Vericom Vc4000daq User manual

Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION............................................................................ 1

Features.......................................................................................... 2

What it comes with ......................................................................... 3

2. OPERATION BASICS ................................................................... 4

Mounting......................................................................................... 4

Powering up.................................................................................... 7

Display and Keypad........................................................................ 8

Menus ........................................................................................... 10

Modes ........................................................................................... 11

Tools ............................................................................................. 13

3. ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTION USE ....................................... 14

Initial Setup................................................................................... 14

Get VC4000 Ready ...................................................................... 15

Measuring Drag Factor................................................................. 19

Testing Brake Performance.......................................................... 20

Measuring Coefficient of Friction.................................................. 21

Light Impact Testing ..................................................................... 23

Measuring slope ........................................................................... 26

Avoiding False Triggering............................................................. 28

Acceleration Testing ..................................................................... 28

4. TRANSIT USE ............................................................................. 32

Initial Setup................................................................................... 32

Get VC4000 Ready ...................................................................... 33

Testing Brake Performance.......................................................... 36

5. ENGINEERING USE.................................................................... 38

Initial Setup................................................................................... 38

Get VC4000 Ready ...................................................................... 38

Testing Brake Performance.......................................................... 41

Acceleration Testing ..................................................................... 43

Monitor Data ................................................................................. 46

6. TOOLS ......................................................................................... 48

Monitor Data ................................................................................. 49

Crash Mode .................................................................................. 55

Calibration Check ......................................................................... 56

Deleted Run.................................................................................. 59

Compass Calibration .................................................................... 60

SD Card Options .......................................................................... 62

7. VC4000 SETUP ........................................................................... 65

Setup Flowchart............................................................................ 67

G-Threshold.................................................................................. 69

Vehicle ID ..................................................................................... 69

Set Defaults .................................................................................. 70

Date/Time ..................................................................................... 71

Pitch/Roll Factors ......................................................................... 71

User Type ..................................................................................... 73

Imerial/Metric ................................................................................ 75

RS232 Port ................................................................................... 76

Brake MPH ................................................................................... 77

Sensors Setup .............................................................................. 77

Internal Sensors........................................................................ 78

Analog Sensors......................................................................... 81

OBDII Sensors .......................................................................... 82

Tach On/Off .............................................................................. 83

Tach Factors ............................................................................. 83

Analog Out ................................................................................ 84

GPS Sensors ............................................................................ 84

Accelerometer Setup .................................................................... 86

G Summation ............................................................................ 86

G Smoothing ............................................................................. 88

Zeroing On/Off .......................................................................... 89

Accelerometer Range ............................................................... 89

G Adjust .................................................................................... 89

Graph Range ............................................................................ 90

Alarm Threshold........................................................................ 90

Sample Rate ............................................................................. 91

Performance Setup....................................................................... 91

Vehicle Weight .......................................................................... 91

Countdown On/Off .................................................................... 92

Tachometer On/Off ................................................................... 92

Tach Factors ............................................................................. 92

Maintenance ................................................................................. 93

Unit Information......................................................................... 93

Run Tests.................................................................................. 93

Discharge Battery ..................................................................... 93

8. SENSOR INPUT .......................................................................... 94

Internal Sensors ........................................................................... 95

Compass................................................................................... 95

Rate Gyro.................................................................................. 95

Tachometers ............................................................................. 95

Digital IN 1 and 2 ...................................................................... 96

Analog Sensor Input ..................................................................... 98

Sensor Requirements ............................................................... 98

Table of Contents

Junction Box ............................................................................. 99

OBDII Input................................................................................... 99

Tachometer Input ....................................................................... 101

Analog Output............................................................................. 102

GPS Input ................................................................................... 103

External Activation...................................................................... 105

9. REVIEW - PRINT DATA ............................................................ 108

Display a Run ............................................................................. 108

Print Runs................................................................................... 109

Store to SD Flash drive .............................................................. 109

