Motec SDL User manual

MoTeC SDL User Manual
Contents
Introduction........................................................................1
Overview.............................................................................2
Display................................................................................................................2
Alarms.................................................................................................................5
Data Logging ......................................................................................................5
Other Functions..................................................................................................7
Measurement Inputs...........................................................................................8
Auxiliary Outputs...............................................................................................12
Communications Overview...............................................................................13
ECU Connection...............................................................................................13
Lap Beacon.......................................................................................................14
Options .............................................................................................................14
Software............................................................................................................14
Updateable Firmware........................................................................................15
Installation........................................................................17
Mounting...........................................................................................................17
Display Care .....................................................................................................18
Wiring................................................................................................................18
External Buttons ...............................................................................................19
External Lights..................................................................................................20
Thermocouples.................................................................................................20
Connecting to a MoTeC ECU.............................................................................20
Sport Dash Manager Software........................................23
Introduction.......................................................................................................23
Computer Requirements...................................................................................23
Installing Sport Dash Manager..........................................................................24
Mouse & Keyboard ...........................................................................................24
Main Menu........................................................................................................24
Toolbar..............................................................................................................25
On line / Off line................................................................................................25
Configuration ....................................................................................................26
Configuration Files............................................................................................26
Changing the Configuration ..............................................................................27
Versions and Updating......................................................................................28
Channels...........................................................................................................29
Conditions Overview.........................................................................................33
Checking Operation..........................................................................................34
Sensor Zeroing .................................................................................................35
Details Editor ....................................................................................................35

Windows Keyboard Use..................................................37
Main Menu........................................................................................................37
Closing a Window.............................................................................................37
Getting Help......................................................................................................37
Selecting an Item in a Window..........................................................................38
Using the Selected Item....................................................................................38
Appendices.......................................................................42
Appendix A: General Specifications..................................................................42
Appendix B: Options Summary.........................................................................43
Appendix C: Sport Dash Manager Command Line...........................................44
Appendix D: Input Characteristics.....................................................................46
Appendix E: Auxiliary Output Characteristics....................................................52
Appendix F: CAN Bus Specification..................................................................53
Appendix G: ECU to SDL Wiring (RS232)........................................................54
Appendix H: CAN Wiring...................................................................................56
Appendix J: USB Wiring....................................................................................57
Appendix K: Typical Wiring (with BR2)..............................................................58
Appendix L: Pin List by Function.......................................................................59
Appendix M: Pin List by Pin Number.................................................................61
Appendix N: Connector.....................................................................................62
Appendix P: Wire Specifications.......................................................................63
Appendix Q: Case Dimensions.........................................................................64
©Copyright – Motec Pty Ltd – 2008
The information in this document is subject to change without notice.
While every effort is taken to ensure correctness, no responsibility will be taken for the consequences of any
inaccuracies or omissions in this manual.
Version 1.1, 21 October 2008

MoTeC Introduction 1
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing a MoTeC SDL Dash / Logger.
SDL
The MoTeC SDL Dash / Logger is a combined LCD dash unit and high
performance data logger. Note that a ‘display only’ version of the SDL is also
available
This Manual Covers:
•Overview of the SDL capabilities
•Installation
•Overview of the MoTeC SDL and Sport Dash Manager software
Software Information
For detailed information on using the various software programs refer to the
online help supplied with the program.
Other Manuals
Separate Manuals are available for:
•MoTeC Lap Beacon / BR2
•Interpreter Data Analysis Software
Sensor Details
Drawings are available for all MoTeC sensors and can be found on the
MoTeC Resource CD (included with the SDL) or on the MoTeC website at
www.motec.com.au . The drawings detail the mounting and wiring
requirements for each sensor.

2 Overview
Overview
Display
The SDL display is a high contrast, high temperature, custom made LCD
display.
The display contains a Bar Graph, three Numeric Displays, a Centre Numeric
Display and a Bottom Alpha / Numeric Display.
Bar Graph
The 70 segment bar graph has a user definable range and is typically used as
a tacho, however it can be used to display any other value. When used as a
tacho it may be configured for up to 19,000 RPM.
A programmable shift point can be displayed.

MoTeC Overview 3
Numeric Displays
The three numeric displays (Left, Right and Top Right) can be programmed to
display any value.
Note that each of the three numeric displays has a different number of digits
and are therefore suited to displaying different values. For example the Top
Right display can only show values up to a maximum of 199 and is therefore
not suitable for displaying Lap Times, but is suitable for displaying many other
values such as Lap Number, Fuel Remaining, Engine Temperature etc.
The numeric displays can show any channel value plus an override value,
shown each time the value is updated. This is useful for values that are
updated periodically, for example Lap Time. The override values are shown
for a programmable period of time, for example a numeric display could
normally show the Running Lap Time (which is continuously updating) then
be overwritten by the Lap Time for 10 seconds each time the Lap Time is
updated.
Enunciators for some of the common display values are provided above the
numeric displays, eg. ET (Engine Temperature), OP (Oil Pressure).
Centre Numeric Display

4 Overview
The Centre Numeric display is incorporated to show the current gear but may
be used for other purposes.
Bottom Display
The 13 digit alpha numeric display can display up to 10 lines of information
that can be scrolled up or down using the external buttons. Each of the 10
lines can display up to 3 channel values at a time.
Additionally the bottom display can show an override value, similar to the
numeric displays.
The bottom display will also show any active alarm messages, which will
override all other values until the alarm is cleared.
Display Formatting
Units
The display units can be changed to suit the driver, for example the driver
may prefer to see the engine temperature in Fahrenheit rather Celsius. This is
independent of the units used for other purposes.
Decimal Places
The number of decimal places can be reduced for display purposes, for
example the engine temperature is measured to 0.1 °C but is better displayed
with no decimal places. This is normally done automatically.

