How to data log boost

MalcolmV8

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I thought it would be nice to data log boost & vacuum and see exactly how the car is doing. Obviously just glancing at a gauge here and there only tells you so much.

So I picked up a 3 BAR GM MAP sensor and started playing around. Testing the voltages and seeing how they behave.

L_cGz_ek-AiTvQ7m0HVvgpeTin2JsQ1-bJJO0ad9xZYhR82pz-jOarQ8JUWWy4rgMjkQZnOPjkasNe7CASrGl56TD0fOGZQXjXA0L2OFJU2IViDTNMDUZ7hlYfMlgkH6Hf4IJbWWjDL3YMHBukxOP9hk7sYm6yQUKHdalrwlXJJC0WCIVvahU_fGtvkQX1vzLS1UEBiEQMktoaHQjgZluas89hMPx8n4LhyOD1sevX6Ky4eUYpuB1yvssYwGlIBwSXYfnvmWN8TVI_HXenS5w1WYniMesyD8K-FhAHKrLM8qUvUS8eG8I2fdYQoQpT782oGokVddduU2adg3LTTY2C_R3NJ_1mFTzAYImsHjDnpuR_sSqJKGWOCZBgdMyHbUq9LX7TZixmkBekI5Zqwu5letaMbxxYv6PfH18kYe2WhzTEe6pvjcrn6HCUsOBbz03MqnQ4RaeOGvxDu-g07E_Z57e-bN-q_dymFmGpvbGg6iA1IjpWAnbCWAUGADhuICA1GmCWpHEXcCnRBLGXZ2QHDGdpaCgBsz4loAzkhgQrmitrKzeAoMnvyB5_50JRcvUKgEUU362txLQ_BWUKODzMIYWCvF2594q67N7LGj3T_hkn4K=w800-h600-no


What I found was very interesting. Zero pressure or just atmospheric pressure doesn't give zero volts. For me about 1.55 volts. Curious how these work I did a little reading and found there's a silicon wafer slice in there with a perfect vacuum on one side of it. So anything other than a perfect vacuum on the other side gives a reading. They output between 0-5 volts. 0 volts been perfect vacuum and 5 volts been 3 bar. 3 bar been 43.5 PSI. Max reading is actually 45.7 PSI. Sounds overkill but wait here's why.
The atmosphere pushes down with 14.7 PSI of pressure so really the max reading of the sensor would be 45.7 PSI subtract 14.7 atmosphere for 31 PSI actual boost in your manifold pressure.

The specs I could find for the sensor were in KPA. So I threw it in a spreadsheet and converted to PSI, then to PSI corrected as I labeled it which takes into account the 14.7 PSI atmosphere and then finally for values in vacuum I converted from PSI to inches of vacuum which is what we're used to seeing and working with. Turned out like this.

EpItyvrc01PfpVaW0PtJReVB8HoOtV7YUXGLqOxltgSEU-XN7wDmWmiRGqII8zzTMpfqsQVkRXwhealHaNDbGZmiHjeVprmMtw2X4E-XIDWw1r7QPZWaLw-vDzpV_L6GEXEv9w0DAIfLwZEcO0M_Wunt25jPR2mXc--_T55cu_gZjl0XJuAphvXdfrFyNDWjw7EgeoNtsjAaKqq62xokwWTyvzTYZXICvFL1cNQDHUK6Tc6I2YYjMwnJKE70lJwfKMdPizFwTURXMqC5tUXs_kP5nLTJc67bnIPf_2Rvw6hfs_MDbXrNUfX2LiVRuaJsBCaGgbPB5ix-4TvCsPJMDTkSv9XXUMy0L8UeGq8jZ49JYPOf5Zgp3_XMXc4u80L6GupVIRQADS3HklpvBvdJC1DP7b_MXhCCySOXKmt2ci3jtzIlbWbj_vvU0yGBmzixtEXPTzmlJB5N2hJcVfGjV5lbJy_yPsvE2lEDIGv-tHxHuM8TkB8YmgbgsdctIrz5DJa3ecyFd76BJc6zv7KjWhRFRZFxNlsceC6Qg3R8hFJIOb1wYF7AUaS3PCQVejtgoonfvhbrQoYgpsziJc3xLDq08FshG35iqHhqSm56ieUeaDog=w512-h510-no