10. PC INTERFACE....................................................................... 110

RS232 Ports ............................................................................... 111

USB Port..................................................................................... 112

Bluetooth..................................................................................... 113

11. UPDATING FIRMWARE.......................................................... 115

12. CHARGING THE BATTERY ................................................... 117

13. CUSTOMER SERVICE............................................................ 118

Warranty ..................................................................................... 118

Repairs ....................................................................................... 118

Options, Upgrades and Accessories .......................................... 119

14. TROUBLESHOOTING............................................................. 121

15. SPECIFICATIONS ................................................................... 123

VC4000DAQ Manual

VERICOM VC4000DAQ

PERFORMANCE AND

BRAKING TEST COMPUTER

OWNERS MANUAL

Revision 1.5, August 31, 2009

1. INTRODUCTION

ecades of refinement make the VC4000 the best yet. The

VC4000 has been designed for ease of use and simplicity of

operation for quick and easy results, yet has advanced

features for doing much more. The unit is preprogrammed

with standard defaults so that it is ready to operate immediately. The

new VC4000DAQ measures X, Y and Z axis acceleration, yaw rate,

compass heading, as well as accepting inputs from external sensors

and tachometers. The more acquainted you become with the

VC4000 the more applications you will discover.

VC4000DAQ Manual 2

Introduction

3-axis accelerometer

Profile Professional included

Single vacuum cup mounting

Summation of X+Y+Z vectors

Selectable G range of 2 or 6 G

Angular rate gyro for yaw or pitch measurement

GPS speed and position (with GPS module)

Up to 116 minutes of data storage time

SD flash memory card

Bluetooth wireless communication

OBDII input compatible, CAN or RS232

12 analog sensor input

Analog output of sensor or tachometer

4 tachometer inputs

2 extra digital inputs (event markers)

Compass for heading information

Menu selection software

3 x RS232 ports

USB port

Updateable firmware via USB interface

Delete individual Runs

Battery shows charging on display and LED on front

Audible G alarm

Calculates adjusted braking distance

Can send data directly to Profile (Data Streaming)

Variable sample rate of 1, 10, 100, 500 or 1000Hz

This manual covers everything necessary to operate your VC4000.

For further information and details, see our web site

www.vericomcomputers.com and go to the support page. There

will be documents with tips on various subjects. Look to the support

pages for firmware updates for your VC4000.

How to use this manual

The gray area on the page edges allow you to quickly thumb through

to find the section you want. Use the Table of Contents at the

beginning to quickly search for the general section you are interested

in. If you can’t find what you are looking for, go to our web site’s

support pages for more detailed information.

VC4000DAQ Features

VC4000DAQ Manual

Check to see that the following items are supplied with your VC4000:

1 VC4000 with single cup mounting assembly

1 Power cord (to cigarette lighter)

1 AC wall adapter

1 USB interface cable

1 6 port analog input junction box

1 OBDII CAN interface cable

1 VC4000 manual

1 Profile manual

1 Profile CD

1 Carrying case

Optional Accessories:

RS232/Analog out splitter

RS232 (ports 2-3) splitter

Tachometer/CAN/digital in splitter

GPS input

OBDII input

Tachometer interfaces

Activation switches

Reaction time switches

Analog sensors (see web site for most current list)

Portable thermal micro printer

Variety of mounting bases

Two cup mounting system

Extra carrying case

What it comes with

Operations Basics

VC4000DAQ Manual 4

2. OPERATION BASICS

This section will give you basic operating

procedures for the VC4000DAQ.

The VC4000 does not have to be level to get accurate results. It

uses a 3 axis accelerometer and calculates the vector sum of all 3

axes to calculate G force, speed and distance. G “Summation 3D

(XYZ)” must be on in Setup. It is on by default. See page 86 for

details. Mount the VC4000 so the display is roughly facing the back

of the vehicle, or so the X-axis is roughly along the front to back line

of the vehicle.

