Boost Controllers
From Nissan 350Z & 370Z Wiki
A boost controller is a device in a turbocharged car that regulates boost pressure. They can be as simple as a manual boost controller which one can easily fabricate oneself, or an electronic boost controller that uses computer controlled solenoids.
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Manual boost controllers
A manual boost controller is a controlled bleeder valve in the vacuum lines for the wastegate signal. It controls the amount of vacuum the wastegate sees in order to control when the wastegate opens. Signals for the boost controller can be taken from several places, although the most popular for response and intake heat control is the intake manifold.
Generally a manual boost controller will not be accessible from inside the car, though some are designed to be. An installation that allows access from inside the car (as opposed from inside the engine compartment) is more complex, as the tubing must be longer and a hole must be drilled. It is possible and beneficial to use two manual boost controllers at different settings with a solenoid to switch between them for two different boost pressure settings. Some factory turbocharged cars have a switch to regulate boost pressure, such as a setting designed for gas economy and a setting for performance.
Electronic boost controllers
Electronic boost controllers, such as the Apexi AVC, are mounted inside the car, as it is necessary for the driver to see the screen and access the controls. The operation is much the same as the manual boost controller in that it will still use a controlled leak to manage boost levels but the leak can either come from several staged electronically actuated solenoids or one large solenoid.
Precautions
Increased boost pressure produces more power from the engine, and to prevent damage, one must install a boost gauge to monitor boost pressure while driving. Because a boost controller will affect the air/fuel ratio to the engine, it is beneficial to have an air/fuel gauge or an exhaust temperature gauge inside the car in addition to a boost gauge. Due to the nature of an air/fuel gauge, (which is a voltmeter that usually takes a reading from the O2 sensor) the different readings are not always accurate, but it will provide an indication of if the mixture is running lean or rich. However, an exhaust temperature gauge can provide a more accurate indication of the air/fuel ratio.