I was reading the PCS data logger thread posted and it got me thinking about starting a thread on these data acquisition units as I am a NOOB. Maybe this is a bad idea, but here goes.

I am really interested in these data acquisition units as I am starting to get more serious about my car. Having really no knowledge about what is available on the market (or in my price range) and what sensors are used to do what other than the obvious. It would be pretty awesome for there to be a thread about these systems. I guess I should really talk to a dealer of them on the site and really have experience with them in my particular application. Kind of like a push in the right direction as to what to do with the unit once I have it, and ways of mounting/making sensors work and how to analyze the data. I guess that may have been covered in that EFI 102 class that was at the T1 shop, but I was unable to attend and feel it may have been over my head? I guess I should probably take the 101 1st. Now obviously some of this stuff is how people make their living but I haven't seen anything posted about this really. I know I could take my car to someone and they can do all the work and show me how and what to look for and how to work with the data that I would have. But thats not really figuring anything out on your own, I guess what I would be looking for is something to get my mind into the right way of thinking. Also maybe help with ways to make things work, I personally would have no idea how to make a "clutch speed sensor" or a shock potentiometer work, mostly calibration and making it actually work... I have ideas as to how they could be used to my advantage, a lot of people would be able to physically set up the sensors but me personally having no experience with the units would need help with the logic. I cant imagine these units are that user friendly, but I could be wrong. I dont really know how much of this is "secret" but I would like to see a discussion on them. Maybe this is a dumb topic but its something I am interested in talking about. Hopefully I am asking some of the right questions and be able to ask more in the right way. Please don't bash as I am a noob. I have a weekend/race/street car, but I am really interested in making it go fast with what I have and learn for when I want to step up to a big boy setup.

 

The Ultradash kits if you dont have AEM or motec uses its own sensors, and they all plug into a central brain that sends it all via one cable.....pretty much "data logging for dummies" as one has called it. The sensor settings im sure are are all different.

I personally like the stuff from race-technology.com

Better on the wallet, has the same styling and some smaller units that are nice for simple stuff.

 

The stuff can add up quick as you probably know, I'm trying to work my around it as of right now until I find the missing links later and decide to dump the 'big boy' money into covering all the bases.

Racepak is very pricey per sensor, cables, etc.

What EMS are you running?

(I'm in the same boat as you sort of, although I've already decided to just watch the vitals for the time being.)

 

I am on s300 and plan on keeping it as it's new to me. I know that there are ways to get the s300 to do things that it really isn't provisioned to do. But best to my knowledge it isn't data acquiring related. I know its a deep worm hole but it's one I want to get into.

 

What do you figure your budget is? Knowing very little about S300, I'll stay out of things from here lol

 

Well this thread isnt meant to be about s300, its meant to be about all the data acquisition systems available and I guess some pro's con's and what makes them worth it for all out race needs or a car that does street and race. I know some of the more expensive engine managements can do almost anything through the single unit. I just want to know what is out there and peoples experiences with them. I dont really want to buy anything blindly and wish I had gone with something else. I wouldnt want to buy a "street" unit and it not do what I need it to do.

 

http://www.aimsports.com/products/m3-xglog/index.html

I have that, i love it.

It does all the things the bigger systems can do, but is entry level in # of inputs.

It isn't limited in Hrz and can log shock sensors, and anything you would want to log.

The software if VERY user friendly, and NOTHING is hard to setup on it.

Right out of the box you can get RPM, Speed, Voltage, TPS. With some autometer/VDO senders you can get oil pressure, Oil temp, water temp.

With some OEM ABS sensors you can get individual wheel speeds, to see how much wheel spin.

And you don't need to buy specific sensors for any of the above mentioned stuff, AIM supplies calibration for a good chunk of sensors. The wheel sensor thing is easy to setup your self.

They even have a drag analysing software that i bet you could get to work with this. As the 660 is very limited in what it can do

 

that is a nice entry level for sure.

 

Nice to see others using AIM, I looked at their stuff a while back. Lately I've been indifferent until Tony suggested their stuff over the IQ3. I called and talked to a guy about their MXL Strata for a bit, good guy to talk to as well.