Figure 1: Single mount on windshield

Mounting

VC4000DAQ Manual

Figure 2: Single mount on side window

The VC4000 uses a single mounting arm and a pump up vacuum

cup to attach to the windshield or side window. The VC4000 and the

suction cup each have a plate with a ball that the arm attaches to.

Loosen the thumb screw on the arm and position the VC4000, and

then tighten the thumb screw to clamp the arm onto the mounting

base balls. Other mounting accessories are available. See our web

site for details.

Alternatively, the VC4000 can be mounted more rigidly by using a

two suction cup kit with brackets attached to the sides of the unit.

Figure 3: Dual cup assembly

Operations Basics

VC4000DAQ Manual 6

Figure 4: Dual cups mount

1. If you do not wish to use the batteries, plug the power cord

into the back of the VC4000 and into the vehicle's cigarette

lighter.

2. Plug external accessories such as sensors or GPS into

VC4000 before turning power on. See page 94 for

connection description.

Figure 5: Assembly w/single vacuum cup

VC4000DAQ Manual

Battery

The VC4000 has a semi permanent internal battery pack that will

run for at least 6 hours before it needs recharging. The battery pack

can be changed by the user if it does not hold a charge anymore.

The unit can be operated from the battery or plugged into a vehicle’s

accessory jack (cigarette lighter) while testing. The battery will

charge while plugged into the vehicle. Accessories such as analog

sensors and GPS will discharge the battery quicker since they draw

power from the VC4000. It can also be powered and recharged from

the wall adapter. Recharging will take up to 3 hours. While

charging, the charging indicator on the front will light and if the unit is

turned on the battery gauge on the display will show arrows.

Turning on and off

Plug in any accessories before powering on. Hold the power key for

about 1 second to turn the unit on. To turn the power off hold the

power key for about 1 second until the unit beeps and displays a

message to release the power key.

Safety Circuit

The VC4000 has safety circuits in place for accidental shorting or

reverse polarity of sensors or power input. If a sensor draws too

much current it will shut the power off to the unit. Sometimes when a

sensor is plugged in when the VC4000 power is on the unit will shut

off due to the inrush current when the sensor first powers on. This is

why we recommend plugging in all accessories with the power off.

Static Shock

If the unit is struck with ESD (electrostatic discharge) the display may

go blank, or less likely the unit may shut off. Push a key on the

keypad to see if the display comes back. You may have to get back

to the READY screen to make the display re-appear.

Powering up

Operations Basics

VC4000DAQ Manual 8

Display

The VC4000 uses a graphic and text display. It has large letters so

it is easy to see from a distance, such as on a windshield when

viewing from the drivers’ seat. The display and keypad are lighted

for viewing in low light. The light will go out after a few minutes if a

key has not been pressed. It will light again when a key is pressed.

Keypad

The keypad has 16 keys with the numeric side laid out like an

industry standard telephone keypad.

Figure 6: Keypad and Display

Many keys have more than one function, depending on what the

display shows. See the following table.

Display and Keypad

VC4000DAQ Manual

Key function table:

Key Function

Auto Start

Press after pressing Braking or Acceleration to sense

the G-Force activation threshold.

Select

Run

Select a run from memory to display or print, and to

perform SD flash memory functions.

Graph

Data

While viewing a run, press to toggle between graph

and data of run.

POWE R

Hold down for 1 second to turn unit on. Hold down for

1 second to turn unit off.

Acceleration

Start an acceleration test or enter the numeric 1.

Braking

Start a brake test or enter the numeric 2.

Tools

Show the Tools menu or enter the numeric 3.

Time

Enter the numeric 4 or display a time graph.

Speed

Enter the numeric 5, display a speed graph or scroll up.

Distance

Enter the numeric 6 or display a distance graph.

G-Force

Enter the numeric 7, scroll the cursor left, display a G-

Force graph or display detailed G-Force data for an

acceleration run.

RPM

Enter the numeric 8, display an RPM graph or display

detailed RPM data for an acceleration run.

