My new built in ALDL circuit.

[pocket-rocket]

I wanted to get into tuning a long time ago, but never wanted to pay a lot for what I could build myself. Just recently, I got some MAX232 "sample" chips in the mail, and started going to work. When I finally got a working circuit, I took out my center console, and wired the thing up to my car, along with my old power inverter because the battery in my laptop sucks. I am using Tunerpro RT right now, but I don't have the definition file for it so that it can data log or even talk to my car, so for logging I use FreeScan. Does anyone have a copy of the $DF aldl definition that I can get a copy of? Here is some pics of my install. I tried to upload, but for some reason I got an error twice...

























I had to take this pic of my dog, lol.






PC, chip burner, and serial cable all plugged in and on


laptop hooked up, and freescan running


But anyways, can someone hook me up with what I need to data log with Tunerpro? BTW, I know my bench is messy :P

[SappySE107]

Dunno if I can help you or not but the df.doc file has all the aldl bs in it.

Is that a motorhome or a lumina?

[pocket-rocket]

Staying out in the garage till about 4am on average, my wife probably thought it was more like a motorhome then a Lumina :P

[Canyonero]

Hm, that's a good idea. I removed my ECU from under the center console, so I have room for an inverter there too. I was thinking of putting one in the back anyway. Is your inverter fan cooled? Might want to have some air circulation in there.

[pocket-rocket]

Yes it is. That was part of the idea for cutting out the entire hole for the plate with the plug ins on it. It also doesn't sit entirely flush to the floor directly under the face plate, which allows air in, which is right where the inverter sits. I have thought about cutting a few small holes in the front of the console, facing the engine bay to allow "exhaust" from the inverter to flow out of. I got tired of messing with it though, and just wanted it done at that point. My laptop power supply draws just under 2/3 of the available power output of the inverter, so it shouldn't get really hot.

Using P=I*E where P=watts, I=amps, and E= volts, 120v*1.6a=192 watts, and the inverter is 300w.

But yeah, I agree, it does need cooling, and I plan on adding the cutouts in the front soon. Since I ran it for a few hours the other day, I should have popped out the cubby and felt it to see what kind of temp it was running. I do have a decent assortment of butterfly and drill bits, so it's a good thing that part of the console isn't seen

[IsaacHayes]

I built my own too, but kept it portable for working on other cars. Besides when I decided I need to tune, I'll have to do an OBD2 swap anyways. I made mine with an activity LED too. I got my stuff from jameco. The chip I used a TI version of the MAX232 it was 50 cents each!

[pocket-rocket]

The first pic shows the 2 I built. The one with the cords is for other cars, and has the GM ALDL socket on it. The one in the center is the one I put in the car. I would have liked to put activity lights on it, but I didn't for sake of simplicity. I got my chips directly from Maxim. I had signed up for 4 samples, and they originally sent out 1 sample (each sample comes with 2 chips). I thought they were being stingy, but I was fine with it since that's 2 chips I didn't have to buy. Then a week later the other 6 chips came in the mail, ROFL. So, now I have 6 spare chips. I might build a few more and sell them to recoup the money I put into the 2 that I have though. I'm not 100% sure what caused it, but mine did loose connection a couple times while driving, but I noticed Freescan acts funny sometimes when I change screens, and stops communicating with the ECM when I hit Hide for the I/O window. I'm considering OBD2 later too, but I am still unsure at this point in time. I really wanted to get an Ostrich, but I've been told by a reputable source I should save my money, and just stick with the normal EEPROM method of tuning. Problem is, first I need to learn to tune >.>

[IsaacHayes]

I'd just stick with ODB1 in your case especially since you got all the stuff for it. Me I'm the OBD"1.5" that isn't tuneable.

[pocket-rocket]

Here is a couple close up pics of mine:





Looks like I am using the same version as you except you have the LEDs :P Have you had the problems with Freescan I mentioned? I hot glued mine in place in the front of the console above the inverter, so it shouldn't be vibration related.

[IsaacHayes]

Mine has a few more components for the LED. Mainly the transistor and resistors. The voltage regulator is in a transistor package too as you can see on my board. A bit smaller. But yeah same layout basically. Here is what I used and modified for an activity LED.


Freescan doesn't work with my car. I'm using TunerProRT and a custom definition. The activity LED actually helps me, cause I have to send a command to disable coms so the ALDL gets quiet, before I can send the connect command. Sometimes it doesn't go through so it's good to see the activity LED go dark then I know it went through and can hurry up and click connect.

I have not had any problems staying connected. I would check your connections that are not soldered (like the terminal strip, serial connector, splices, etc). I'm using a 9v however for power, so it's got clean power. Maybe some spikes from the car's electrical are getting through the 5v regulator?

[pocket-rocket]

Duh, OBD1.5, of course Freescan doesn't work (brain fart) I have no idea if it it is or not. I should check to see if my meter has a hold max setting on it. If not, I could always just throw a decent sized capacitor across the regulator to help filter any noise out, if that be the case.

EDIT: I have been out here for around 30-45 minutes now, and popped the cubby out. The inverter is as cool as a cucumber. I still plan on adding ventilation, but for now I think it is fine. I never remember that inverter getting hot anyways.

[sil]

http://60degreev6.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34519&highlight=ads

[pocket-rocket]

http://60degreev6.com/forum/showthre...&highlight=ads

TYVM Sil I was having problems with Tunerpro RT connecting, an that is exactly what I need.

[pocket-rocket]

Since using Sil's DF .ads file, I have used Tunerpro RT to log while doing some running around. I have yet to have it stop communicating with my ECM, so it must have been a problem related to FreeScan. Heck, I even shut the car off, and never stopped the laptop. Got back in the car, started it up, and opened up the computer, and it was already talking with the ECM again.