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Connecting a SingleAxis Accelerometer

PostPosted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 2:26 pm
by Brinkley
I am looking to connect a single axis accelerometer to my existing custom MoTec wiring harness. I am using an SDL and my questions revolves around what type of "female" connection should I be looking for on the harness? If the builders of the harness and the dealer were thinking ahead when it was ordered and manufactured, they may have added a connector for such a sensor. If so, what would MoTec in CA, USA have labeled this extra plug?

Additionally, if I find the plug that works, are there any other wiring connections or should the SDL and i2 see the accelerometer after I tell them to log longitudinal G force?

Any direction would be greatly appreciated.

Re: Connecting a SingleAxis Accelerometer

PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 12:14 pm
by JamieA
Ok, If (and I stress If, as I am making some assumptions here) they have wired up some spare AV inputs it should be called Analog input something. or spare AV. Just guessing there. It should be a 3 pin female connector, often a grey three pin DTM connector.

Depending on your G sensor, you will usually need a 5v supply. So commonly, Pin 3 will have the voltage (5, 8 or 12) Pin 1 will have 0v. So use a multimeter on the spare connectors in the car, and find an AV with 5v on pin3 and 0v on pin 1.

You then need to find out what you have plugged it into, you can do this by looking at Online/Test/Analog inputs to look at raw voltages on the pins. As you connect and disconnect the sensor, you should see one of the AV's voltages change. You then need to go to inputs/input pins, and set that pin up as a G sensor.

Finally, calibrate it according to the sensor specs, set it up to be logged, and you are done..

Best of luck. It would be better if you had a wiring diagram for the loom, and given that everyone wires looms up differently, there is no guarentee that the pins suggested will be correct for your loom, but it is as good as I can guess with the info I have from you.