Programmable Digital-7 7530t
Programmable Digital-7 7530t
Programmable Digital-7 7530t
PN 7530T
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WARNING: During installation, disconnect the battery cables. When disconnecting, always remove
the Negative cable first and install it last.
Important: When installing a Digital Series Ignition, timing will be affected, reset to your engine's
specifications.
OPERATION
DIGITAL OPERATION
The MSD Programmable Digital-7 uses a high speed RISC microcontroller to control the ignition’s output while
constantly analyzing the various inputs such as supply voltage, trigger signals and rpm. The high speed controller
can make extremely quick compensations to the output voltage, multiple spark series, timing and rpm limits while
maintaining accurate timing signals to better than 0.1° total accuracy and +/- 2 rpm. The circuits and controller
of the ignition have been thoroughly debounced and suppressed to create protection against Electro Magnetic
Interference (EMI).
CAPACITIVE DISCHARGE
The MSD features a capacitive discharge ignition design. The majority of stock ignition systems are inductive ignitions.
In an inductive ignition, the coil must store energy and step up the supplied voltage to maximum strength between
each firing. At higher rpm, since there is less time to charge the coil to full capacity, the secondary voltage falls short
of reaching its maximum energy level which results in a loss of power or top end miss.
The MSD Ignition features a capacitor which is quickly charged to 520 - 535 volts and stores its energy until the
ignition is triggered. With the CD design, the energy sent to the coil is always at maximum power even at high rpm.
MULTIPLE SPARKS
The MSD produces full power multiple sparks for each firing of a plug. The number of multiple sparks that occur
decreases as rpm increases, however the spark series always lasts for 21° of crankshaft rotation. Above 3,300 rpm
there is simply not enough “time” to fire the spark plug more than once, so there is only one powerful spark.
MSD • WWW.MSDPERFORMANCE.COM • (915) 855-7123 • FAX (915) 857-3344
2 INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
PROTECTION
The MSD Digital-7 Programmable has a built in reverse polarity protection circuit. This will protect the ignition
in the event of wrong connections. It will also shut off for protection from a surge in power. The ignition will still
operate once the surge or polarity is corrected.
LED INDICATOR
There is an LED that monitors the status of the Ignition. The LED will verify trigger inputs and will flash trouble
codes such as a Code 2 for No Cam Sync, Code 3 for Low Battery supply voltage or Code 4 for Traction Control
Detection.
CAMSHAFT SYNCHRONIZATION
This is used only in applications where the individual cylinder timing is going to be used. The 2-pin connector
with a Light Blue and Light Green wire connects to a sensor that is used to synchronize or alert the Ignition as to
when the number one cylinder is going to be triggered. With this information, the Ignition knows which cylinder
is being fired allowing for the individual cylinder timing capabilities. A Universal Cam Sensor is available from
MSD as PN 2346. MSD offers two kits to use for sync signals: Universal Cam Sensor, PN 2346 and Fiber Optic
Inductive Pickup Kit, PN 7555.
WIRING
Heavy Ignition supply wire. Connects to battery positive (+) terminal or battery junction.
Red Note: Do not connect to the alternator.
Heavy Ignition supply Ground wire. Connect to battery negative (-) terminal or engine block.
Black
Red On/Off switch wiring. Connects to a switched 12 volt source.
Orange Connects to the coil positive (+) terminal. This is the only wire that makes contact to
the coil positive terminal.
Black Connects to the coil negative (-) terminal. This is the only wire that makes contact to
the coil negative terminal.
WARNING: High voltage is present at the coil primary terminals. Do not touch the coil or connect
test equipment to the terminals while the engine is running or cranking.
Trigger Wires
Violet/ Magnetic pickup, 2-pin connector. Plugs into an MSD Distributor or Crank Trigger
Green pickup. Violet is positive, Green is negative. Note: When this connector is used, the
2-Pin White wire is not connected.
White Trigger input for electronic ignition amplifiers, an ECU’s trigger or points.
Note: When this wire is used, the magnetic pickup wire is not connected.
Accessories
Dark Blue This wire activates the Launch Rev Limit and is the main reset wire for several features of the
Ignition. When 12 volts are applied to this wire it will activate the Launch Rev Limit. It also
resets the shift light and gear indicator to first gear. It also will select the Launch Retard value
and Gear 1 curve.
Note: When this wire is activated it will override all other Rev Limits except the TCD Limit.
