Easy additional gauges

[Mike Rohaley]

I found this device that ties into your OBD plug and supplies a ton of info (water temp, throttle position, inlet air temp and many others). The nice part is that it uses the existing sensors to monitor the status of the drivetrain. The website is: http://www.scangauge.com/products/

 

It looks like a well made product and I am considering getting one. Question is: Has anyone out there had any first hand experience with this product or something similar to this? Is there something out there better that this for 170 bucks?

 

 

[WestTexasS2K]

That looks pretty good. That could really come in handy. I will add that to my wish list.

[Keith]

I've used a real-time OBD-II scanner to track down all sorts of problems. They're really handy. Turning one into a set of gauges is a great idea. Of course, this assumes you've gone to the trouble of retaining an OBD-II compatible ECU but in the case of an Ultralite that's probably true!

[slngsht]

All my gauges run through a touchscreen :yesnod: I can log data for about 90 minutes AFTER the fact (so if something unusual happens, I click save, and I have all data saved from the start of that run). Through the same display I can check codes, read/write PCM calibration.

[WestTexasS2K]

I am envious of all you computing experts. I am doing good to get an email out. I would love to see your computer dash in person some day. That thing is cool.

[slngsht]

Guys, I came across this unit http://www.dashdaq.com

 

I will be calling them on Monday and seeing if I can arrange a review of their system. The videos on their site are a bit cheesy, but I think it has GREAT potential.

 

Here are a few highlights... 4" color touchscreen (don't know brightness), OBDII based, can be upgraded for GPS (cost?),linux based, completely self contained unit.

 

Can accept phidgets (these are generic usb based sensors. I have used them in the past for other projects, and they are fantastic - anything from pressure, motion, acceleration sensors, etc...)

 

You can customize gauge groups, display several at a time... mixture of dials, digital, graph.

 

Scan and save results (I think to a USB thumb drive??)

 

The videos are somewhat clumsy, but for me they answered some key questions, like how responsive the unit is (sample rate for RPM, for example).

 

At $695, it seems like a great deal.

 

If I talk to them and find no show stoppers, I will try it.

 

Here are some vids from their site:

 

 

 

 

[eVox]

Man, I wish I was building with OBDII parts :[

[Arya Ebrahimi]

  eVox said:

Man, I wish I was building with OBDII parts :[

 

You and me both!

[JohnK]

Hi slngsht,

 

> Can accept phidgets (these are generic usb based sensors. I have used them in the past for other projects, and they are fantastic - anything from pressure, motion, acceleration sensors, etc...)

 

Re adding sensors to give you information beyond what your ECU's reporting: So this device is a client on the ECU's OBD-II network and/or CAN network, or maybe it provides a network? - I'm gonna have to find out how these are are related. So there's input possible for controlling things as well as seeing and logging what sensors are reporting. I remember articles on a standard for a network promoted by the auto industry (CAN) so that aftermkt folks can sell across brands (so all of us that want CD/DVD players in our Se7ens can have them connected to the system for our listening enjoyment :-) )

They say that Vehicle I/O is CAN, J1850VPW (GM Class 2), J1850PWM (Ford SCP), ISO9141, KWP2000. An embarrassment of riches!

 

Cheers,

[slngsht]

this device is just a listener on the existing GM communications bus. The sensors part is completely seperate from the comm bus. The box is simply a Linux box that accepts the phidgets through its USB port.

[slngsht]

I just exchanged emails with the manufacturer over the weekend. Looks like I'll be ordering one of these. I'll report back on how it goes.

 

  slngsht said:

Guys, I came across this unit http://www.dashdaq.com

 

I will be calling them on Monday and seeing if I can arrange a review of their system. The videos on their site are a bit cheesy, but I think it has GREAT potential.

 

Here are a few highlights... 4" color touchscreen (don't know brightness), OBDII based, can be upgraded for GPS (cost?),linux based, completely self contained unit.

 

Can accept phidgets (these are generic usb based sensors. I have used them in the past for other projects, and they are fantastic - anything from pressure, motion, acceleration sensors, etc...)

 

You can customize gauge groups, display several at a time... mixture of dials, digital, graph.

 

Scan and save results (I think to a USB thumb drive??)

 

The videos are somewhat clumsy, but for me they answered some key questions, like how responsive the unit is (sample rate for RPM, for example).

