WBO2 sensors and related dataloggers

[dlaing]

A few years ago, there was not much on the market. K&N made a narrow band sensor fed fuel mixture gauge that probably worked ok for keeping you from going far too lean...but determining the right mixture was a pipe dream.

But now there are Wide Band Oxygen sensors and data loggers that can record RPMs, Throttle Positions, and theoretical Air to Fuel Ratio.

Aside from Cliff Jeffrie's My15M it looks like there are four major brands with various options:

 

DynoJet's Wide Band Commander http://www.widebandcommander.com/

Innovate Motorsports http://www.motorsportsinnovations.com/wide_band_o2.htm

Tech Edge http://wbo2.com/

Daytona Sensor LLC Wego II http://www.daytona-sensors.com/WEGO2.html

 

 

DynoJet's WBC offers one kit for $529 US that can log without a computer for about ten minutes.

It features an oxygen sensor, boss and plug, all the cables you need, a gauge, and a data logger with USB output.

You may wish to buy a switch to control when it logs....since you only get ten minutes.

The RPM reading comes from one of the coils terminals.

The TPS reading comes from

 

 

Innovate has many options to choose from :

They have :

WB-784 for only $199

It is an LC-1 Standalone wideband controller, consisting of an WBO2 sensor Cable and software.

... but you need a computer or something to read and or record the data.

For another $200 -$229 you can add a guage to read but not record

 

WB-750 Innovate LM-1 Wide Band O2 kit $349

The standard LM-1 includes a Bosch wideband oxygen sensor and cable, cigarette-lighter adapter, serial cable for PC connection, 9V battery, exhaust bung and plug, CD and manual. The LM-1 ships with a Bosch sensor, however, it can also function with other wide-band sensors, including Honda/NTK and VW sensors

(I suspect this does not have rpm reading and possibly not a TPS reading)

 

WB-770 Innovate RPM kit combo $429

This kit includes the LM1 wide band O2 kit and the RPM converter . Innovate #3724

(I suspect this does not have a TPS reading)

 

WB-773 Innovate Aux kit combo $589

This kit includes the LM-1 with AuxBox Innovate #3756

 

All the kits with LM-1 have 44 minutes of onboard logging!

 

 

The Tech Edge appear to be price competiive, especially in kit form.

But my impression is they may be the least weather resistant...I could be wrong.

 

The 2CO does not support on board logging and needs a meter or someting to read or log.

 

The 2EO does not support on board ogging but has an A:F LED readout.

 

The WBO is the full featured model, but only has about 2 minutes of onboard logging

Price is about $330 US but you need to buy your own WBO2 sensor. (VW specialists are supposed to be the cheapest source) And if you want a guage it will cost somewhere around 100 to 200 us dollars

EDIT I missed the 2A1. In a kit that includes logging, sensor and seperate gauge, the price is about $475US

 

 

Daytona Sensors WEGO II may be the best deal at $425

TPS input, RPM input, bung, wires, meter, and sensor all included, plus the onboard logging is good for TWO HOURS!!!

 

 

There may be more issues to uncover.

The sensors may need calibration and while Tech Edge and Innovate support calibration

[dlaing]

OK, kiss everything I just posted above goodbye and check this out

http://www.plxdevices.com/R-300_productinfo.htm

Everything the others have and MORE! (actually you still have to buy the the bung or boss and plug...)

They also have some other models, but this one is a great deal!!!

EDIT wellllll don't kiss the others good bye as this one is not very weather resistant.

[dlaing]

OK all you cheapskates, looky here:

http://www.zeitronix.com/Products/zt2/zt2.htm

I think I have found the holy grail!

[gthyni]

OK all you cheapskates, looky here:

http://www.zeitronix.com/Products/zt2/zt2.htm

I think I have found the holy grail!

68396[/snapback]

 

The datasheet says

AFR 21.0 to 9.5 Wideband

 

This might be a problem since ethanol has a optimum AFR outside that range (9.0)

[dlaing]

I'm guessing that may be a more or less ignorable limitation of the sensor.

But PLX indicated the following regarding the R-300:

The R-300 can be fully customized to select the specific fuel setting for your application. Fuels with lead are compatible with the Bosch and NTK sensors.

 

  1. Lambda 1.0

  2. Gasoline 14.7

  3. Diesel 14.6

  4. Methanol 6.4

  5. Ethanol 9.0

  6. LPG 15.5

  7. CNG 17.2

It was the only model that I noticed addressed ethanol

[dlaing]

Now that I think about it, the sensor is actually measuring the end product, so when they say the range is AFR 21.0 to 9.5 Wideband, I think they are talking gasoline, as alcohol has more oxygen in it than gasoline, which is why in needs to be richer...

So 9:1 Alcohol has about the same exhaust content of 14:1 gasoline.....well maybe not the same, but well within the range of the sensor.

[gthyni]

yes, probably a software problem,

 

In the s/w from Innovate Motorsports there is a popup

selector for several fuel types, which is neat as I would

not have to use my few brain cells to calculate corrections.

 

The Lambda readings should be usable in any case.

