New Wideband Shootout (Comparison)

[BillyM]

http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2007/06/WidebandShootout/index.php

Read em' and weep kids, read em' and weep.

http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2007/06/WidebandShootout/images/chart_lg.jpg


For those of you with the PLX devices. How's +/- >1.0AFR sound? (No shit'n you...)

Zeitronix boyz? Get suma that >0.75AFR

..and as always


The chart on the following page summarizes our findings across four categories. Of particular note was the issue of re-calibration. All of the units certainly rely on the factory calibration of the sensor from Bosch. The manufacturers may even perform some sort of a calibration of the sensor to their units during their assembly process. However, as far as we could tell, only two units appeared to be capable of re-calibration to compensate for sensor wear. The Innovate unit is self calibrating, while the NGK requires the user to turn a knob until the display reads "CAL." Both measure the air-fuel ratio of free air to calibrate the sensor.

This raised the obvious question: If a unit is not capable of calibration, how does the user know when the sensor is going bad? We know from the Bosch data that the sensors themselves change as they age.

Carry on,

Innovate for life,
--billyM

[Supra_Newfie]

Yea!!! I was looking at getting the Innovate unit too!! Decision...made!!

Thanks for the info,
Grant

[BuddyJ]

Nice find!

[KurtW85]

thats reassuring... thanks billy

[Crocket]

Yup, and to make things better Horsepowerfreaks.com had the LM-1 and rpm converter on sale too (it might still be on sale). Makes an easy decision even easier.

Sonny

[Junkie]

My "starter set" is sitting at the Chimps right now ;)

[BillyM]

They just released their new gauges too..

http://www.innovatemotorsports.com/images/g3.gif

That'll look real good on the dash. MMMM mmm.

--billyM

[Moorman]

An A/F gauge is just about worthless IMO; unless of course you can watch the gauge with one eye and the rpm with the other. But it shore do look purty don'it? (I know it logs, I'm referring to the gauge itself because I feel like being an ass) :badger: :badger:



I'll disagree with their rating on the ZT-2 software as I find it exceptionally easy to use and well presented. The accuracy doesn't bother me terribly as I'm not tuning for bleeding edge so much that 0.75 AFR leaner would put me in a danger zone (cue Kenny Loggins).

Otherwise, good find. :)

[SupraFiend]

The chimp has some limited time specials on Innovate stuff right now, drop him a line your looking to pick up something soon.

I've had the LM1 for a couple years now, great unit but I need to start using it more.

[CarFreek]

Sold before this-Their customer service ROCKS-Name any of those companies that will repair/replace one of their units for FREE(Including freight in my case). Name any of them where you can interface (phone/internet)directly with the designer/technicians. Lm-1 soon to go into 3rd vehicle soon, cant stop using it, great tool. Im just gonna sound like a company shill if I continue.

[Supra_Newfie]

Just contacted Aaron, as he informed me of the killer deal. New LC-1 and DB gauge on it's way to me! Sweet....was going to get this earlier but 20 % off is too good to pass up!! :D

Grant

[BillyM]

Oh no, fanboi' response spotted, twelve-o-clock!

Moorman, I'll agree, gauge is useless for tuning, but mine sits right overtop my cluster clock, and any old day when the car is finally warmed up and ready to get on it a bit, I glance down at the gauge the on first boost and make sure I'm where I need to be. If it holds strong, there's a good chance it'll be A-O-K the rest of the day. How do other people notice when their fuel pump begins to die out, or how about when their little cousin decided to play "lets turn the knobs" on the VPC unit last time he was sitting in your car? ...by rebuilding a block or two, that's how. I'll keep my gauge thanks. (Mind you, it's just a simple $20 10-led unit, verified accurate against the serial data. I don't pay $100 for gauges, but I might some day.)

...and again, the gauge is only as accurate as the wideband controller, so I don't suppose you'd have much use for that afterall, would you? Hahaha. (Seriously though, 0.54 off scares the shit out of me. Ebay that crap quicklike. ...and that's before sensor drift. No calibration? No thanks.)

--billyM

[Moorman]

Don't be so melodramatic Billy.

I was making fun of the gauge, not the LM-1, why the hate child?

I'm not going to recap all of my comments in that post because they're pretty clearly written.

(Fanboi....pft....words coming from Mr. LM1 himself, give me a break.)

[Avp23]

thanks for the good info guys. i guess im glad i got the AEM. although ive been kinda hesatint about it lately. i installed one of those Ztronics in a buddies car. he really liked it but i could care less for its design.

[BillyM]

Don't take me too awful seriously Moorman.

I'm less of a fanboi, more of a "been here, done that, would reccomend it to anyone" kinda guy. The shit just works, the technology is behind it, and I would trust my motors to it. ...on the other hand, I wouldn't trust my motor with many of the others and thusly, I tend to not support their sales.

...by all means, let me know any time you find ANYTHING scientific that shows a superiority of any wideband over the Innovate units. I'm very open, just haven't seen anything yet.

--billyM

[white_mk_2]

This is very good if not unsurprising info. The Innovate products are badass. I'll be getting the AEM first though due to the fact that you can get them brand new on ebay for $250 shipped. This can't be beat and really takes away the high cost excuse. Once I have a couple cars that all need to be tuned then I'll definitely buy one of the Innovate setups.

[BillyM]

...you do know that the lc1 + analog gauge is less than $300, right?

--billyM

[RaptorRacing]

Yup...plus I think I might know a vendor who owes you a few favours for helping him out so much. He might even be able to get you that for less than the ebay AEM units...ciao for now!!

BTW...awesome find Billy. You have had me sold on the Innovative Products from day one...thanks for keeping us up to speed on all the techniacl mumbo jumbo :).

[Junkie]

One for the car, the other for wherever I may need it :D

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h242/srpmech2/micssuprastuff019.jpg

Now to pick up a serial to usb adapter " had one, can't find it"

Datalogging FTW !!!

[935motorsports]

I still like ZT2 for out of the box of logging everything, quick setup, ease of use, and price.

I broke one of my ZT2 wiring harnesses and ZT offered to replace it free (I had to send it in though).

[Malibyte]

Yeah, I have a ZT-2 and am pretty happy with it for the most part. I agree with Jason in that I'm not so bleeding edge that if it's off by 0.75 AFR instead of 0.25 that it'd be that crucial. I like the integrated display with boost gauge/EGT/lambda/AFR info all in one place. The software is OK as well, and the price was reasonable.

[WadeT]

Gramps, you got the samething I did.

Here's a pic of mine installed by zi Geico Caveman:
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o293/BoostedInline6/IMG_0620.jpg

[BillyM]

Ahhhhh! Check fuel pressure! You're way lean!

--billyM