Light Blue Burnout Rev Limit. When 12 volts are applied the Burnout Rev Limit is active.
Gray Tach output. This wire will provide the same 12 volt square wave tach signal as the tach
terminal on the side of the unit.
These three wires can be used as Retard Stage Activation and/or as a gear select wire.
Pink Step1 retard enabled with +12 volt input and above Step1 Rpm value and Gear 2 Select.
Violet Step2 retard enabled with +12 volt input and above Step2 Rpm value and Gear 3 Select.
Tan Step3 retard enabled with +12 volt input and above Step3 Rpm value and Gear 4 Select.
Note: When activated at the same time, these retard stages are added together. They are also
added with any Gear Retard Curve or Boost Retard values as well. Maximum retard is 30°.
Yellow Shift Light output wire. It can handle up to 3 amps continuous to ground when enabled.
Brown/White RPM/Time switch output wire. It can switch up to 3 amps continuous to ground when enabled.
Yellow/Yellow Output for data acquisition or fuel controls. Note, only two wires are used.
Cam Synchronization
Fiber Optic This input requires the PN 7555 Inductive Sync Pickup. When this input is used, the 2-pin
connector is not. Note: If this input is not used, the plug or a cover should be installed.
2-Pin Connector
Light Blue/ This 2-pin plug connects to Cam Sync Sensor, PN 2346, to indicate when cylinder number
Light Green one is firing. Note: When used, the fiber optic connector is not used and must be covered.
Light Blue is cam (+) and Light Green (-).
PRO-DATA+
Save to MSD: This step will save any changes directly into the ignition. If you are only making
one or just a couple modifications this works well.
Save to PC: This will save your changes to only show on the PC screen (indicated by a red
bullet point next to any altered values). These modifications will not be active or saved until
you save the file or transfer the information to the MSD.
You can create numerous files on your PC and download them for testing purposes or by saving
programs you used at different races or events.
SOFTWARE
MONITOR VERSION
PROGRAM
STATUS
MENU
TACH TREE
TIMING
USER ICM
NOTES
PROGRAMMABLE FEATURES
The following explains the programmable features of the PN 7530T Ignition. The features are listed
in the same order that they show on the Data Editor list in the software. Note that all of the retard
amounts are cumulative and the maximum amount of retard is 30°.
STATS
Stat 1: This is only used with the Hand Held Monitors, PN 7550, PN 7553.
REV LIMITS
Up to three different rev limits can be programmed in 100 rpm increments.
RevBurn: Burnout Rev Limit. This limit is activated when 12 volts are applied to the Light Blue
wire. It is adjustable from 2,000 to 12,500 rpm.
RevLaunch: Launch Rev Limit. This limit is activated when 12 volts are applied to the Dark
Blue wire. It is adjustable from 2,000 to 12,500 rpm. This Limit has priority over all the other
rev limits.
RevMax: Max Speed Rev Limit. This is the overrev limit and is active whenever the Launch
and Holeshot limits are off.
OutCam: Select either a Cam Sync output or a Rev Limiting output that can be used with
MSD components that use rpm modules for the rev limit.
AdjOff: This program enables an automatic compensating rev limiter that will correct trigger
input offsets and variables. It can be turned On or Off.
START RETARD
Program an amount of retard that will occur while the engine is cranking. This helps reduce the load
on the starter for easier cranking. It is adjustable from 0° - 25° in 1° increments. This is an automatic
feature and will enable below 500 rpm and will deactivate when the engine reaches above 800 rpm.
Default is 10°.
LAUNCH RETARD
This is the time based retard ramp. It can be programmed from 0°-15° in 0.1° increments and from
0-2.5 seconds. When the Dark Blue Launch/Reset wire is connected to 12 volts, the retard value is
activated and is added to the retard sum. When 12 volts are removed from the Dark Blue wire, the
retard value begins to ramp up to 0° over the programmed time. Once the time is over, the retard will
not be activated again.
TCD
The PN 7530T Ignition incorporates a unique Traction Control Detection (TCD) circuit. This software
code monitors the magnetic pickup circuit for changes that would only come from an installed traction
control device that would modify the signal from the mag pickup. If a modification is sensed in this
circuit an Alert will be set and the status LED will flash a Code 4. This Alert will continue to flash until
the ignition is kept turned On for 24 hours in order to reset. A 4000 rpm TCD Rev Limit is activated
until the 24 hour TCD timer is elapsed or reset by an NHRA official.