[beauchemin]

FJO Racing dual-channel WB02 http://www.fjoracing.com/products/WBAFR/#

 

Complete dual-channel system comes to $664.75 USD (that includes 2 sensors and the gauge). Only problem is that there is no internal logging.

 

Heavy-duty connectors, and built like a tank. They will have a plug-in datalogger available soon.

[luhbo]

The datasheet says

AFR    21.0 to 9.5 Wideband

 

This might be a problem since ethanol has a optimum AFR outside that range (9.0)

68397[/snapback]

 

 

Yes, and also this statement makes me wonder:

 

'When using Analog Wideband Output make sure your favorite engine management system is compatible with the AFR/V'

 

I think their system should be adaptable to the ECUs, not the ECUs to this unit.

 

Hubert

[gthyni]

A great feature of Tech Edge's products http://wbo2.com/

is that the protocol is open so I could even fix some utilities

for use with Linux or MacOS.

[luhbo]

I also understood that they offer no datalogging. They just say "with a laptop you can log 9h in one file" Probably that's the number of available excel cells.

 

Hubert

[dlaing]

I also understood that they offer no datalogging. They just say "with a laptop you can log 9h in one file" Probably that's the number of available excel cells.

 

Hubert

68439[/snapback]

Good catch! I should have guessed the 9 hours of logging was too good to be true...

 

As for compatibility with the ECU, I don't think any of these devices are compatible.

They all hook up to the battery and the oxygen sensor, and if you need feed back for rpm and throttle position, you hook to the coil and the TPS wires.

Other sensors would require tapping into the wires instead of the ECU.

Although TechnoResearch certainly has the capability of turning the Digital Dashboard into a module for these devices...but I would not hold my breath waiting for them.

When they said 'When using Analog Wideband Output make sure your favorite engine management system is compatible with the AFR/V' I think they were implying a datalog module, gauge, or a closed loop feedback system (which could be an ECU, just not ours...but maybe the MY15M)

[Paul Minnaert]

When they said 'When using Analog Wideband Output make sure your favorite engine management system is compatible with the AFR/V' I think they were implying a datalog module, gauge, or a closed loop feedback system (which could be an ECU, just not ours...but maybe the MY15M)

\

 

 

What they are talking about is that most of these systems have a anlogout that you can use to feed the ecu that was made for a smallband sensor. So they can give a voltage that mimics the curve of a smallband sensor. With some you can adjust the curve yourself. An aditional liniair output is nice to have if you want to attach a voltmeter or some analog gauge.

[beauchemin]

IMHO you get what you pay for.

 

Don't forget to consider the sampling rate of the sensor controller. FJO has a rate of 200/second. I browsed several car forums while making my choice - the FJO is considered expensive, but gets top marks for response time and accuracy. Innovate, FJO and TechEdge are near the top of most lists.

 

My other choice would have been Innovate LM-1, but I decided to buy Canadian (I get so few opportunities.)

[dlaing]

IMHO you get what you pay for.

 

Don't forget to consider the sampling rate of the sensor controller.  FJO has a rate of 200/second.  I browsed several car forums while making my choice - the FJO is considered expensive, but gets top marks for response time and accuracy.  Innovate, FJO and TechEdge are near the top of most lists.

 

My other choice would have been Innovate LM-1, but I decided to buy Canadian (I get so few opportunities.)

68460[/snapback]

 

No doubt the FJO is a good one. You say Innovate and TechEdge are near the top of the lists.

Are the Wide Band Commander, Wego II, PLX and Zeitronix on any of these lists?

 

You brought up a good point about accuracy.

So If we compare sample scan rates,

wide band commander up to 10/second logging

innovate 12/second logging

tech edge 2BO 10/second logging analogue inputs sampled at 10bit up to 40/second

Wego II 8000 points of logging, maximum 3 hours. If you set to 1/sec you get 8000 seconds or 2.222hours of logging. They recommend setting to 5/sec to 1/sec for road tests, and 10/sec for dyno tuning.

PLX 10/second 90 minute logging

zeitronix 74/second logging 9 hours! EDIT Sorry there is no onboard logging. The Zeitronix requires a computer or Palm. See their website for which Palms are compatible. The Palm software is $79, and you might need a special serial cable.

FJO 200/second but you need a computer while testing

 

For me, I need onboard logging, so that excludes the FJO, unless they come out with something new.

Wide Band Commander I am crossing off my list because it needs more logging time and a lower price, but they do a good job of making the process less intimidating.

Tech Edge is off my list, because the motorcycle model does not have onboard datalogging, and the model with data logging seems to fall short of the competition. But I could see why one could be drawn to the open source software.

Innovate looks pretty good and has the best documentation if you weed through its disorganized arrangement of a web site. The price/feature value could be better.

I am leaning towards:

Wego II as it looks very rugged and nice logging options, but it could have more logging time at high sample rates.

PLX for its great features, USB2, fast processor, and good logging duration. PLX is the only unit that looks like it is from the 21st Century!

Zeitronix for low price per feature and awesome logging duration (EDIT sorry, no on-board logging)and sample rate...but it looks cheaply built, lcd screen is small, and documentation looks lousy. But Palm or Windows software is available.