Sensor

Enter the numeric 9, scroll the cursor right or scroll

through sensor graphs.

Enter the numeric 0 or scroll down.

ENTER

YES

Enter information, select a menu item or respond YES

to a prompt.

CLEAR

Clear memory, clear information, go back to previous

screen or respond NO to a prompt.

Operations Basics

VC4000DAQ Manual 10

The VC4000 uses Menus when several choices are available. Use

the up and down arrows to scroll through the list. Hold down the up

or down arrow to quickly scroll through a list. The menus use wrap

around so when you reach the end of a list the cursor jumps to the

other end of the list. Press ENTER / YES to select your choice.

Press CLEAR / NO to go to the previous screen.

Monitor

Cal. Check

Setup

Delete Run

SD Card Options

Compass Calibration

Crash Mode

Menus

VC4000DAQ Manual

The VC4000 has 2 modes: Braking and Acceleration.

Braking

Use the Braking mode to test a vehicle’s brakes or measure the drag

factor of a road surface. From the “READY” screen press

Braking

Press the Braking key while at a complete stop. If the Braking key

was pressed while reviewing data from a previous test, or if the

zeroing setting was turned off, it’s not necessary to come to a

complete stop before pressing the Braking key. The VC4000 will

use the zero reference from the previous test or if zeroing was turned

off it will use the zero reference established at the factory. See page

89 in setup for more details on zeroing. The VC4000 will zero adjust

the accelerometers to the current angle the unit is facing. Press the

“Auto Start” key before accelerating up to your target speed, or press

it after you’ve reached your target speed if conditions might cause

vibration to prematurely activate the unit.

Basic steps for brake testing:

1. Connect sensors if you are using them.

2. Mount the VC4000.

3. Position the vehicle on the same incline as the test is being

performed.

4. Press the Braking key. Unit will zero adjust itself.

5. Press the Auto Start key.

6. Accelerate up to target speed.

7. Apply the brakes hard and fast and come to a complete stop.

8. Use the arrow keys to scroll through the data.

For further details see application specific sections. Note: Braking

mode always uses 100Hz sample rate.

Modes

Operations Basics

VC4000DAQ Manual 12

Acceleration

Use the Acceleration mode to measure time, speed, distance,

average G and peak G during acceleration. From the “READY”

screen press

Acceleration

. Always press the Acceleration key while at a

complete stop. The VC4000 will zero adjust the accelerometers to

the current angle the unit is facing. A menu will appear showing

some pre-defined tests and a custom choice. Choose Custom to

make your own test. You may also press the Auto Start key to

start a QuickSet™ ¼ mile test.

Basic steps for acceleration testing:

1. Connect sensors if you are using them.

2. Mount the VC4000.

3. Position the vehicle on the same incline as the test is being

performed.

4. Press the Acceleration key. Unit will zero adjust itself.

5. Select a test from the menu or Press Auto Start key for ¼

mile testing.

6. Accelerate up to the end point.

7. Use the arrow keys to scroll through the data.

For further details see application specific sections.

0-30 mph

0-60 mph

0-80 mph

0-100 ft

0-300 ft

0-5 sec

Custom

AutoStart 1/4 mile

VC4000DAQ Manual

The VC4000 has several tools available. Press the

Tools

key to

bring up a list of available tools. Below is a list of the tools and a

short description of each tool.

Tool Description

Monitor Continuously display built in or external sensors

Crash Mode Saves data at least 1 second before a high G-

Threshold and up to 30 seconds after

Cal. Check Check calibration on all 3 accelerometers

Setup Change VC4000 Setup including G-Threshold,

User type and turn sensors on or off

Delete Run Delete a run from memory

Print Print a single or all runs in memory

Compass

Calibration Calibrate the internal compass

SD Card

Options Copy or erase runs from SD Card

Monitor

Cal. Check

Setup

Delete Run

SD Card Options

Compass Calibration

Crash Mode

Tools

Accident Recon Use

VC4000DAQ Manual 14

3. ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTION

USE

This section gives specific instructions on how to

use the VC4000 in accident reconstruction.