STEP RETARDS
There are three step retards that are controlled through three corresponding activation wires or through
rpm. A minimum rpm can also be programmed that must be reached before a step becomes active.
A time based ramp can now be programmed to gradually bring the retard to its full On amount, or to
ramp the retard amount out (back to no retard) from its setting.
Activation through Wiring: Each step is activated when 12 volts are applied to its corresponding
wire. When the steps are enabled at the same time the retard amounts are added together. The
maximum retard allowed by the Ignition is a total of 30° (including other retard amounts from a
launch, ICM or gear retard).
Activation through RPM: Each step retard can also be activated through rpm. In order to achieve
this, 12 volts must still be applied to the corresponding step retard, and an rpm value must be
selected from the Step RPM menu. When 12 volts are applied, the retard will not activate until
the rpm value is reached. Note that the retard will remain active above this rpm, even when other
stages are activated. It will deactivate when the rpm drops below the set amount.
Step Retard Off Delay: This feature will set a time based
delay to deactivate the step retards. This is designed to
keep the timing retarded to clear the engine of any nitrous
oxide prior to deactivating the retard. It is adjustable from
0 – 2.5 seconds and the default is 0.5 second.
GEAR SELECT
The Three Step Retard wires, Pink (1), Violet (2) and Tan (3) can also be wired to indicate the first
three gear changes to the ignition control. When selected from the Step Wire menu, the ignition will
know that the car is in second gear when 12 volts are applied to the Pink wire, third for the Violet
and fourth when the Tan wire is applied to 12 volts. By using this feature, if you lift off the throttle and
get back on it, the ignition will not count it as a gear change.
Note: When selected, this feature overrides the RPM Drop Gear Select values.
This is a sequenced series meaning Tan (3) will not become active until it sees 12 volts on Pink (1),
and Violet (2). This way, 12 volts do not need to be removed from each wire before the following
gear is selected.
Note: Five and six speed transmissions will have to use the RPM Drop functions.
GEAR RETARDS
This program provides the ability to create a run curve for each gear. Up to six different curves can
be programmed from 800 – 12,500 rpm in 0.1° increments for every 100 rpm. You can program up
to 32 different points on each Gear Map. Also, all of these points are interpolated every millisecond
to create a smooth (no steps) curve.
The number of gears is adjustable under the SHIFT menu, as well as the amount of rpm drop the
ignition needs to see before knowing that a different gear has been selected. Up to six gears can
be programmed. You can also use the Step Retard wires as Gear Select Indicators for the first four
gears.
These retards are mapped out on the Gear Retard chart of the Graph View. In the chart, go to the
View pull down menu and select Trace Box. That will give you a small window to show the different
color gear traces so creating a different curve for each gear is easier.
If you want the same retard curve for all gears, compose the curve, select the Edit pull down menu
and copy the curve, then select Paste All.
ADVANCE
This is a Gear Shift Advance feature that is designed to advance the timing (or remove any retards)
during a shift to keep the combustion chamber temperatures consistent.
Gear: Select the number of gears.
DRpm: Program the rpm drop that indicates a gear change from 200-1,500 rpm.
Deg: The amount of timing that is advanced. This is determined by how much retard is active.
You cannot program more advance than the current amount of retard.
Sec: The amount of time that the advance is active. Adjustable in .01 second increments
from 0-1.5 seconds.
Note: The Step Wire Gear Select program overrides the RPM Drop value for shifts.
CYLINDER COUNT
CylCnt: This is the number of cylinders of the engine. Programmable for 4, 6, 8 and Odd fire
6-cylinders (90°/150° only). Once a change has been made, turn the ignition Off and On to
reset.
Tach Trigger: There are two choices for the output of the tach terminal on the end panel of
the ignition. The output is a 30° duration 12 volt signal that is compatible with most tachs and
data acquisition systems. The default is Trigger which provides the most accurate signal for
rpm sensing components. The Timing program should only be used when spark timing data
is required by an acquisition control or to fire another ignition.
Spark Sequence
Program the firing order of your engine.
Degree Program the amount of retard of each cylinder. These retard rates are
added to any other retards that are active. Max retard is 30°.
