DATALOGGING
pertinent threads:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...ght=datalogger
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...ght=datalogger
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...ght=datalogger
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...ght=datalogger
useful info:
software development and info: MMCD v 1.8g
direct download for
MMCD v1.8g.
datalogging software sites
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...62&postcount=2
----------------
a datalogger consists of a program running on a plam type device, connected to the diagnostic port via a few cables, and one special cable, denoted "datalogger cable".
you can easily find a palm type device used on ebay for about $10-$50. i recommend getting a device that has a color screen, so that when logging different parameters, you can tell the difference on a graph by different colored lines. but if you want to go the really cheap route, a black and white color screen will work fine, as you can display different parameters either in graph mode, or in number mode. below in the pics you will see a cradle and a palm serial cable. the cradles are relatively easy to find on ebay, and are used to transfer to datalogging software to and from your palm and computer. the palm serial cable is not so easily found. you may have to search and search on ebay, but when you do find one, it will be around $10. you need the serial connector on this cable to connect to the datalogger cable.
Datalogger Cables & Software
MirageCorp sells datalogger cables, but they are a bit pricey at $70 for the OBD1 (1st Gens = 91-93) and $250 for 94-95 cars [hybrid OBD, between OBDI (91-93) and OBDII (96-99)] for the cable and software. there are some other new software
Hand Held Halo Datalogging (aka HHH) that is talked about a lot on 3Si. i have not researched this as the older methods work just fine.
TMO (Technomotive) Dataloggers are another option. Jeff Lucius documents its use on his stealth316 website:
http://www.stealth316.com/2-tmo2.htm. There is also a product called
Scanmaster that can log many different parameters. Scanmaster has been around for a long time, and many platforms, other than the 3S, use it.
So many of the aforementioned products include the cable + software in the package. however, all will cost you at least $100. the most cost effective route i have found is to purchase your own datalogger cable and download some free, open-sourced software. the datalogger cables i use and recommend to everybody are well built with ABS plastic, plug and play, and are only $35 shipped. you can also get a gender changer adapter (pictured below, last pic) for an extra $5 from the same guy. he is user
Countdepolygonze on Ebay. he does not always have an auction on ebay, but perhaps once a week you might find one. you could always contact him through ebay and ask to purchase a cable.
as for the free software, there are 2 options:
Tunerstein and Palmnstein - the original free logging software and
MMCD. the latter, MMCD, is by far the best of the free software, AND the best software overall. however, as far as i know, it will only work for the OBDI cars (91-93). if your car is a hybrid (94-95), then you're only option is MirageCorp's software + cable. for more info on MMCD than you ever wanted to know, check out the
software development and info for MMCD v1.8g, and for the direct download of the software, click
here.
once you have downloaded the software, you'll need a way to transfer it from your computer to the palm device. the
Palm Desktop & HotSync is a free program you can download to interface your palm with your computer. the program is device specific, so you'll have to first choose which palm you have (e.g. m100, m105, etc) and then get the program. for a list of known compatible palm devices that work with datalogging software and our 3S cars, go
here.
i highly recommend that you get a memory card for you palm device, and load the datalogging software onto the memory card. this is because WHEN (not if, because it will happen) the batteries in your palm die, all of the programs loaded onto the palm itself (minus the operating system) are deleted/lost. but if you have the datalogging software loaded onto the memory card, then it will not be lost. so instead of having to re-download the software program from your computer to the palm, simply access it from the memory card when you replace your batteries.
palm on cradle
cradle (used to connect palm to computer to transfer datalogs or upload/download software)
palm cable (palm connection to serial connector)
datalogger cable (serial connector to OBD diagnostic connector)
sometimes a serial gender changer is needed to connect the 2 male serial connectors of the palm cable and datalogger cable
