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Accelerometer sensors?

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2018 4:58 am
by SMR
Hi All,
Has anyone attempted to hook up an accelerometer to log g-force into their DTA ECU?
I'd be keen to log sideways and braking G force - which I guess would each need it's own channel but am I correct in thinking I could use Analogue 1 and 2 inputs if the sensors put out a 0-5v signal (and I can source the relevant calibration / data sheet)?

Cheers
Steve

Re: Accelerometer sensors?

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2018 5:30 am
by Rob Stevens
See no reason why not, but to be of any use you would need to log at 100Hz and this would rapidly fill your memory, so would suggest you add a log switch if you don't have one already.
But are you not using these inputs for launch rpm and traction%? I guess you could use one of the spare inputs like air pressure? Oil Pressure etc

Re: Accelerometer sensors?

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2018 6:18 am
by stevieturbo
Even a VBox only operates at 10Hz, and is excellent. Really isnt any need for as high as 100Hz at all.

You can buy relatively cheap 3 axis Acell units, with their own 0-5v output for each axis although for lat/long you'd only be using 2 of them.

So yes you could do as you propose fine.

In general...a Vbox is a very nice thing to have in car for data albeit not cheap.

Re: Accelerometer sensors?

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2018 3:46 pm
by SMR
Chees guys.
As I don't use the traction control pot I could swap that and use the one spare to give the two inputs required.

Stevieturbo - any suggestions on model/type I need to look for?

Not keen on spending the type of money needed for a V-box, let alone the added weight. Already run a gopro which captures the steering wheel display past my head so happy with the level of feedback / info I'm getting. I do miss the g-meter I had built in to my old video system......

Re: Accelerometer sensors?

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2018 5:29 pm
by stevieturbo
A VBox does weigh less than a good dump...lol

And it is a great logging tool both for accel data and gps info etc. Cheaper units with no display are around £300 or so.

Honestly no idea, I know some guys a few years back where just getting some generic pieces, potting them and adding some wires so users could more easily plug them in to their wiring etc.
Dont know what would currently be popular though.

I get GPS and accell data from my dash and send it back to the ecu for logging. Both at only 10Hz, although newer models of the Plex dash are now 20Hz. But I also use the Vbox as well as a standalone.

As for what works and doesnt...honestly no idea. A quick google would suggest something like this might work ?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kitronik-3-A ... SwdGFYuXH1

This is a thread from a few years ago were a guy was making and selling some...probably just potting the likes of the above though.

http://bbs.22b.com/forums/showthread.ph ... elerometer

For sake of a tenner it'll hardly do any harm to try. A lot of them seem to be aimed towards Arduino usage, so their outputs may not be simple analogue. that one on ebay does seem to be a simple analogue piece

Re: Accelerometer sensors?

Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2018 2:42 am
by SMR
Thanks for the info and links StevieT - it was the reference to Arduino use that confused me, but I'll do more googling and try and find something suitable.

Re: Accelerometer sensors?

Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2018 5:44 am
by Tim
I've bought one of the sensors listed above and will do some testing.

Happy to produce something that will be compatible with DTA that you can do some real world testing with if you'd like? Will come in a 3d printed enclosure, etc.

I'll do some bench testing once it arrives and go from there.

Tim

Re: Accelerometer sensors?

Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2018 7:25 am
by SMR
Hi Tim,
Thanks for the offer; I've also ordered one to play with and see what I can get out of it. Happy to hear your feedback on your testing. A neat housing for it would also be sensible - I haven't thought through that part yet....
Steve

Re: Accelerometer sensors?

Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2018 8:07 am
by Tim
Good stuff! It looks pretty straight-forward to me so I don't think it would take too much faffing to get data flowing.

I'll have a play around with an enclosure design once the circuit board arrives, should be able to knock together something useful fairly quickly.

Re: Accelerometer sensors?

Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2018 3:36 am
by Tim
My sensor finally arrived in the post this morning.

I'll hopefully have some time to play around with this in the coming days. We've just welcomed twin boys into the world, so progress might be a little steady.