Truck parts Dynamometer

[Jody Shapiro]

> wmcgonegal at rr.etc.ncr.doe.ca Wrote:
> 
> | I think the easiest way for a DIYer to calculate power output from a 
> | vehicle is (as mentioned in other postings) to accelerate on a flat 
> | stretch of road while recording speed versus time.  From this 
> | acceleration can be calculated.  Power is calculated as Vehicle Mass * 
> | Acceleration * Speed.  If kg, meters/second squared, and meters/ 
> | second are used the result is in Watts.
> 
> Someone on the hotrod list a long time ago suggested putting a hall effect 
> type sensor at the both ends of the driveshaft and measuring how much it 
> twists.  Another idea was a very large flywheel hanging in a pit in the 
> ground, measure how fast the engine is able to accelerate it.  This sounds 
> dangerous, but the driveshaft twist would be easy enough.
> 
> --steve

There's a place here in NH that has a product called (I believe) DynoMite 
that uses a strain gauge on the driveshaft to do HP measurements.  They 
were at SEMA last year.  I have the blurb and contact phone # at home if 
anyone's interested.

-Jody