Pics installed please

 

best picture i have of it right now

 

I use the Aim Pista..
If you need more then 8 inputs I use aim channel expansions & data hubs and you can then virtually have unlimited channels.

I also use the Drag software. I was the one that pushed them to make it available for their MXL line for me as the current software is road race based.

So you guys know the Strada does not data log. You can only replay.
You need to at least get the Pista in order to have full datalogging.

 

Edit:

The AIM Mychron3 XG log comes with two temps sensors. So you really get a WHOLE LOT of data logger for ~$999.00

 

Yea, I don't need redundent datalogging. I'll wait to spend big money before I try to half *** datalog lol

BIG difference in money from the Strata and Pista as well. Nice to know you use it though

 

That Pista does look like a pretty good unit and the ability to add more inputs is always great. I was looking at the PCS pro kit and it comes with a lot as far as sensors go for the price. PCS Pro comes with some things that I dont really think that I would need but am not really sure, I guess they could be used for something that I am unaware of. I dont see the driveshaft loop being beneficial to me other than the hall sensor I guess. 250 and 2500 psi sensors, I have no idea what you would use them for, possibly use them for boost pressure or exhaust back pressure if they can tolerate the heat? The display on the Pista has a lot more useful things on it like the warning and shift lights.

 

looking for info on the same things, i was looking at the pcs because it works along with the aem.

 

So does AIM.

Most aftermarket ECU manufactures give the protocol to DA manufactures. Even some of the OEs do. Other times the a ECU modification company will figure it out. Other times the data acquisition company will crack it.

Here is a list to the ECus that AIM can communicate with, the Mychron3 XG log/MXL can communicate with these ECUs.

 

im not picking, but i am just curious, the s300 has o.b. datalogging capabilities. or are you looking for something that can go beyond the s300?

 

It doesnt work with the AEM last I talked to them at PRI they said they were still "working on it"

I like the aim stuff, for the money it is nice. I am fan of the racepak stuff myself as that is what I am familiar with and the product is great and the customer support they offer is second to none.

 

It actually does via a RS232 serial. I have one in my street car works great , but the Racepak has been catching my eye lately. Its a very very nice unit I must say and bigger

 

That's new to me, we have 2 or 3 cars running AIM and AEM and the communicate back and forth.

Also huge ad on there site about AEM and AIM communicating.

Racepacks big down fall is the software, for me at least, not a fan of it.

 

Aim does work with AEM. Even though it's Almost Engine Management it does still work..

 

Yes, I am Looking for something to do more than s300. I plan on using all of s300's logging to the best of my abilities. I would like to monitor trans temps, rear wheel speed, pressures from both sides of the innercooler, exhaust back pressure, shock travel, g meter. I know I probably won't be able to afford one at the moment to do all of those @ 1 time but and expandible system sounds great. That pista is looking good, the pcs pro looks pretty good too but I would like a more functional display like the aim's. The sensors on the aim stuff are around $100 and that's great! The racepak stuff is badass but it is a lot of money, I have not looked @ sensor prices personally but people are saying they are around $400/ea, that's pretty steep for me. Maybe they have pigtails and you can wire in other sensors?

 

Doesnt Aem datalog most of that if you set it up?

 

Josh the pista is the best AIM for you wanting to log all of that stuff.

Most sensors you want are $66, (pressure and temp). Not sure about what sensor you'd use for exhaust back pressure. Andrie at prima-racing sells a good/cheaper/reliable shock sensor. A good bit cheaper then the P&G sensor. And we talked about the wheel speed.

 

Im just new to the site and posting on here so if Im in the wrong place just let me know, Thanks.
Im intrested in getting a nice date logger cluster for my personal 95 civic ex, I just want to abilty to see me oil pressure, RPM, speed, water temp, basic stuff like that in one screen, I dont want alot of gauages, or some 5 in tach, Im looking for a gauge cluster that looks similer to S2000, but also read out, oil pressure, water temp, stuff like that, I used stock ECU and plan on using Crome 2 stage for OBD1, so I am not going to use AEM, hondat or anything like that, any sugestions?