User Type

When you first receive your VC4000 the User Type will be set

“General” which displays all available data. You should change this

setting to “Accident Reconst.” User Type. This will show all the

data necessary for the accident reconstructionist.

To change the User Type to Accident Reconstruction, follow these

steps:

1. Press the Tools key.

2. Scroll to Setup and press ENTER / YES .

3. Scroll down to User Type and press ENTER / YES .

4. Scroll up to Accident Reconst. and press ENTER / YES .

5. Press CLEAR / NO to get back to the READY screen.

Or use Profile to change the setup in the VC4000 from your PC:

1. Start the Profile program

2. Connect the VC4000 to your computer

3. Turn on the VC4000

4. In Profile, Click on the VC4000 Setup icon (or Tools/VC4000

Setup)

5. Click the “Get Setup” key (if you made other changes)

6. Click the User Type drop down box

7. Select Accident Reconst.

8. Click the “Send Setup” key

ALL settings can be changed using Profile. Not all settings can be

changed using the VC4000 keypad.

Initial Setup

VC4000DAQ Manual

Do not use this unit in violation of federal, state or local laws. For

safety reasons the driver should never press any keys on the

VC4000 while the vehicle is in motion. If observation and operation

of the VC4000 is required from a moving vehicle, use a separate

observer/passenger. Please buckle up and drive safely.

Mounting

The VC4000 does not have to be level to get accurate results. It

uses a 3 axis accelerometer and calculates the vector sum of all 3

axes to calculate G force, speed and distance. G “Summation 3D

(XYZ)” must be on in Setup. It is on by default. See page 86 for

details. Mount the VC4000 so the display is roughly facing the back

of the vehicle, or so the x-axis is roughly along the front to back line

of the vehicle.

Figure 7: Single mount on windshield

Alternatively mount the VC4000 flat and level using the single

suction cup mount or the dual bracket option with two suction cups.

Get VC4000 Ready

Accident Recon Use

VC4000DAQ Manual 16

Figure 8: Dual cups mount

Mounting Flat and Level

If mounting flat and level, it is not necessary to use the Z axis for

calculating the vector sum. In fact, using the Z axis may introduce

some error due to vertical vibration caused from the road surface.

Either use X or X+Y summation if mounting flat and level. Use the

bubble levels on the front and left side of the VC4000 to level it, if

your vehicle is reasonably flat and level. Within 3 degrees of level is

sufficient to get accurate data. The VC4000 must be parallel to the

road surface both longitudinally and laterally. If using X only

summation, the VC4000 must be positioned parallel to the road

surface and the X axis in line with the front to back line of the vehicle.

Slope of the road and zero adjusting

When performing a test the VC4000 will zero adjust itself for the

slope of the road when you press the Braking or Acceleration key.

If the Braking or Acceleration key is pressed on the same slope, the

Average G-Force (Drag Factor) given by the VC4000 will include the

grade of the road. When testing or measuring Drag Factor the road

surface does not have to be level; however, you must press the

Braking key at the same slope you are testing. This will allow the

VC4000 to compensate for slope and all data will be accurate.

When measuring coefficient of friction () you must zero adjust on a

level surface. The vehicle must be at a complete stop during zero

adjusting.

VC4000DAQ Manual

Slope A = -0.1

Slope C = +0.1

Zero adjust at point B

Do skid test at point A, B or C

f = µ = 0.800

Zero adjust at point A Zero adjust a point C

Do skid test at point A Do skid test at point C

f = µ - slope f = µ + slope

-0.8 (-) +0.1 = -0.7 -0.8 (+) -0.1 = -0.9

-0.8 + 0.1 = -0.7 -0.8 – 0.1 = -0.9

VC4000 will display -0.700 Ave G VC4000 will display -0.900 Ave G

Attaching accessories

Plug in any accessories before turning the VC4000 power on. It may

be easier to plug in cables before mounting the VC4000. If you do

not wish to use the batteries on the VC4000 plug the provided power

cord into back of VC4000 and into vehicle's accessory jack if one is

available. Plug the external activation connector into VC4000 if you

are using it (see page 105 for external activation). Plug in other

sensors and tachometers if needed.

