Data logging dashes
 

Hi Guys,

I have a 2013 Toyota GT that I'm setting up as a weekend track car. I've always had a passing interest in data logging and have toyed briefly with one or two before. I'd also like to monitor some of the car's vitals whilst on track, so rather than invest in 3 guages, an oil pressure warning light, a shift light, a data logger and a dash of some description, I'm looking for one unit to do it all. I'd also like to able to set alarms for different parameters such as low oil pressure, high water and oil temp etc.

I know AIM do a couple of models as well as Haltech, Racepak etc, but I'm new to these sort of units, so looking on some advice on which units would do what I'm looking for, and work with our cars.

Thanks.

I have no experience with all-in-one solutions but I did have a Race-Technology data logger (DL-1) that I particularly liked and used for logging autocross runs with my Tacoma...

http://vracer111.smugmug.com/photos/.../i-66k7qR8.gif

They do make a stand alone, all-in-one dash:

http://www.race-technology.com/dash2_pro_2_31358.html

Funnily enough, I use to have a DL1 as well in my STi race car, but never really got around to using it to it's full potential, as I sold the car.

Race Technology seem to make a pretty good product, and I would consider one of their "all in one packages" if the price was right.

As I'm fairly new to this, I suppose the other thing to consider would be local support or at least a forum such as this for support.

My experience is limited to Motec, Racepak, and AIM. Hopefully someone else can chime in...
@Element Tuning?

Take a look at the ArcFlash Dash: http://www.arcflashed.com/collection...s/digital-dash

I have one in my BRZ, wired up to CAN and a few direct sensor connections. I don't have oil pressure but there is a thread here on how to add one and you can wire it into the Dash.

If you don't need hardwired sensors, then try CMS Lap Timer for iOS and Android and get a BT OBD2 dongle to connect to your car. Has alerts, logging, analysis, etc.

Race Technology is one of the best. I had the Race-Technology data logger (DL-1) and dash 2 display in my Minibusa. Very professional complete unit. It will do anything you want.

I built my own.

http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps7fnotvm3.jpg

The datalogger itself is Arduino based and interacts with an Innovate AFR (LC-1) and thermocouple reader (TC-4).
It logsBattery voltage, AFR, 2XEGTs, 2X CHTs, throttle position, oil temp, oil press, fuel press, tach, and a couple spare channels.
If I dont hook the droid phone up to usb, the DL logs to a internal sdcard.
It also can turn on the DASH warning light if any parameters get out of range.
It has a shift light output as well.

If I hook up the droid phone, I can view or plot the data in real time.

This is all on a 71 vintage race car :-)
ANY droid device will work as the display, so I could embed my 2 year old 10" tablet in the dash and that would.
Do any of those other dashes have touchscreens? :-)

Being fairly new to it all, the more simple the better, so I don't think I'll be building anything from scratch :)

The more I think about it, I really don't need a full dash as such, as the car still has it's original dash and is registered and driven on the road frequently at this stage. However, I would like a display that incorporates, some shift lights, lap timing (maybe predictive as well), displays oil pressure, oil temp and water temp, and has well lit alarms for those three.

On that basis something like the Race Technology Dash 4 and a DL1 might do the trick. I also like that you can integrate GoPro video as well, as I already own a heap of GoPro gear.

We did a lot of research before choosing a setup that will be required for Spec86 Cup racing here in the US. In the end it came down to:

Race-Technologies
AIM

We liked the RT setup as you didn't need to get the dash right off the bat and the setup was expandable as your needs arose. The issue was that it wasn't widely used and we weren't positive that their tech support would necessarily be available when we needed it (namely weekends when we are at the track etc).

AIM has a huge following here in the US and at any given race weekend there are at least 10-20+ guys using the AIM stuff on their cars so peer support is there and then contacting AIM is also easy. For our purposes where we will be using the AIM data for compliance the AIM corp support to help us setup quick and easy analysis tools is invaluable.

-mike

Yeah, unfortunately I'm in the same boat in regards to support for RT stuff here in Australia. There is a local distributor for AIM here, and he's occasionally at the track, so that could be a bonus.

In saying that the RT Dash2Pro does everything I need, including integration of my GoPro camera, and is $500 cheaper than the MXL2.

I realize I'm horribly late to the party, but I'd definitely cast my vote for the Aim units. I used an RT Dash2 in college and was not impressed. It was somewhat glitchy (although this was a while back so we'll assume they fixed it) but customer support was non-existent. There was no one stateside to call, and I never got any replies back from customer support.

Jake

Do you have source code and such in a public repository?