Data logging efi

[am018]

Several ways to do this --  1) buy or make from a kit a dedicated I/0 card
for the PC
                                          2) Use the printer port to
interface to an A/D convertor
                                                such as the serial   TLC548
chip
                                           3) Use a conventional parallel A/D
convertor interfacing
                                                to printer port via hex
buffers.
All of these will need the addition of a simple analogue multiplexer chip(s)
to enable you to switch data channels.

Of these option 2 is the easiest to implement as  on modern PC with an
over-crowded PCI bios can it be difficult  to install non-plug and play cards
-- my current PC has only 2 physical ISA slots and I have seen a file server
motherboard with only 1 !.

Option 3 has some advantages in that some nice A/D convertors are available
some with built in multi-plexing but interfacing the TLC548   is so simple it
is the best way to go.

A 486 or even a 386 would be fine for this --- a 386sx  might be a good
choice as later 386sx have very compact mother boards with a soldered on
processor. In addition Intel are now selling some nice tiny embedded
processor Pentium boards for industrial control apps.

You might also want to add a simple 2 line LCD text display for a status
display which could  be connected to the serial port.

If you want to monitor signals from sensitive equipment such as a lambda
sensors you will also need an op amp input stage, the AD622  chip is
designed  for data gathering applications easiest to use by a large margin  -
just follow the makers datasheet.


Here is a some of web sites on which you might pick up some info
http://www.picotech.com/   ----- a good range of low cost off the shelf
solutions  with nice software (demo version for down load)

http:/www.maplin.co.uk/     ---  general electronic components --- sell a
number of suitable modules and kits  also the August 1998 edition of the
Maplin Magazine "Electronics & Beyond"  (issue 128) contains plans for a very
simple data logger based on the TLC548  by Dr Pei An  who will also sell you
a kit or a pre-built module.
However the TLC548 is so simple to use you  a simple bit of tri-pad board
will do for the circuit.

The August 1998 Edition of     the magazine Electronics Today International
"ETI"      contains  a simple guide to multiplexing a data logger  by the
same Dr Pei An
http://www.aaelectron.co.uk/eti/
email:    eti at aaelectron.co.uk
US  agents         Wise Owl Worldwide  Publications, 4314 West 238th Street,
Torrance, CA9005-4509
                              phone (310) 375 6258   9am - 9pm pacfic time
10am -6 pm weekends

The September 1998 edition of  "Everyday Practical Electronics" magazine
contain an interesting article on interfacing LCD displays to the serial
port  by Robert  Penfold
http://www.epemag.winborne.co.uk/


Dr Pei An has also written a book    -- "PC  Interfacing using Centronic,
RS232 and Game Ports"  published Newes, Buterworth-Heineman 1998 ISBN
2405144831
Robert Penfold has also written books on the subject but these weren't base
round the TLC548 chip and are less relavent.

Regards Andy MacFadyen.

Benjamin Marsh wrote:

> All,
> Has any one had any success with logging all efi data the comp recieves -
> is it possible to feed the voltages straight into the com ports and get
> the data that way. I am interested in converting an old 486 or so laptop
> to be permanently mounted in the car and constantly recording everything
> that happens, ie oil temp, water temp, air temp before and after turbo,
> boost pressure, rpm's, road speed, afm voltages, and so on
> Was is the easiest way of doing this?
>
> Thankyou for your help.
>
> Ben Marsh
>