Figure 9: VC4000DAQ back panel

Accident Recon Use

VC4000DAQ Manual 18

Turn on external sensors if using them

Each external sensor or tachometer must be turned on for the

VC4000 to record data from it.

1. Press the Tools key

2. Scroll to Setup and press ENTER / YES

3. Scroll down to Sensors… and press ENTER / YES

4. Choose the sensor you want to record and press ENTER /

YES

5. See Setup, Sensors on page 77 for details on each sensor

6. Press CLEAR / NO twice to get back to the READY screen

Or use Profile to change the setup in the VC4000 from your PC:

1. Start the Profile program

2. Connect the VC4000 to your computer

3. Turn on the VC4000

4. In Profile, Click on the VC4000 Setup icon (or Tools/VC4000

Setup)

5. Profile will connect and retrieve the VC4000 setup

6. Turn on the sensors using the tabs for each section

7. Click the “Send Setup” key

VC4000 Run Storage Memory

The VC4000 stores all braking runs to internal flash memory.

Eventually the memory will fill up or the number of files will exceed

65,535. When this happens you will have to clear memory. The

display will prompt you to clear memory after the error message

appears. You should clear run data memory periodically to ensure

data storage is successful. To clear memory, press the CLEAR / NO

key from the “READY” screen and follow the prompts. Monitor and

acceleration runs can store to internal flash memory or use Data

Streaming.

Data Streaming sends the data directly to Profile without storing it in

flash memory first. It has a sample rate of 100Hz and can run for up

to 4 hours. Use Profile and click on the menu “Import/Data

Streaming” to use this feature. See Profile help or Profile manual for

more details.

The VC4000DAQ includes an SD flash memory card on which to

store run data. To transfer runs onto the SD flash memory card

follow these steps:

1. From the “READY” screen, press the Tools key.

2. Scroll to SD Card Options and press ENTER / YES .

VC4000DAQ Manual

3. Select Copy All Runs and press ENTER / YES .

4. Press CLEAR / NO twice to get back to the READY screen.

All runs in the VC4000 memory will be copied onto the SD card. The

runs will remain in the VC4000 memory until you delete them. A

typical 1GB SD card will hold over 200,000 runs.

The most common use of the VC4000 for an accident

reconstructionists is to measure Drag Factor. In the VC4000

Average Gx is the drag factor if you pressed the Braking key on

the same slope as the accident scene.

1. Drive to the area where you want to take a measurement.

2. To power on, press the

POWE R

key and hold for 1 second

until the unit beeps.

3. From the “READY” screen press the

Braking

key with the

vehicle at a complete stop. The VC4000 will zero adjust the

accelerometers and applicable sensors, show the available

record time in seconds, display the run number being saved,

and then display:

4. Position the vehicle before the scene of the accident

allowing enough distance to accelerate to your desired target

speed. (As an example back up approximately 300 feet). A

typical braking test speed on dry pavement is 30 mph for

vehicles equipped with standard brakes and 45 mph for

vehicles equipment with ABS.

5. Press the

Auto Start

key. The VC4000 will display 'Auto-Start-

Ready' and the current G reading.

6. Accelerate the car to the desired initial braking speed. After

reaching the desired initial braking speed, hit the brakes

PUSH

AUTO START

Measuring Drag Factor

Accident Recon Use

VC4000DAQ Manual 20

hard and fast, applying maximum brake pedal pressure until

the vehicle comes to a complete stop.

7. If you wish to do another skid test on the same slope (in the

same direction) do not press the CLEAR / NO key and the

VC4000 will retain the calibration for that grade. Press the

“Braking” key and repeat step #4.

When testing the performance of a vehicles braking system, perform

the tests on a flat and level surface. An optional brake pedal

activation switch is available if required.

