. Things that just aren’t possible with mechanical relays.”
Trackside Benefits of the PMU-16
The ECUMaster PMU-16 is purpose-built for motorsports and with trackside technicians in mind. “The unit delivers pro-level capability at a price that’s accessible to grassroots and semi-pro racers. It’s also flexible with open CAN support to integrate with nearly any CAN-equipped device on the network, even if you’re not running an ECUMaster ECU,” Law highlights.
The device features ten 25-amp and six 15-amp circuits. Together, they provide a total of 16 output channels and 150 amp continuous output current. This capacity means it can handle multiple high-draw race components at once without sacrificing reliability.
A PMU makes it much easier to diagnose electrical problems. There’s less wiring and you have the ability to “see” how different devices are being powered via the PMU’s software.
The unit is also constructed to withstand racing environments. “The unit features automotive-grade electronics designed to withstand high vibration and extreme temperatures. Each output is protected against overcurrent, overheating, and short circuits, with automatic shutdown or reset behavior depending on how it’s configured,” Law explains.
On the input side, the power management unit accepts up to 16 analog inputs, with 10-bit resolution in the 0-5 volt range, and software selectable 10k Ohm pullup or pulldowns. The benefit here is precise signal reading. This provides stable inputs and the flexibility to control functions without a mess of wiring. The unit can also connect up to two ECUMaster Keypads, each with four, eight, or 12 keys.
The ECUMasters PMU is set up and controlled through its own software. You have the ability to control how much juice a device gets, when it turns on, and do diag work if there's a problem all through this software.
At the track is where the PMU-16 really shows its benefit over traditional wiring. “Diagnostics are a huge part of what makes the PMU so powerful,” Law says. “Each output can signal issues through external LEDs, making at-track troubleshooting fast and efficient. With data logging-equipped PMU models, you can dig deeper, reviewing voltage and current logs to detect failing components that aren’t pulling the expected amperage. You can even diagnose misfires by spotting injectors or ignition coils that aren’t drawing current. This kind of diagnostic visibility is rare outside of OEM factory tools, but it’s available in a motorsports standalone unit here.”
Installing the ECUMasters PMU is simple. You just need to find a safe spot to bolt it into your vehicle and finish connecting all the wires.
Installing the PMU-16 In Project True SStreet
Installation in Project True SStreet was straightforward according to Ward. First, he constructed a custom mounting panel for the PMU-16 to mount under the passenger side dash. The device’s 16 analog inputs were more than enough to wire in everything without the use of numerous relays. Last, was running power to the unit. Ward explains, “We have the battery in the trunk, then for safety our battery shutoff switch and battery shutoff handle, from there the power cable goes through the car straight to the passenger side kick panel. There’s a lug on the PMU-16 that is used to power the unit.”
Simplifying Controls With The ECUMaster CAN Keypad
Instead of traditional toggle switches and a nest of wiring, an ECUMaster 8-Position CAN Keypad uses just four wires to communicate to the PMU. The CAN Keypad controls the starter, ignition, intercooler pump, water pump, fuel pump, cooling fan, and trans brake on Project True SStreet.
With the infotainment console removed, Ward inserted a custom carbon fiber mount in its place. The 8-Position CAN Keypad itself only measures 6.0 in (152.5 mm) wide by 2.75 in (70.00 mm) tall by 0.64 in (16.30 mm) deep. “It’s just all done electronically. It looks really clean,” Ward says with a smile. Built-in LEDs indicate button states and also serve as backlighting.
On the left is the original switch panel for Project True SStreet. If we wanted to expand it, that required more wiring and switches. The ECUMasters keypad on the right has more than enough switches already built in that can be assigned to do whatever is needed through the software.
Law points out, “Motorsports applications benefit from reduced dashboard clutter and wiring complexity. Multiple keypads can run on the same CAN bus and control the same things, too. You could have a driver panel and a control panel in the engine bay for maintenance tasks like bumping the starter or manually activating the fuel pump.”
To make it all work, an ECUMaster USB-to-CAN Adapter and a laptop or PC are required. ECUMaster provides a PMU Client Software suite to install on a computer. “The adapter acts as a single connection point for the whole CAN system,” according to Law. “Once connected, you can configure the PMU and any connected Keypads. Basic assignments are done with dropdown menus, and advanced logic can be set up for timers, conditionals, variable pulse width modulation with user-defined tables and math channels.”
Real-World Results on the Drag Strip
Ward talked about the electrical upgrades with a technician’s relief and delight after it made some passes down the drag strip, “With True SStreet before, when the fuse was blowing, I had to do a bunch of tracing. I had to use my voltage meter and trace everything. I had to figure out what was going on. This just cleaned everything up and made it a much nicer race car. It’s completely seamless. I just taught the driver what he had to turn on, and that was it. There were no problems.”
Installing the ECUMaster PMU-16, 8-Position CAN Keyboard, and a USB-to-CAN Adapter to program it all from a laptop gave Project True SStreet super clean, reliable electrical control over several major racing components. No more blown fuses to trace. Plus, in-unit monitoring and quick diagnostics for easier maintenance and troubleshooting trackside.