Next I did some calibration testing to make sure the values I was data logging on the computer matched the readings on the laptop in both boost and vacuum. The help of an air compressor regulator right there for boost and the hand held vacuum pump you see up top for vacuum readings.

HouKPQeh2n4Q86q-xovPSusH8EDxAoC_RE5IYkxtoNCjFkEsBYEqXQnr0y1HF6i2qfmJ6P5lZyz_k9uNkVLoWYkQPUSpQ1EukUl8yI0aPLRS7iiehM3Bn8Sg3cjetakidUvCnypIv8goJg5S4MZgLeJTtCMxY7bM6H_o-PlBhigyzQWCGQ9V1qVARPMU1af_Vm-bOf1FoWB9ACSSM6A9HdBfLNBwRpNMY4O7Io97VHcuYNzKWMM-3dst0-Zmty1DPKrHhsmFmlHpge1yI1kdGnQOEQQg4hOgUD7WnWtTmjQBshdPGa3MN7DK-6bteHYbkn7TQJf6W1ChuptKLyHJAUKfhASs0ML-4nMv_hlTYK0S80yz_l78zcdT9ESxG2dmCXiNMPyU8VM4QwQL7o5pJPrNhKOXCpACr0F_O6tknSikSEniDty-fgwjrq6ydEzK1PyMvjPOokjrCX9Duasx4WcE6JseBVbSrZJUk-95F-EddE-gQIIIUggIhtTZZvv9sTrUxOADb8j9Zi2ZnZfncpipL3D_YZdFD_-f10PeWBVnzfIy0E6cEIhysxFveUPH-oE3IofNT5aEaCIAtvhG6gaUYzaPVDrwRGEwzTzNj8fFN0kY=w800-h600-no


I then wired the sensor behind the glove box and tee'd into the existing boost line right there that feeds the factory boost gauge on the dash. Works like magic.

Here's just a quick randomly chosen tiny excerpt from a pretty big 37 minute long data log driving around testing various things.

Green is throttle position
Yellow is RPM (jittery because I had spark blow out on that pull)
Purple is boost

aAgHsrlbW-gs-1n_yoPa-S6EZup2nAurSzh_c8k4hLx95Xlbxx3bv6WapPtQjVPFd8BdnXjnqfRv9_Rwn-Q0nN2ctBfFf5M5-R6tFpZxh9xUSajGdbKn6c7-j9RKMrbtnw6guUeFWnZ2Wk_SruP1dbYG08O2qJBVLGlNluKBbfyho4Twh7Ww96IosPfTz4u--O7jkp-oRSABGmqkEsgPSGc0_L9pmey_IMo6n5tRl7MX_WLiPattqKGqYPKbhUA_Z_lIWvjhTs3GGi9UL6NR5PiaSVV5yXjauXbq2ObyZXvQFHhmWmp9E_pneIeTV3T7n0ebT2ZUTVjtji48QOJOwoTf9MMmQ26rF-YUKNxznNdThG3cKoRYGY1DS1j_w0Il_QJmQgScSXnrvglGdWBHB2RXAv8-iKUzmYLEwcSCHjgMfmfRg4YcBNvOj2g2YZWez61C_QkKS3aD_YDl6t7EjTwKNwbbYw4tcuiTt7CPiA8n9gD6uXUADJSNITqXnYTaOCXPboh6tW_UV5dRm25zhEBSHFPLF3ReLQT7Hi3bYGgE5231l6KGBbdTdtwJTp_vXj5JhyuUR7MenNoWrwdp0eWjA5J9hxhvzeBKbG-tyAFBPae6=w1166-h466-no


Notice how my boost slightly fades off with RPM. That's about a 1 PSI fade down there. That first peak you see is 2nd gear from 4200 RPM to 5600 RPM. To me that shows the blower is to small for my setup, that's a whole different topic.

