Fed up with the idea of paying $200USD+ for an adapter to interface my PoweFC, I set out to come up with a low cost alternative.

There are a number of resources floating around that have tidbits of information to perform such a task, and most projects usually dead-end. So, I set out to do it for myself.

Completed:

• USB Compliant, no external RS232 adapter required
• Automatic Baud Rate (Needed to support different software)
• Works in: FC-Edit, FC-Tune, PFCprobe, PFCping, Co-Pilot (not the FD platform yet though!)
• Support for FCC3 commanders (FDS4 PowerFC's)
• Hardware support for FCC/FCC2
• 4 0-5v sensor inputs
• Commander Pass-through Port
• Timeouts on both PC and PowerFC streams
• Handles invalid packets
• Firmware upgradable

Things to do:

• FCC/FCC2 support?
• Add more sensor ports
• Optimize code, rather clunky at the moment
• Find a work-around for A0 packet to allow the 13B-REW to work in CoPilot

This leaves me with a couple of questions:

Does anyone have an earlier PowerFC for the FD and can tell me what commander they have that goes with the serial # on the PFC? (Ex. FD3S4 - FCC3) Also, if you have an older one, would you be ***** to loan it out temporarily for the sake of the cause?

Has anyone used their PowerFC for the 13B-REW on copilot, or was that never finished?

Is the general consensus to use FC-Edit since the rest of the software has more or less gone belly up? What kind of interest is there in an alternative at this point?

 

$200, will did you get that figure?
IOGEAR - GUC232A - USB to Serial RS-232 Adapter

http://www.iogear.com/product/GUC232A/

 

Oh, you know, just the two other options available?

FC Datalogit - Tuning Software for your APEXi Power FC - $299 USD
FC-HAKO - Buy - $203 USD

I'm not talking about a USB-Serial adapter, I'm talking about a USB->PowerFC adapter, as in an alternative to datalogit and FC-HAKO.

 

Finished up most of the hardware schematic, should be ordering some prototype boards here shortly to assemble a couple units. I have hardware support for the older PFC's, but really need to get ahold of one to be able to finish out the protocol for them. This should end up being a considerably cheaper alternative than the other options.

 

OK, now understand that you are trying to make your own DL.

 

Sent my design off to the PCB house, cleaned up the majority of my code and made timeouts much more reliable in case of communication losses/errors. I decided against error correcting in the hardware, as this really should be something the software deals with.

I'm still looking for someone with an older PFC that has an FCC/FCC2 style commander!

 

Looking forward to any progress. I figured that any attempts to improve the PFC had died out. If there's any way I can help, I have a FD3S4/FCC3. I wouldn't be able to loan out my PFC, but if there's any other info I could provide, I would be happy to do so!

Keep up the good work!

 

That's the same combo I have. I made up a few PCB's and so far everythings working great on the FD3S4. I'll get some pictures up a little later. Hopefully I can find an older PFC to add support for them all. Good thing is its all firmware upgradable.

 

Here are some pictures of the one I'll be keeping for my car. The other cases are much cleaner cut.

 

I finished up the software side for now. Until I can get my hands on an early PFC, they'll be limited to the later models (FD3S4/FCC3 commanders). I'm also dabbling in writing a new software utility only for datalogging, as FC-Edit's logging drives me nuts.

Here's some more of the first batch. The second batch will be considerably different hardware wise, but functionally the same.

 

Looks nice...not sure what commander I have at the moment. Any discount if I loan it to you?

 

It would depend on what model PFC you have.

If it's an old model, certainly. I can't seem to find one! I've sold a few of them to make sure everything works currently and all of the FD3S4 models seem to be supported without issue. I think you can tell from the commander via the firmware versions as well.

 

Sweet! Does this provide any benefits other than cost over a datalogit? Your skills to make this unit is amazing. I would probably shorten the height of the container and have it in black. If it's visible in some ones car, bright blue stands out.

It would be nice to have a mac software alternative, or linux.

 

It wouldn't take much to write a java program to do it. I left the boxes transparent to facilitate the debugging lights, although there is a box of the same size that is solid colored that would be a direct replacement. The box came out a hair taller than I had hoped, but it's still not too bad.

Overall dimensions are like 3.25x2x2.5 or something along those lines. They're not all too big. I have mine velcro'd under the passenger dash so I can see the LED's by leaning over and get access to whatever I need.

I'm not sure of any direct benefit vs the datalogit. From what I've seen, my boxes filter the inputs a bit cleaner, but you can resolve that issue directly from FC-Edit, so it's not a huge deal. Other than that, it has USB built in so no need for an adapter or anything.

 

Cool! Java is awful, but definitely the best option if you want something cross platform that has a lot of support. Do they have a black transparent unit? I already have a datalogit, but am thinking of others that might purchase. I have mine velcro as well. I am going to keep my interior, so it will be hidden. But if I had removed the carpet, the blue might be a turn off. Just trying to help maximise your sales.

 

Yes, I hate Java, but for the purpose it is about the best fit.

As for the box, I believe the same dimensions as what I'm using come in either solid colors, or the transparent blue, red, or clear. I'll ask the mfg if they can make "smoked" color as they have a lot of other boxes like that.

 

I'm still plugging away at a java based PowerFC software to support the 13B-REW (all I have at the moment to test with).

In the meantime, I've been selling a number of the units I've made, and have a thread up in the 3rd gen section if anyone is interested. Hopefully once I recoup some of my prototyping costs, I can fab them at a considerably lower cost from henceforth.

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati...logit-1041861/

 

Hello all!

I've been meaning to write up a review of this datalogit for a while now, but my car decided it doesn't want to work all the time (Bad OMP, then broken clutch fork soon after).

I have done a few hours worth of tuning and logging to get a feel for how FC-edit works, and I haven't had any issues at all. The unit is very responsive, and super easy to hook up. I plugged it into my laptop and started FC-edit and it recognized it immediately (you have to select port #4 first, if I remember correctly).

I have it hooked up to my AEM UEGO wideband, and after some fiddling I've gotten it to read within about .2afr on the datalogit.

The only downside I can think of is that the FC commander can't be hooked up at the same time. Once I get some free time with my car I want to wire up a switch and a female USB port under the pass. side dash, so I can switch between the two without having to take the panel off of my interior.

I managed to snap one picture of it working before my car broke down (again). http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...emporary-2.jpg
The one orange wire running out of the datalogit is going to my UEGO.

I'll try to get some pictures of some actual logging when I get it running again! If you have any questions about my setup I'd be glad to answer!

 

Sucks you're having car problems! I should have an adapter to allow both the unit and commander done shortly.

 

Wow awesome project . Why don't you go and make a project on Kickstarter and link it here . Therefore you could get some funds and see the interest of people

 

Well, I've made a number of them already, and outside of selling them, there's not much for a kickstarter to do unless I make something more fancy.

 

Any update on this? Are you still selling them? Have you managed to get the PFC+commander+this box all working together at the same time?

 

Time spent engineering, procuring parts, assemble, testing, changing to make it work, etc; make it cost much more than a DL.

Personal satisfaction is the only positive results of this endeavor.

 

This is rather absurd and makes little sense.

I've already stated multiple times that the project is finished and everything works. I've sold about 50 of them already at about half the cost of a DL, so I would tend to believe it has resulted in a bit more than implied.

 

Hi, I know this is an old thread but I’m curious if you are still selling these ?

I just got a Power FC and would be interested.

thanks !