EFR Electronic Blow Off Valve (Recirculation Valve) Control with Haltech R5 (Turbosmart Kompact EM Actuators)

Hey everyone,

I have an interesting project with two remote mounted EFR turbos that I was hoping to utilize the use of OEM or Turbosmart's aftermarket electronic recirc valves instead of traditional vacuum diaphragm units. Some characteristics to better understand the complication of the system and why I am going this route:

-1UZFE V8 with individual throttle bodies, throttle bodies are DBW driven

-Semi-remote mounted twin EFR turbos are about 6ft from the engine, water to air intercooling close to turbo outlets in remote location

-Engine is tuned by each bank, each 4-throttle bank has VAC reference lines plumbed from each cylinder under the throttle blades to a common rail for MAP sensors on left/right.

-EMAP is also monitored on left/right banks

-Engine plenum design over throttle bodies and location to firewall makes it nearly impossible to add BOV's anywhere on the plenum and or intercooler plumbing until you are close to the turbos.

I have a very good catalog of reference for this entire project on my Instagram, which an be seen here: www.instagram.com/3d_magic_mike

With the above challenges, going electronic on the recirc valves at the EFR compressor housings just seemed like a great option to physically simplify this system. I have Turbosmart's TS-0223-1063 valves in hand for this:

https://www.turbosmart.com/product/kompact-em-bov-dual-port-vr1/

A common application for an EFR equipped OEM vehicle that could bolt on these actuators are the 2015+ 2.3L Ecoboost Mustangs.

I emailed both Haltech's support and Turbosmart's support to ask any basics if there has been any type of characterizing of a system like this for aftermarket control, and not gotten a response from either party. Simply finding the basic pinout info on these actuators seems difficult as everyone just uses them blackbox on OEM applications with OEM control.

These electric actuators have a simple 2 wire connector, and I assume can be controlled through a DPO similar to a MAC valve's operation. Or at the other end its really just a simple 12V solenoid since they either need to be fully open or fully closed which simplifies things. Documentation on this video seems to support the latter that its just +12V applied solenoid to open the valve and needs no modulation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZcczdpGi4M

Does anyone have any use-case examples or proven examples to show controlling these on an aftermarket ECU is possible? I am using a Haltech R5, and would love to know that some base logic in the tuning software can be assigned for control. I see plenty of examples of DBW motors being used as a charge pipe modulators but nothing really on these EFR 2-wire actuators.

A fallback plan is to use traditional vacuum operated valves at the EFR's and plumbing vacuum hoses off the map sensor blocks all the way to the turbos, but I get worried that the already weak and jumpy ITB vac blocks wouldn't be the best option especially when running such a long length. I DO NOT want to degrade any of the map sensor signals more than needed and am unsure if running physical vac lines all the way to the turbos would help as additional plenum volume for the map sensor block or hurt signal accuracy.

I've haven't done this. But have used generic outputs to control devices.

I'd ask Turbosmart what the solenoid needs to activate. Its probably a 12V signal for it to open, and will likely remain open while energized, hence the comment about don't leave it energized as it will damage it.

Then you can use a generic output with conditions to control its function, perhaps using decal state and manifold pressure might be a good start