Chassis Data Logging Sensors

[CTX-SLPR]

Howdy,

I'm a huge fan of data and since I'm working with a car that no one races/drives hard and doing major suspension modifications, I'd like to log what's going on imperically.

I know DG has done this on some cars for Bonneville and I'd like to monitor things like like the suspension travel, steering angle, and yaw. Now all of these things are measured on not a few OEM applications but since I've got the luxury of choosing/the need to keep things in budget. What are the the best in terms of the various sensors and are they 12V or 5V refference sensors. The electronics I'm thinking of using can do either but not both at the same time (well I guess it can if you have a 0-12V refference but the functions really only apply to the 0-5V range of that refference).

Thanks,

[TC]

Looks like you can start here......

http://www.advantagemotorsports.com/Sensors.htm

http://www.advantagemotorsports.com

[TheSilverBuick]

Re-purposed TPS sensors might work if you can get a lever arraignment built to scale up or scale down the amount of movement to the TPS to reflect the movement of the suspension. That would be on a 5v reference.

[dieselgeek]

Re-purposed TPS sensors might work if you can get a lever arraignment built to scale up or scale down the amount of movement to the TPS to reflect the movement of the suspension. That would be on a 5v reference.

All the position travel sensors I used and have seen are 0-5v, which works best with most datalogging equipment out there.

CTX what are you using to capture the data?


As Randal points out, you can do a lot with a TPS. And even more with a string potentiometer. For our bonneville car, I used the Racepak Suspension Travel sensors (like TC would) until I grew a brain and figured out that Penny and Giles makes the Racepak sensors, selling them for $180 instead of over $300. Got my spares from Penny and Giles :-)

The wheel speed sensors are simple Cherry GS series hall sensors ($35 apiece) that read the backs of the wheel studs. Took the chassis guy all of 10 minutes to mount them. I have one in front and one in rear.

I didn't do steering angle but I might as I am considering adding another IO Extender CAN logger for more input channels.

Between Hall or VR sensors, and linear or string potentiometers, there's no reason you can't fab up a comprehensive system for as little money as you want to spend IMO.

[CTX-SLPR]

Probably an Arduino Mega 2650 R3 since I need the control side of the equation for some other things like inverting the 4T65E Sol-B output and other things I tried to do by adapting a BCM from a 98 Grand Prix GTP coupe. I've not actually looked into the datalogging functions but I'm assuming its possible with the Arduino.

Though I might endup going to Megasquirt 3x with GPIO, I'm going to keep working on the OBDII system for the engine and trans since the cost of the MS system is out of my budget and I want a PLC type controller for things that I don't think I can get the GPIO to do.

Just a note, the C5/6/XLR F45/55 ride height sensors are ~$120 through RockAuto. Not lookied into the other GM vehicles with the F55 Magneride system like the STS, SRX, and the 2003 Seville to see what they use. All of them are 0-5V.

[Beagle]

I hate to be "that guy" that says "why don't you" , but I'm wondering if a Gopro camera might tell you what you are looking for from the sensors ? Just tossing it out for thought.

The air ride cars like the Lincoln have lever mounted sensor stuff to control the compressor / distribution block. Maybe you could see if that meets your needs cuz there are a bunch out there? (edit - saw where you just said that. )

[dieselgeek]

I hate to be "that guy" that says "why don't you" , but I'm wondering if a Gopro camera might tell you what you are looking for from the sensors ? Just tossing it out for thought.

The air ride cars like the Lincoln have lever mounted sensor stuff to control the compressor / distribution block. Maybe you could see if that meets your needs cuz there are a bunch out there? (edit - saw where you just said that. )

Probably because this project is easy enough to do for less then the price of the GoPro. The Arduino stuff he's talking about is dirt cheap and highly powerful with a super easy scripting language. In other words, a very accessible way to build your own logger. I'm keeping an eye on other guys doing the same thing because it's possible to build yourself a super high sampling rate, multi channel logger for the cost of a tank of gas... racepak would sell that for $2500.

[A/Fuel]

I had to pull myself off of the Arduino web site, I bookmarked it for later, thanks! I wish I was more versed in this kind of stuff. I've been working on a project that this would be perfect.

[CTX-SLPR]

Thanks guys. I got pretty stoked when I found the Arduino information. I can do software scripting and a limited amount of hardware assembly but I'm not very good at designing a package from scratch.

I'm toying with the idea of using it to control a set of Magneride shocks if I can get them to fit and once again the ability to do more robust programming really attacts me to the Arduino. But enough of that.
Is the aftermarket better than the type of ride height sensors I can find off of a number of GM and other vehicles that had some sort of air ride or suspension control technology?

Thanks,

[JeffMcKC]

I had to pull myself off of the Arduino web site, I bookmarked it for later, thanks! I wish I was more versed in this kind of stuff. I've been working on a project that this would be perfect.

I have often wonderd if you all could run a wheel or stiff wire on the ground to measure launch (crush on the rear tire) and Growth on the rear tire and over lap clutch slippage as a reference tool to tune with all off a tps sensor.