 

At $695, it seems like a great deal.

 

If I talk to them and find no show stoppers, I will try it.

 

Here are some vids from their site:

 

 

 

[southwind25]

gee....

With us buying the Birkin, we are making the technological leap from S.U's to Webers...:cry:

why do i feel like a caveman?

We would be happy with a working gas gauge and lights.

[Kitcat]

Southwind:

 

You nailed it! Currently (no pun intended), I am without an oil pressure gauge and a starter. The last thing I need is a sophisticated monitoring mechanism to announce additional system failures:).

[Mike Rohaley]

I suppose that I fall somewhere in the middle. I am not at all techy with the desire to get my hands into every element of the cars operating systems while at the same time I want to be armed with as much information as is resonable. The ScanGauge II unit at $170.00 and the DashDaq at $700.00 are both great examples of the options available to us (assuming we have OBD II onboard).

 

Based on your backround Slngsht, there is only one option for you. Let us know what kind of cool stuff you figure out with your new toy. As for me, I think I am going to go the cheaper route because I will probably wrap myself around a pole watching the screen and not the road (I am not so good at multitasking).

[slngsht]

kitcat, southwinds... one reason I like the OBD-II display, and my old laptop setup is that it reduces the dash wiring dramatically. This unit will only require ign/bat voltage, ground, and diagnostic connector.

 

I'm going to consolidate my toggle switches to more standard multi function switches (like traditional ign switch, etc...), and really reduce the dash wiring. Besides, at 1 lb, it'll be the only part of my seven that's lighter than most :lol:

[slngsht]

New toy arrived today. So far it's very impressive.

 

The package is small... about the size of a typical hand held GPS, but a little wider.

 

I have not had a chance to try it in daylight yet - that's always a concern with any LCD type product.

 

My other concern was how responsive the gauges would be, AND IT IS IMPRESSIVE!

 

I will be posting a video shortly that compares its tachometer to the one in my vette... In my eyes it reacts faster than the factory tach :thumbs:

 

The graphics are CRISP... This is a shot in macro mode from my digicam (green dot is from my cam)

 

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1815356966_CIMG2021.JPG

 

Menus are easy to follow... it took me about 5 minutes to hook it up, fire it up, select a few gauges. It has many more features I have to play with, but so far, a great start.

 

Best part, it weighs about a pound, and only 1 single wire to connect to the diagnostic connector.

[slngsht]

Here is the vid...

 

I couldn't get my digicam to focus on the gauges... need a better camera.

In the first part, you can compare the tach movement to my regular dash.

In the 2nd part, the gauge on the left is TPS. The reaction is very crisp.

I will load up other values to see if/ how it slows down the sampling rate. My understanding is that they do it in frames, so there is no impact - but will have to verify.

 

www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/slngsht/DashDAQ.wmv

 

[flexer]

Wow that is impressive. I would agree with you that it reacts faster then the stock gauge!

 

 

NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

J. R.

 

 

[slngsht]

  flexer said:

Wow that is impressive. I would agree with you that it reacts faster then the stock gauge!

 

 

NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

J. R.

 

 

I also tried this in my Honda minivan, and the data rate seems slower.

 

GM has a proprietary faster data transfer mode (it's generally referred to as 4X mode), which i believe this unit uses to get very nice throughput.

 

 

[Mike Rohaley]

Update on my ScanGauge II purchase:

I have been using it for the last few days in my wife's MX-5 and it works great. As luck would have it (bad luck that is) the CEL came on the morning before the unit arrived, I was quickly able to find out the problem without a trip to AutoZone to beg them for their tool to diagnose the problem.

 

I also found that the Caterham has been been running in "Open Loop" mode which means that the oxygen sensors are not functioning properly which makes the ECU use a baseline fuel map (not good for getting the most out of the engine). That will surely need fixed before it hits the road again.

 

The information provided by the gauges are slick too. You can display four sensors at the same time, For example I am running the water temp, intake air temp, battery voltage and fuel system loop status. An added perk is that you can review your maximum numbers afterwards (such as max. RPM). The unit has more options that I have not yet checked out but will in due time. Overall I am very happy with the new tool, assuming your car has OBD-II and you want to be armed with neat can't-live-without info like throttle position percentage or ignition timing degrees this may be for you.