Universal Trip Computer FAQ

[swinks]

Hi all.
Following other thread I decided to clarify few things.
The story is...
Few weeks befor my trip to Poland I got in touch with manufactures of co called Universal Trip Computer. It's a little and simple gizzmo dedicated for cars without some features like fuel usage, etc. Very popular along Polish Galant 8th gen users. Bloke who makes UKPs is also member of Polish Mitsubishi forum (his nick "kaczart").
So, mine idea was to modify UKP and make it more usable for vr4 vehicles. That involved changes to software and hardware, setup of new display, etc. New features would be: wideband afr, map sensor boost/vacuum, etc. readings, also English language and imperial units version.
Whilst in being in PL I got two examples of beta version UKP for tests. Well, so far I did managed to burnt one trying to test whilst being in hurry.
At the moment I did approached following problems:
1. VSS signal.
There may be a problem with reading vss signal in vehcles with delimiter or km to miles converter. I got that problem whilst testing, and soon I'll test UKP taking signal directly from gearbox. We'll see.
2. Wideband signal reading.
Reading from analog 0-5v is nice and steady, but in whole range too hight 1.5 afr. Hopefully it's just down to rescaling soft. So far tested only with Innovate LC-1, don't know how it will work with other makes, i.e. PLX.
3. Map sensor reading. That's down to used equation. Most common used map sensors are made by Apexi or Greddy. Unfortunatelly for me I have AEM map sensor which is working with different equation. Anyway, we will consider to make in software also customer defined 0-5v signal from map sensor.
As you see there is still lots of work outstanding before stable product will be released (version 2.0 onwards). Unfortunately for me I'm very busy at the moment after being 5 weeks away. Hopefully I get back to testing next week.
Once all tests done, there will be possible of arranged group buy with nice discount.

So far, there is stable version 1.0 of UKP, here is description:
Recent features:
- vehicle speed (km/h)
• peak fuel consumption ( l/h and l/100km),
• average fuel consumption (l/100km),
• odo (from fuelling/reset),
• amount fuel left in tank,
• approx. distance to fuelling,
• independent trip calculator
• lpg option
• date and time,
• temperature inside and outside vehicle,
• temperature input for user (oil, coolant, engine block, etc,) 0-5V
• acceleration measure (i.e. 0-100 km/h, 60-120 km/h),
• narrowband lambda and graph (0-1V and 0-5V),
• radiator fan status monitor (on/off)
• peak temperature warning (i.e. oil, coolant, etc.) defined by user
• personalized welcome screen
• PC communication via interface USB (programming trip computer from PC level)

Technical data:
• power: +12V DC (range +9… +16V),
• peak power (LCD , illumination, sensors, etc): max 250mA,
• sleep power: max 55mA,
• working temperature: -40C…+80C,
• working temperature LCD: -20C…+70C (recommended +10C…+40C),
• temp sensors spectrum: -40C…+120C, tolerance +/- 0.1C,
• vehicle speed tolerance: +/- 1 km/h (callibration with GPS),
• acceleration measure tolerance: +/- 0.1s,
• tolerance of fuel consumption measure: 1% (after user callibration),
• tolerance of fuel consumption peak measure: average from 1st, 2nd or 3rd last second (user choice),
• o2 sensor probing frequency: 50Hz,

Dimensions of UKP:

· wide: 6,5 cm,
· length: 9,0 cm,
· height: 2,0 cm.

Display dimensions:

· PCB wide: 8,0 cm,
· PCB length: 3,6 cm,
· LCD wide: 6,5 cm,
· LCD height: 1,8 cm.

Links to actual website of product:
http://www.telwis.pl/universal-trip-...ml?language=en

Link to Polish Mitsubishi forum discussion and few tips how to fit into Galant (page 43):
http://forum.mitsumaniaki.pl/viewtop...=asc&start=630
And here (page 73 and 74):
http://forum.mitsumaniaki.pl/viewtop...978&start=1095

And here mine beta version:
P1070045.JPGP1070044.JPG

[adaxo]

As said in other thread, deffo interested in this little bit of kit. Any ETA of complete running 2.0 ver??

