4 channel temp monitor
January 17, 2006 - 10:51pm
Howdy folks,
Im fairly new to the greasin world. I got my conversion done around a month ago. Since I live in the cold of the north (Long Island, NY) I am concerned about the temp of my VO going into the IP. I am investigating putting a couple or three vegtherm type HEs in line (Ala TomM) and am looking at installing a few temperature monitoring points in my VO loop.
A few weeks ago I saw a picture and web addy on the forum of a 4 channel monitoring thingy. I have searched and searched but I cant find it again to save my life.
If anyone out there can point me in the right direction I would sure be grateful.
Thanks
Bodycounter
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Novelty+Economy+Environment= NEE.....
I am a Knight that says NEE
January 18, 2006 - 6:05pm
#2
Ceiii2000,
Yeah, that was the one that I remembered. But if you say that you have a superior product in the wings, i am more than willing to take a look and see whats what and stuff.
What kind of time frame are we really talking about? I have a few ideas that could improve the thing you pointed me back to so i would sure like to hear about your thingy.
thanks
Bodycounter
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Novelty+Economy+Environment= NEE.....
I am a Knight that says NEE
January 19, 2006 - 12:15pm
#3
So send me an email with your requirements/ideas and I will let you know if I can fulfill them.
This post describes my current goals.
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January 19, 2006 - 7:13pm
#4
OK, Ce, here we go..... I would like to see (no pun intended) something similar to the thermo-k where you have a visual of the 4 temps simultaneously, however, once you get up to temp Im sure that monitoring all four at once will be uneccessary (if not just plain dangerous ie: worse than a cell phone talker while driving) so it would be great if you could monitor 1,2 or all four depending on pushing a button to change the probes on display. SO i guess the crux of the thing would be a LCD display instead of a dot matrix. Thats just my slightly geeky think of the thing. If that makes it a prohibitively high cost item, i am open to entertaining other thoughts. A big difference I noted is that you seem to be more directed toward the data logging where as I am more interested in the here and now to make sure Im not coking up my chambers with cool goo. Based on the other post you pointed me to, i am just curious how much feedback, and interest you have already gotten and how long this process has taken you so far. Like I said in my first post, I am fairly new to this thing, and Im pretty sure that once I have a good handle on the temps throughout the course of a year this gizmo will pretty much become extinct. But before I am so wise in the ways of science, it would be a tremendous asset to building my knowledge base. (and keeping my motor from having to be torn down p$r$e$m$a$t$u$r$e$l$y$)
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Novelty+Economy+Environment= NEE.....
I am a Knight that says NEE
January 20, 2006 - 4:57am
#5
As for your requirements that temps be viewable onboard that will be rev 2. I THINK rev 1 will do what you want though as using a laptop you will be able to see:
1. Coolant temp
2. WVO filter (Or output of the final heat exchanger) temp
3. output of WVO valve
4. the output of the purge
(By the way I should be able to monitor WAY more then 4 temps with rev 1. Probably 16 or so.)
So the software I THINK I am going to use will tell you (audible) when the filter, or final heat exchanger, has reached 150 (Or your prefered temp.) then you switch to 'veggy' mode.
The log will give you a graph of the 4 temps from whenever you start it until you end it. This should give you very good data on how long to wait until switching AND because you can watch the temp coming out of the return you can time your purge. Since the WVO after running a while will be around 190F or so you can look at the graph of the return temp and when it reaches say 80F you know that the cool diesel has reached that point. Purge completed.
I figure 4 or 5 runs of this data and you will know exactly how long to run the car before switching to veggy and how long to purge before switching to diesel and shutting down.
Depending on ambient temp outside of course. You may have to collect data for a year to find out the timing in 105F summer temps vs. -40F winter temps.
Right now the issue is that you will have to be somewhat computer literate to use the data. I will be at the electronics store in the morning and build rev 0 tomorrow to start my experiments with the software.
IF I can make it so that the data is easily graphed with timing marks and alarm setpoints without the end user having to do a lot of manipulation I will go forward with releasing it.
rev 3 will use all this data and make a fully automatic system I will send this warning out for the first time now:
REV 3 CAN AND WILL!!!! BE DANGEROUS IF CONNECTED INCORRECTLY. IT WILL HAVE LIKE A TURBO TIMER AND WILL ALLOW THE ENGINE TO RUN ON ITS OWN UNTIL THE PURGE HAS BEEN COMPLETED. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH OPERATIONAL IN YOUR CAR I DO NOT RECOMMEND USING IT.
3 switches will be available with rev 3. Fully manual mode, purge mode manual, emergency off.
I would guess I have about 100 hours give or take into internet research, circuit design and misc.
Ce
PS Interest has not been as high as I hoped so for now I am going to offer 1 off versions to those that ask.
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January 22, 2006 - 3:43am
#6
Hi Ce
I saw this in another thread before it seems, and you were discussing it, but not to the point of making it and offering it.
I personally think a full computer software program that will run on a laptop and run the system is cool. But I also wish I could see and control all of the car's other computerized functions that way also.
I may not be a customer for the finished product, but am fascinated with someone making progress on it.
May be able to be a tester for it, understanding my VO system very well.
If nothing else, please keep us posted here.
Jeff
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98 Jetta TDI, Frybrid kit 12/05.
======> 4,200 miles in first greasy month, on 10-12 gallons of dino!!
97 Buick Park Avenue, Jeff hates but Lisa LOVES
(maybe can persuade her to swap it for a Mercedes 300 diesel, and do SVO on it. Pray for me!)
86 Nissan Pathfinder, WISH was diesel. And an 86 Mustang SVO. If it was diesel, would make it an SVO SVO !!
And a SHAMELESS plug for my own business- www.prepaidlegal.com/go/lisaleon
Those who HAVE a Pre-Paid Legal membership are MUCH more likely to get good legal advice than those who DON'T.
January 22, 2006 - 4:59am
#7
I believe there are programs that interface with some vehicles, not sure about VW, but to integrate a veggy system into one of those would be WAY beyond my current programming capabilities.
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Working on rev 0 of temp monitor aka "FG semi accurate somewhat useful not scientifically verified whosamathingy". Aiming at mid February release.
January 30, 2006 - 2:44pm
#8
Hey Ce,
Any Progress reports?
bump
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Novelty+Economy+Environment= NEE.....
I am a Knight that says NEE
January 30, 2006 - 3:08pm
#9
I have two of these kits that I have been testing. I need to find some way of getting the data out of wordpad into a graphing program and convert C to F at the same time. This is due to the limitation of 100F vs 125C (~260F).
I will be getting a laptop that has a serial port on it next weekend. I already have the temp sensors made for part of the install.
So I got to find a better software, an enclosure, and I need rj11 jacks so you can buy phone cord to your desired length for the install.
Thats if anybody is still inerested in me doing the work.
Ce
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"All truth passes through three stages: First, it is ridiculed; Second, it is violently opposed; and
Third, it is accepted as self-evident." Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)
January 31, 2006 - 11:54pm
#10
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"All truth passes through three stages: First, it is ridiculed; Second, it is violently opposed; and
Third, it is accepted as self-evident." Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)
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This one?
I will say this one is somewhat inaccurate for our needs and a little expensive. But it will work within its limits. You can buy K-type TC wire and solder the wires together for a servicable junction. However make sure you don't heat them above the solders melting temp.
I MAY have a better/cheaper mousetrap in about a month. Still working on design, getting parts, and testing.
Ce
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