Sequence Select a firing order:
Program Order Application
1843 18436572 Most GM, Chrysler and AMC V8
1542 15426378 Most Ford V8
1372 13726548 Ford 341/400
1425 142536 Ford V6
1536 153624 Ford, Camaro, Chrysler, AMC V6
1654 165432 Most GM V6
1436 143625 Odd-fire 6-cylinder
RPM Window: Program an rpm value to activate and deactivate a circuit from 800 – 12,500
rpm in 100 rpm increments.
RPM Hysterisis: Built in Hysterisis allows the deactivation point to be set lower than the
activation value.
Time Based: Program an activation point in 0.01 second increments after the launch. Up to 25 sec-
onds of total time. The timer begins when the Dark Blue wire is removed from 12 volts and only if the
programmed Launch Rev Limit rpm has been acheived on the starting line.
OnDelay: The amount of time after launch (12 volts removed from the Dark Blue wire).
OnTime: The amount of time that the switch stays activated. This can be programmed from
0-25 seconds. It will always deactivate after 25 seconds.
SHIFT LIGHT
This program lets you select the number of gears (Last Gear), program the shift light to come on
when the holeshot rpm is reached, set an rpm point for each gear and the rpm drop for the ignition
to recognize as a gear shift between each gear. When the correct rpm is reached the Yellow wire is
switched to ground to turn the shift light on.
LAUNCH LIGHT
This programs an rpm window that will illuminate the shift light when the correct rpm is reached for
the holeshot. When the rpm is in this window the light will be on solid. If the rpm goes high, the light
will flash. If the rpm goes low, the light turns off.
RpmHi: The high rpm for the launch light program.
RpmLo: The low rpm for the launch light program.
Last Gear: The program lets you select the number of gears to use with the shift light from
2-6 gears. Default is five gears.
ALERTS
This is only used with the Hand Held Monitor, PN 7550. You can program an alert to interrupt the
screen on the monitor. You can select which alerts to show and how often. The alerts are No Cam
Sync, Low Battery, and Traction Control Detection (TCD).
Fault: Program the number of counts that occur for a Low Voltage alert.
BrownOut 0: This is the count of low voltage resets. This should always be set at 0.
WatchDog: The count of Watch Dog resets. This should always be set at 0.
TCD: When a traction control device is detected an alert is set and will flash a Code 4 (a 4
blink sequence) on the end panel LED. This alert will continue to flash until the ignition is kept
turned On for 24 hours in order to reset.
DEFAULT MENU
Notes: 7530TV1. Uses menu 7530M01
MSD Digital Race Ignition.
Factory default data and menu.
TECH NOTES
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Service
In case of malfunction, this MSD component will be repaired free of charge according to the terms of the warranty.
When returning MSD components for warranty service, Proof of Purchase must be supplied for verification. After
the warranty period has expired, repair service is based on a minimum and maximum fee.
All returns must have a Return Material Authorization (RMA) number issued to them before
being returned. To obtain an RMA number please contact MSD Customer Service at 1 (888) MSD-7859 or visit
our website at www.msdperformance.com/rma to automatically obtain a number and shipping information.
When returning the unit for repair, leave all wires at the length in which you have them installed. Be sure to include
a detailed account of any problems experienced, and what components and accessories are installed on the vehicle.
The repaired unit will be returned as soon as possible using Ground shipping methods (ground shipping is covered
by warranty). For more information, call MSD at (915) 855-7123. MSD technicians are available from 7:00 a.m. to
5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday (mountain time).
Limited Warranty
MSD warrants this product to be free from defects in material and workmanship under its intended normal use*,
when properly installed and purchased from an authorized MSD dealer, for a period of one year from the date of
the original purchase. This warranty is void for any products purchased through auction websites. If found to be
defective as mentioned above, it will be repaired or replaced at the option of MSD. Any item that is covered under
this warranty will be returned free of charge using Ground shipping methods.
This shall constitute the sole remedy of the purchaser and the sole liability of MSD. To the extent permitted by
law, the foregoing is exclusive and in lieu of all other warranties or representation whether expressed or implied,
including any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness. In no event shall MSD or its suppliers be liable for special
or consequential damages.
*Intended normal use means that this item is being used as was originally intended and for the original application
as sold by MSD. Any modifications to this item or if it is used on an application other than what MSD markets the
product, the warranty will be void. It is the sole responsibility of the customer to determine that this item will work for
the application they are intending. MSD will accept no liability for custom applications.