So its quit interesting having boost on the logs now. So much to learn and look at going forward. I find it very interesting anyways.
 
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crfrider16

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Awesome work. I did something similar, albeit simpler. I installed a new gm 3 bar map, and basically pressurized it with my compressor, and also had my boost gauge teed off of it as well. Fired up the data logger, and just played with the analog input formula until it displayed exactly what was on the gauge.

And yes, it was very nice to be able to log boost. It's something you won't give up once you've had it!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk
 

DSG2003Mach1

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interesting, could that 1 psi loss be just a tiny bit of belt slip in the higher rpms?
 

03Steve

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It's probably an intake restriction, lol!

Nice work Malcolm. I've been doing something similar with the DI-149 and a $19 e-bay special for a MAP sensor. I'd like to get a better quality sensor, but some data is better than no data!
 

01yellercobra

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I've heard about using the GM sensor before. I've thought about tapping into the sensor I have for my Aeroforce gauge since I have the analogue inputs for SCT.
 

MalcolmV8

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Awesome work. I did something similar, albeit simpler. I installed a new gm 3 bar map, and basically pressurized it with my compressor, and also had my boost gauge teed off of it as well. Fired up the data logger, and just played with the analog input formula until it displayed exactly what was on the gauge.

And yes, it was very nice to be able to log boost. It's something you won't give up once you've had it!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

That's great. The tricky part was getting a formula that showed vacuum in Hg and boost in PSI to simulate my analog gauge. If you look at the bottom left corner of the spreadsheet that's essentially my formula in 3 parts. From 1.55 volts to 5 volts represents 0 PSI to 31 PSI and between 0 volts and 1.55 represents -28.91 Hg of vacuum.

interesting, could that 1 psi loss be just a tiny bit of belt slip in the higher rpms?

Always possible but I really don't think I have any. I've had belt slip over the years and pretty familiar with it. I need more testing and data logs to confirm.

It's probably an intake restriction, lol!

Nice work Malcolm. I've been doing something similar with the DI-149 and a $19 e-bay special for a MAP sensor. I'd like to get a better quality sensor, but some data is better than no data!

Gotta be that intake lol :)
Steve I'm also using a dataq box and actually mine was a $13.21 shipped ebay MAP sensor. I almost purchased an $80 genuine GM MAP sensor then decided to check ebay and figured its worth a shot. Turns out it works great.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/171124019819?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
 

MalcolmV8

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I've heard about using the GM sensor before. I've thought about tapping into the sensor I have for my Aeroforce gauge since I have the analogue inputs for SCT.

You'd need to know the specs for the pressure sensor they use. You could ask them to supply you with the spec sheet on it.
 

01yellercobra

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You'd need to know the specs for the pressure sensor they use. You could ask them to supply you with the spec sheet on it.

They include a formula to work work the gauge. I'm guessing I could start with that and go from there.
 

MalcolmV8

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IS this with the VMP set up?

Yes just did that yesterday. Wish I'd done it years ago and had lots of historical data to work with.

They include a formula to work work the gauge. I'm guessing I could start with that and go from there.

Oh fantastic, sounds like you're set.

Most guys data log with SCT. I should figure out what formula would work there to display PSI in boost and inches of vacuum when out of boost.
 

VinnyGT

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I haven't utilized my AEM UEGO failsafe to its fullest potential but I think I can log the boost to an analog input to the SCT. But, I would have to break out my instructions again. But, I love the work you always do. I think I follow your threads more than anyone else's on SVTP.
 

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