[foxdie]

Just bought 2 of these for myself and Atik earlier today to build into a clock

Edit: Just realised Swinks was offering this service already, nm

[Davezj]

hi Tomazs,
i will hve one of these. do you know what the final cost would be.
it is a nice gadget.

[swinks]

Just bought 2 of these for myself and Atik earlier today to build into a clock

Edit: Just realised Swinks was offering this service already, nm

Not exactly Jason.
Kaczart asked me to test new features on vr4's and in a future to provide help for his customers because he's not keen on performance cars and doesn't speak English (translation of pdf manual can be problematic).

[swinks]

hi Tomazs,
i will hve one of these. do you know what the final cost would be.
it is a nice gadget.

It will cost the same as stated on his website. The only difference is potential group buy. We got some discount in Polish forum. Also it will help with shipping, because so far shipping abroad rates are quite high in Poland.

[foxdie]

Oh okay, do you mind us importing them and pre-installing them in clock units for VR-4 owners?

[swinks]

Not at all, but you have to consider still outstanding issues mentioned above. I'd be happy if you spend some time to make sure that any wideband input will work and the same with map sensor input.
Also, vss signal to sort out.
Those issues wouldn't be a problem for Galants n/a. The don't need wideband or boost display, also EUDM vehicles are not messed with conversion mph/kmph or delimiting. So new 2.0 verision of UKP should work perfect with Galant n/a.

[Atik]

Swinks / Jason,

If there is an issue with the VSS on a car fitted with a KMH/MPH convertor, will the display still show a speed reading in KMH or does it get completely confused?
I personally wouldnt have an issue with the unit displaying KMH readings as I still have a HUGE speedometer to keep an eye on when I'm driving. Its the rest of the readings I'd like to get displayed.

[swinks]

No Atik.
Problem is with impulses read from vss. It doesn't or does but faulty counts impulses, so displayed speed is nil or completely mad. That's also important to calibrate unit in first step. It's nothing to do with displaying km or miles, it can be done in both manners.
Kaczart suggested to check signal on ecu vss by osciloscope, because it may be due to different signal level (state high and state low) with JDM cars, then some changes to hardware are needed. IMO, it down to mess with different fitting of converters or delimiters. Those gizzmos may disrupt signal. In my case once UKP fitted whilst calibration it counted only 14 speed impulses per 4 miles road distance, obviously wrong.

[Atik]

Ok, I see. What about taking the speed reading from the speedo convertor after the converter. In most cars, that is behind the instrument panel.

[Davezj]

i have a couple of osciloscopes and if need i can do some measurements if it helps. i have a small hand held one i use in the car and beck one.

just let me know what you want measuring.

[Davezj]

you could put the VSS signal through a buffer with the correct high/low level voltage on the output.

you would be effectively tapping in to the existing signal and just changing the switching levels so the gadget can read it.
this would have no effect on the existing car electrics and it would not matter what speedo converter you had fitted as it would change all the switch point to the same readable level on the buffers output.
that is assuming it is a signal level issue.

[jahooli]

I would be interested in one of these pre installed into the clock. What would be the price pre installed?

[swinks]

I think it's very easy DIY, need to check few stores (B&Q, Homebase etc.) and once find ingridents I'll do guide for DIY. Anyway, it took me 2 hours and cost me 15 pounds. Otherwise I can do it for you, but need a clock and purchased UKP. Give me PM.

[jahooli]

Are these units ready, fully working?

[swinks]

With purchase you will receive:
- lcd display with pcb board (black and white display optional)
- UKP computer itself
- 26 pin connector with wires
- 40 pin data cable connecting lcd with UKP
- usb cable (optional)
It's down to you to connect everything together and assemble.

[swinks]

Here's what you get in package:
P1070046.JPG

[jahooli]

you still having the issues above re speed reading etc?

[swinks]

Well, still...
But it's because I haven't tried yet since first and last attempt which was 4 weeks ago. I've found my converter and delimiter setup very dogy and didn't want to mess up before my journey around Austrian and Swiss Apls so I've put project on hold being too busy with other things.