MoTeC Overview 5
Alarms
When an alarm is activated a message is shown on the bottom line of the
display, a warning light can also be activated which is recommended to draw
the drivers attention to the display.
The message displayed can be defined and can also include the current
sensor reading or the sensor reading when the alarm was triggered.
The alarms remain active until they are acknowledged, either by a driver
activated switch or automatically after a defined period of time.
The warning alarm limits are fully programmable and may include up to 2
comparisons to ensure that the alarms are only activated at the correct time.
For example, an engine temperature alarm may activate at 95 °C if the
ground speed has been above 50 km/h for 30 seconds. The speed
comparison avoids the alarm showing during a pit stop due to heat soak.
Additionally another comparison could be set at a higher temperature to cover
all other situations.
Data Logging
Data logging allows the sensor readings (or any calculated value) to be stored
in the SDL for later analysis.
Logging Memory
The SDL comes with an optional 8Mbytes log memory enabled. It is also
possible to purchase a ‘display only’ SDL without the memory option enabled.
Data is logged continuously logs data to memory whenever the Start
Condition is true (and the Stop Condition is false).

6 Overview
When the logging memory is full the SDL begins to overwrite the oldest data,
which ensures that the most recent data is always available. This is referred
to as cyclic logging.
Power
The SDL power can be turned off at any time without losing the logged data.
The SDL uses FLASH memory which does not require an internal battery to
keep it alive.
Logging Rate
The SDL can store any value at up to 200 times per second, which can be
individually set for each logged item.
The rate at which the values are logged is very important – the value must be
logged fast enough to record all variations in the reading. If the value is
logged too slowly then the readings can be totally meaningless. For example
suspension position normally needs to be logged at 100 times per second or
more.
Note, however, that if a value is logged faster than necessary it will not
improve the accuracy of the logged data, it will just reduce the total logging
time available. For example, the engine temperature only needs to be logged
at once per second.
Logging Time
The maximum logging time is dependent the number of items logged and the
rate at which they are logged. The configuration software will report the
logging time, taking these factors into account.
Logging Rates
The logging Rate may be individually set for each value between 1 to 200
times per second.
Start and Stop Logging Conditions
Two options are provided; the default is to log data while the engine is
running. The condition is to start when Engine RPM >= 200 rpm for 2
seconds. Logging will stop when Engine RPM < 200 rpm for 20 seconds. This
requires that the Engine RPM channel is present in the configuration.
The alternative is to specify start and stop logging conditions to suit the
application. For example logging might start when the vehicle exceeds 50

MoTeC Overview 7
km/h, and stop when the engine RPM is below 500 RPM for 10 seconds. Note
that the Start Condition must be true and the Stop Condition must be false
before logging will start.
Retrieving the Logged Data
A laptop or desktop PC is used to unload the logged data from the SDL. The
logged data is then stored on the computer hard disk.
The logged data may be retrieved at very high speed (approximately 2.5
seconds per Mbyte when using USB or 20sec Mbyte when using CAN).
After each unload the user has the option to clear the logging memory.
The unload may be interrupted part way through if necessary by
disconnecting the computer. The partial unload will contain the most recently
logged data and will be stored on the computer hard disk. In this case the
SDL logging memory is not cleared and logging will continue as normal at the
end of the existing data. Next time the logged data is unloaded both the new
data and the previously partly unloaded data will be retrieved.
Track Map Sensor Requirements
In order for the logging analysis software to plot a track map the following
sensors are required and must be logged.
•Lateral G force (inbuilt in the SDL)
•Wheel Speed
•Lap Beacon (from either MoTeC Beacon kit or a switch. Note that the
‘Beacon’ Channel must be logged)
•Longitudinal G force (Optional: See Below)
A Longitudinal G force sensor should be used if the vehicle has only one
wheel speed sensor. This allows the analysis software to eliminate wheel
lockups which is essential when creating or using a track map.
Other Functions
The SDL can perform many other functions and calculations including the
following:

8 Overview
Functions:
•Shift Lights – Controls up to 3 staged shift lights.
•Engine Log – Can be used to record engine running times during the
specified condition
Calculations:
The SDL can calculate and display any of the following:
•Lap Time, Running Lap Time, Lap Number.
•Ground Speed, Drive Speed, Lap Distance, Trip Distance, Odometer.
•Lap Time Gain / Loss continuously displays how far behind or ahead the
vehicle is compared to a reference lap.
•Current Gear.
•Minimum Corner Speed, Maximum Straight Speed.
•Fuel Used, Fuel Remaining.
•Two 2D and two 3D Lookup Tables
Measurement Inputs
The SDL measurement inputs can be connected to a wide variety of sensors.
This allows the SDL to measure vehicle parameters such as: Suspension
Movement, Wheels Speeds, Steering Angle, Engine Temperature etc.
Input Types
The SDL has a number of different input types which are designed to suit the
different types of sensors.
The following inputs are available:
•8 Voltage Inputs
•4 Temperature Inputs
•1 Optional Wide Band Air Fuel Ratio Input (Lambda Input)
•2 Switch Inputs
•2 Digital Inputs