1. Drive to an area that is flat and level.

2. To power on, press the

POWE R

key and hold for 1 second

until the unit beeps.

3. From the “READY” screen press the

Braking

key with the

vehicle at a complete stop. The VC4000 will zero adjust the

accelerometers and applicable sensors, show the available

record time in seconds, display the run number being saved,

and then display:

4. Position the vehicle before the test area allowing enough

distance to accelerate to your desired target speed. (As an

example back up approximately 300 feet). A typical braking

test speed on dry pavement is 30 mph for vehicles equipped

with standard brakes and 45 mph for vehicles equipment

with ABS.

5. Press the

Auto Start

key. The VC4000 will display 'Auto-Start-

Ready' and the current G reading.

6. Accelerate the car to the desired initial braking speed. After

reaching the desired initial braking speed, hit the brakes

PUSH

AUTO START

Testing Brake Performance

VC4000DAQ Manual

hard and fast, applying maximum brake pedal pressure until

the vehicle comes to a complete stop.

7. If you wish to do another skid test on the same slope (in the

same direction) do not press the CLEAR / NO key and the

VC4000 will retain the calibration for that grade. Press the

Braking key and repeat step #4.

Drag factor (f) = coefficient of friction () ± the slope. If you wish to

measure on a slope you must zero adjust on a flat and level

surface.

1. Drive to an area that is flat and level.

2. To power on, press the

POWE R

key and hold for 1 second

until the unit beeps.

3. From the “READY” screen press the

Braking

key with the

vehicle at a complete stop. The VC4000 will zero adjust the

accelerometers and applicable sensors, show the available

record time in seconds, display the run number being saved,

and then display:

4. Position the vehicle before the test area allowing enough

distance to accelerate to your desired target speed. (As an

example back up approximately 300 feet). A typical braking

test speed on dry pavement is 30 mph for vehicles equipped

with standard brakes and 45 mph for vehicles equipment

with ABS.

5. Press the

Auto Start

key. The VC4000 will display 'Auto-Start-

Ready' and the current G reading.

6. Accelerate the car to the desired initial braking speed. After

reaching the desired initial braking speed, hit the brakes

PUSH

AUTO START

Measuring Coefficient of Friction

Accident Recon Use

VC4000DAQ Manual 22

hard and fast, applying maximum brake pedal pressure until

the vehicle comes to a complete stop.

7. If you wish to do another skid test on the same slope (in the

same direction) do not press the CLEAR / NO key and the

VC4000 will retain the calibration for that grade. Press the

Braking key and repeat step #4.

NOTE: The Average Gx will be the Coefficient of friction (), not drag

factor because you zero adjusted on a level surface.

Information available after a brake test

Use the up 5 and down 0 arrow keys to scroll the data up and

down.

Elapsed Time (E/T): The time from when the VC4000 was

activated (see threshold page 69) until the

vehicle came to a complete stop.

Speed: Speed of the vehicle when the VC4000 was

activated (see threshold page 69).

Distance: Distance the vehicle traversed during the braking

time.

Avg. Gx*: Average longitudinal G force from when the VC4000

was activated to stop.

Avg. Gy: Average lateral G force from when the VC4000 was

activated to stop.

Peak Gx: The maximum longitudinal G-Force obtained from

activation to stop and the time where it occurred.

Peak Gy: The maximum positive and negative lateral G-Force

obtained from activation to stop.

Reaction Time (R/T): The time from external trigger to the G-

Threshold. (Shows only if externally

triggered)

R/T Dist: The distance traveled during the reaction

time. (Shows only if externally triggered)

VC4000DAQ Manual

G(x.x): The instantaneous G-Force at the corresponding

time.

Graphs: Press the Graph/Data key to display graphs of the

run. Press Speed, Distance, G-Force, or Sensor.

Press the same key again to scroll through multiple

graphs, such as G-Force or Sensor.

