to help shed some light on the below post:

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1224167


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There are many differences between the two, but I'll try and hit the important ones.


First off the Pros of each:

Power FC-
*cheaper
*quick on the fly, real time changes can be made via the commander (no laptop needed)
*much more stable/solid base map to ease/speed up tuning time
*better track record with regards to the stability of the OS (in my opinion and experience)
[I.E. I’ve returned more AEM units for warranty work than the Power FC…maybe 15:1 ratio]
*boost control (only 4 preset boost levels, selected via the commander)

AEM EMS-
*very powerful platform for almost any mod (can run a rotary motor in a DC2 chassis if you want)
*nitrous control
*boost control (gear, speed, hi/low switch or load dependent) etc….
*data logging (multiple channels, either on-board or onto laptop)
*multiple/various inputs and outputs (I.E. Hi/Low boost switch, external shift lights, etc…….. there are hundreds of way to spin it)
*too many to list

Now the Cons of each:

Power FC-
*limited applications
*user can not interface with “every” feature of the unit via the commander, only a Power Excel dealer can [I.E. IAT temp corrections or ECT temp corrections, etc…]
*no data logging
*can not make use of a wideband O2 sensor
*no 2-step revlimiter (for the drag racers)
*no external outputs (I.E. shift light or nitrous control, etc…)
*must be tuned by an official Apex Power Excel dealer in order to unlock/use “All” the features of the unit
*will not alter timing/fuel maps based on knock sensor feedback

AEM EMS-
*pricey (compared to the Power FC)
*very, very easy for an inexperienced users to hurt/break/blowup their car/truck
*laptop required for tuning
*base maps are not 100% plug-N-play, ready to drive
*not as “user friendly” as the Power FC


To sum it all up:

Both are good for NA and boost, but the AEM is better for NO2.

The AEM EMS is much more powerful, but not as user friendly.

Both can be tuned and used by the end user, but the AEM EMS requires a tad more competence

 

nice comparo

 

Excellent review

[hijack] Can j00 tune a Megasquirt for my wagon? [/hijack]

 

Sweet.. I've got a PowerFC for you to tune in the near future

 

Jack, in your honest opinion, how important is datalogging? how often do you use it to find problems or just during general tuning?

 

data loggins is very important IMO. Every tuner should use it to an extent.

I never played with Power FC. but heard it is a very nice simple unit.
I played with AEM a little and there is just tooooooo much for the user to change. Very easy to get lost in that gui. I mean its easy to find things, but its a pain because there is just soooo much to set up initially and look at.

 

yeah I know its a good idea to have datalogging, but Im not a tuner and Im curious how often its used. I know I used it a few times when I was running the EMS and wideband and it was pretty cool. but Im not sure how much its used during tuning.

 

Don't you also have to buy a harness adapter for OBD-II Hondas when using the PowerFC? I would think this would be a negative also.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Fat Bradstard &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Don't you also have to buy a harness adapter for OBD-II Hondas when using the PowerFC? I would think this would be a negative also.</TD></TR></TABLE>

my obd2A 98 ITR did not require an adapter harness with the powerfc

 

Dataloggin is mostly used in like partial throttle tuning to know where to touch up and to go back and review.
Datalogging is really nice to use for every run to see things later that the dyno software cant see.

I personally datalogged every run at the track and alot on the dyno when we tuned.
For Bolton NA cars, i dont think its soooo important as much as like a higher HP turbo car. There is soo many variables you need to look at then.

Im no tuner, but ive been around the block a few times. But its all tuning style really

 

in a nut shell, all things being equal:

power fc= NA cars
Aem EMS= turbo/super/NOS

but in reality, not every tuner is a Power Excel dealer, not every tuner is comfortable using both those units, etc...

 

You mean even Power Excel dealers have no way of datalogging the PowerFC?

On another note, I've learned about engine tuning and general engine parameters even since I've gotten the PowerFC, thanks to Jack of course who gives me info I can easily understand. I don't plan to mess around with my settings but it's good to know what's going on.

 

You mean even Power Excel dealers have no way of datalogging the PowerFC?


Power Excel Dealers CAN datalog BTW.




P.S. I datalog every single dyno pull where applicable

 

Jack, you will be seeing me later this yr once i get my J's header and 70RR exhaust. AEM EMS are my plans

 

You can also get datalogging and most (but not all of the Power Excel features) for the PowerFC with the FC-Datalogit.

This is what was showing up on Trey Commander's screen the other day at the dyno:

http://www.fc-datalogit.co.nz/map-rx7-base.html

Also, like Brad mentioned, I believe you need an OBD2 to OBD2v.1 harness to run the PowerFC in an OBD2 car. Maybe Kenji can clarify this, but all I know is I have one of his harnesses attached to the PowerFC

 

This is the setup I have decided to go for, Power FC and FC-Datalogit, with the addition of a Wideband controller like PLX M300 plugged into the FC-datalogit unit. Neither Hondata or AEM have much support over here in Norway, but I have a tuner some hours drive away whohas experience with Power FC.

So, this setup gets rid of these cons of the Power FC :

*user can not interface with “every” feature of the unit via the commander, only a Power Excel dealer can [I.E. IAT temp corrections or ECT temp corrections, etc…]
*no data logging
*can not make use of a wideband O2 sensor
*must be tuned by an official Apex Power Excel dealer in order to unlock/use “All” the features of the unit

Granted it's not free, ~$900 for the Power FC, $329 for the PLX M300 and $397 for the FC-Datalogit but then the AEM EMS is not cheap either.

 

does anyone know if the power fc will work on a 95 gsr (b18c1)? or is it just for the type r?

great break down between the pfc and the aem ems. could you do the same with hondata's offerings?

thanks!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by turbojae &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">does anyone know if the power fc will work on a 95 gsr (b18c1)? or is it just for the type r?

great break down between the pfc and the aem ems. could you do the same with hondata's offerings?

thanks!</TD></TR></TABLE>

You can use it, but you will need a conversion harness and I'm not quite sure how that works out with the GSR intake manifold.

 

I'm not quite sure how that works out with the GSR intake manifold.


it will control the IAB also

 

- like others have mentioned you *CAN* datalog using the Power FC with the fc datalogit product.
- also, ther Power FC "Pro" version does have 2 step rev limiter functionality, but it has to be activated by a Power Excel dealer, unless you have some special code that you can input to your FC Datalogit software to unlock the full Pro functionality.