Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Cheap data logging;
viewtopic.php?f=39&t=37840

I started this thread and had a short video on what I did for data logging. Basically, my point and shoot
camera also has a movie mode. With my AFR gauge hooked up, I set it in a shoe box and pointed
my 'movie' camera at it, and set the whole thing in the passenger seat and went for a drive. After
several minutes, I shut the camera down and reviewed the movie. I can see the guage and hear the
revs and I know the car well enough to know approximately where my throttle position is at any
given point. Great knowledge here and, did I mention, inexpensive?

I have a "AEM Electronics X-Series Wideband UEGO Air/Fuel Sensor Controller Gauges 30-0300". Seems to work well and includes everything you need (~$185). But it is just a gauge with no data logging, so it allows you to see what is happening at a point in time but that is it. It does have output that could be fed to an external data logger to record the data and plot against other sensors.

I find that it is good enough to get a ball park idea what is happening and get reasonable adjustment on the carbs, especially for steady state operation, e.g. cruise.

I think you need to decide what you want to get out of AFR system. A simple gauge is useful and relatively cheap but limited. Full data capture is much more useful but also costs a lot more and means more work to fit other sensors to the car.

Thank you all for your replies, I do appreciate I was asking a bit of a "numpty" question..... but if you don't ask, you'll never find out !

Chris, thanks for the comment on serial output. I'd noted the serial connector on the one I posted but until your post I didn't realise it had limitations and more costs involved, so thanks again.

Greg - I had searched but missed that post/thread on DIY logging and yep, it's a cute idea to photograph/video the gauge. Given I'm at the cheap and learning end of things I could go that way if a proper system proves too expensive because as you say you can hear the revs and I suppose it's not beyond imagination to pick up a seperate camera for the rev counter.. Given that I reckon TPS sensors are a step too far for my current level of knowledge (which is very low) that might work for me as well.

It's a pity the innovate system doesn't seem to be as good as it looks, until I read a few critical comments I was sold on it.

Any more comments as to where I should be looking are always welcome.

Cheers
Brian

Howdy All,

I recently got an AEM gauge with a Bosch 4.9 sensor. To supply the needed minimum of 12V and Ground, I ran a circuit from an unused fuse through the firewall with the bundle, across the back of the dash, and terminated it in a flat 4-pin trailer connector - the other two leads, currently unused, are data and lambda out. Thus I can easily connect or disconnect one of the two cables going to the gauge - the other of course coming from the sensor. (A while back I put in (3) Lucas Four-Fuse blocks with the AGC-type fuses, replacing the original two 35A's.)

Similarly to Greg Z, I set up a box with the gauge on one end and a slot in the right side near the other end, along with a couple of "baffles." Thus I can slide my iPhone in and take a video. Some enclosing of the box to minimize glare and reflections also helps All this given the difficulty of driving and simultaneously watching the gauge, and my reluctance to spend several hundred dollars for a real logger and sensors and the installation thereof.

One significant further improvement: when reviewing the video, I could hear the engine and kinda remember what had been happening, but needed more of a "commentary." So I've been hooking up my ear buds / mic and thus adding more pertinent info - gear, revs, up or down hill, feathering the gas or "on the overrun" or WOT, etc.

Pretty cool to be able to add this to cars we can work on easily!

-Steve

I've not done the video record but seems a good idea. A further improvement might be to invest in an app that records GPS data with the video. That way you know speed and have map to understand what was happening road wise.

StressCraxx wrote:
Hello Chrispy,

Sorry to hear you are having such grief with getting on the weber forum. Please PM me your email address and I will forward to Keith for you. The Yahoo forums are very clunky for admins.

I have a set of his earlier E-tubes and hypojets and the improvment is striking.

Regards,
Dan Wise

Thanks Dan, PM sent If they are good as everone is saying I think I'll need to get some bits off him.

I've had a light throttle stumble and changed from std 50 F8 to 55 F8 (via 50F9 - better but poor pick up) which has fixed it. Might be worth a try for ?15.

Cheers,

Ian

ianf wrote:I've had a light throttle stumble and changed from std 50 F8 to 55 F8 (via 50F9 - better but poor pick up) which has fixed it. Might be worth a try for ?15.

Cheers,

Ian

You can fix that by just running the idle richer, Twin cams don't like running at "Best lean idle adjustment" if you set it up around 11.5-12afr the stumble goes. The stumble is what you get if you set the idle up with a Colour tune or by ear. I believe it's due to poor positioning of the first Progression hole.