Check out my datalogger cable (homemade)

freshlane · 04-19-2007, 09:01 AM

Today & yesterday I was stuck between trying to make my own logger cable and buying one. When it came down to it I didn't want to hand over the cash

. I think I did an okay job on the soldering. The cable works perfect and im happy that now I can see what my car is thinking. Check out the pics and let me know what you think.

ps. I did use electrical tape on the inside to make sure nothing touch eachother.

Pauseflash · 04-19-2007, 09:07 AM

lol, i was gonna say. Heat shrink, is really good for that stuff to. And not that expensive

freshlane · 04-19-2007, 09:44 AM

yea true. i'll probably pick some up this weekend

DSMunknown · 04-19-2007, 10:12 AM

It would be great if someone (whether it be Digital Tuning or whoever) could come up with a simple install guide where the Palm could be powered by the car itself, instead of using batteries.

I'm sure it's a simple chore of wiring from a low-powered source and making all the right connections, but it still would be helpful to not worry about batteries ever again. (On the other hand, I'm not sure if the info would be saved on the Palm when moving it from the car to the PC and having to detach it from its power source.)

Pauseflash · 04-19-2007, 10:16 AM

I actually just ordered one. I guess i can use my other car to mess around with power supplies and odbII sensors to see if I get a cable to pull power. I'm pretty sure, it wouldn't be that hard. I just need about two weeks to get it done, and then I can send you a how too, or a cable itself

Tsi_User · 04-19-2007, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSMunknown

It would be great if someone (whether it be Digital Tuning or whoever) could come up with a simple install guide where the Palm could be powered by the car itself, instead of using batteries.

I'm sure it's a simple chore of wiring from a low-powered source and making all the right connections, but it still would be helpful to not worry about batteries ever again. (On the other hand, I'm not sure if the info would be saved on the Palm when moving it from the car to the PC and having to detach it from its power source.)

This is the one things that annoys me about my logger, the damn batteries. Has anyone wired a power source in yet?

Pauseflash · 04-19-2007, 10:42 AM

update. Just got all the diagrams I need. Just waiting for my logger to come in, should have somthing by next week.

freshlane · 04-19-2007, 10:43 AM

ps. How to set up MMCD & make a logging cable

that is the link for the writeup

PieEyedPiper · 04-19-2007, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSMunknown

It would be great if someone (whether it be Digital Tuning or whoever) could come up with a simple install guide where the Palm could be powered by the car itself, instead of using batteries.

I'm sure it's a simple chore of wiring from a low-powered source and making all the right connections, but it still would be helpful to not worry about batteries ever again. (On the other hand, I'm not sure if the info would be saved on the Palm when moving it from the car to the PC and having to detach it from its power source.)

I think you're on to something. And the palm saving the info thing wouldn't be an issue if you just leave a set of batteries in the Palm. You never use them for logging so they'd last a super long time if all they had to do was maintain memory.

Pauseflash · 04-19-2007, 01:47 PM

So how many would be intrested in actually buying one, at cost plus shipping. I can get a discount on the parts i'd need if I order more then one. I can still do a write up for you do it yourselfers. But after more research, it's not going to be very hard at all.

1stGenTSi · 05-05-2007, 11:46 PM

How's it coming pauseflash?

Smitherines · 05-06-2007, 09:46 AM

I'm also designing a cable where we can get power from the car, but I have a few questions.

1. Do you want to charge the Palm in the car.

OR

2. Do you want to run the Palm constantly from the car WITHOUT charging it.

AND

a. Do you want to run power to the device with the constant 12v wire in the car.

OR

b. Do you want to only send power to the car when the car is in ACC or ON.

I'm working with someone who has quite an extensive knowledge about Palm circuitry.

I'll keep you guys updated.

EDIT: Maybe I should make a separate thread for this.

1slo1g · 10-01-2007, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freshlane

ps. How to set up MMCD & make a logging cable

that is the link for the writeup

ok so i tried doing my own wire but it can not sync i have an m100 and am using mmcd now i did it so it looks identical to the one on the tech article can any one give me a hand

Smitherines · 10-01-2007, 10:22 AM

Can you post pictures up of your wire so we can determine if it was put together correctly?

1slo1g · 10-01-2007, 10:28 AM

i am in class right now so i will do that when i get out, not til later though i am here til 830 gotta love college

bling5tatus · 10-01-2007, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSMunknown

It would be great if someone (whether it be Digital Tuning or whoever) could come up with a simple install guide where the Palm could be powered by the car itself, instead of using batteries.

I'm sure it's a simple chore of wiring from a low-powered source and making all the right connections, but it still would be helpful to not worry about batteries ever again. (On the other hand, I'm not sure if the info would be saved on the Palm when moving it from the car to the PC and having to detach it from its power source.)

I have put a lot of thought into how this could be done as well. I am not an electronics expert by any measure, but I think this would be highly useful. I have a Palm m515 and it has a "built in" rechargeable battery. It uses a lot of battery quickly if the back light is on at night time... so I think a powered logging cable is definitely in need. I know many people could benefit from this... so someone start spilling the beans.

To the OP, good job, making things yourself gives you a good sense of accomplishment. I need to buy some heat shrink tubing too, it will definitely help when I go to wire my ecu harness back together after uninstalling my safc2. blah bla blah...

DSMunknown · 10-01-2007, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bling5tatus

I have put a lot of thought into how this could be done as well. I am not an electronics expert by any measure, but I think this would be highly useful. I have a Palm m515 and it has a "built in" rechargeable battery. It uses a lot of battery quickly if the back light is on at night time... so I think a powered logging cable is definitely in need. I know many people could benefit from this... so someone start spilling the beans.

Someone already has. Ask Nate (spyderturbo007) about this discussion. He had someone a few months back make a custom setup so he could leave his Palm in the car at all times and not worry about dieing batteries. (But Nate is keeping it "Top Secret: Eyes Only" for now.)

Smitherines · 10-01-2007, 09:22 PM

So you guys are still interested in the powered cables? If the original guy who was going to develop the powered cable doesnt complete it, Ill go ahead and do it.

Id be interested to find out if all Palms use the same voltage batteries.

1slo1g · 10-02-2007, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smitherines

Can you post pictures up of your wire so we can determine if it was put together correctly?

Here's a pic of it. Sorry about the quality, I took it with a cheap camera.

spyderturbo007 · 10-03-2007, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSMunknown

Someone already has. Ask Nate (spyderturbo007) about this discussion. He had someone a few months back make a custom setup so he could leave his Palm in the car at all times and not worry about dieing batteries. (But Nate is keeping it "Top Secret: Eyes Only" for now.)

Always giving me crap, aren't you, Anthony.

I asked him if he wanted me to make it public, but haven't received a response yet. So I don't want to go throwing his information around until he gives me the "go ahead". Besides, I haven't gotten it yet and there was a slight problem with the build.

Apparently there was a miscommunication about the battery situation in my Palm. I guess I led him to believe that my Palm used AAA batteries when it doesn't.

So when he got my palm and saw that it was an internal rechargable, that was a problem. He said he is going to redesign something for me so that it will work.

Either way, I promise you'll be the first to know if he wants me to make it public.

Smitherines · 10-04-2007, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1slo1g

Here's a pic of it. Sorry about the quality, I took it with a cheap camera.

It actually looks like the cable was built correctly. The quality could have been a bit better and you could have made it more compact, but thats fine. You are using a palm serial cable right? You said that mmCd doesn't connect?