* The VC4000's Average G force (Drag Factor) is calculated by

summing the G values and dividing by the number of samples. This

will give the same result as using velocity and time.

While reviewing the data after a braking test if the braking key is

pressed the VC4000 will start a new braking test using the zero

reference established the last time the Braking key was pressed

from the “READY” screen.

Since the VC4000 has a selectable G range of 2 or 6 G’s it can be

used for low speed impact testing. The range applies to all 3 axis’s

so all axes are set to either the 2 G range or the 6 G range. The

accelerometers accuracy is degraded slightly when in the 6 G range

so speed and distance calculations might not be as accurate.

A higher sample rate may also be helpful for low speed impacts.

Choose 500Hz or 1000Hz. When using 500Hz sample rate the

number of sensors besides the internal accelerometers you can

monitor is limited to 13, and 1000Hz is limited to 10 extra sensors.

To use the 6G range for the accelerometers and 1000Hz sample

rate:

1. Press the Tools key

2. Scroll to Setup and press ENTER / YES

3. Scroll down to Accelerometer… and press ENTER / YES

4. Scroll to Accel Range and press ENTER / YES

5. Choose 6G and press ENTER / YES

6. Scroll to Sample Rate and press ENTER / YES

7. Choose 500 or 1000Hz and press ENTER / YES

8. Press CLEAR / NO twice to get back to the READY screen

Or use Profile to change the accelerometer range.

Low Speed Impacts

Accident Recon Use

VC4000DAQ Manual 24

Brake Mode, Crash Mode, Acceleration Mode or Monitor may be

used for these tests.

Using Crash Mode

Crash mode automatically changes the VC4000 setup to:

Pitch/roll factors = 0

G Range = 6g

Sample rate = 1000

GPS port = port 1

G-Threshold = 4xG-Threshold up to 4G

Any sensors that are turned on will still be recorded. Only the above

changes are made during the crash mode. When the test is finished

Setup is restored to how it was previously.

Up to 10 extra sensors can be turned on and recorded. The VC4000

will record at least one second before impact (4xG-Threshold) and

up to 30 seconds after impact. See Tools/Crash Mode on page 55

for more information.

1. Drive to the area where you want to take a measurement, or

close, where the slope is the same.

2. To power on, press the

POWE R

key and hold for 1 second

until the unit beeps.

3. From the “READY” screen press the Tools key, then select

Crash Mode with the vehicle at a complete stop. The

VC4000 will zero adjust the accelerometers and applicable

sensors, show the available record time in seconds, display

the run number being saved, and then display:

4. Accelerate the car to the desired initial speed. After

reaching that speed, trigger the VC4000 using the external

trigger or it will activate when it impacts an object and

generates ±4xG-Threshold or more.

Using Monitor

1. Drive to the area where you want to take a measurement, or

close, where the slope is the same.

AUTO START READY

VC4000DAQ Manual

2. To power on, press the

POWE R

key and hold for 1 second

until the unit beeps.

3. From the “READY” screen press the Tools key, then select

Monitor, then G-Force.

4. The display will show:

5. With the vehicle at a complete stop press ENTER / YES.

The VC4000 will zero adjust the accelerometers and

applicable sensors, show the available record time in

seconds, display the run number being saved, and then

display accelerometer data.

6. Perform your test. Press CLEAR / NO to stop saving data.

Using Brake Mode

NOTE: The VC4000 in brake mode will stop recording data when

the acceleration is positive again. So during the impact if the

accelerometer senses positive acceleration it will end the test. In

brake mode the sample rate is always 100Hz.

1. Drive to the area where you want to take a measurement, or

close, where the slope is the same.

2. To power on, press the

POWE R

key and hold for 1 second

until the unit beeps.

3. From the “READY” screen press the

Braking

key with the

vehicle at a complete stop. The VC4000 will zero adjust the

accelerometers and applicable sensors, show the available

record time in seconds, display the run number being saved,

and then display:

SAVE IN FILE

MEMORY?

DEPRESS YES or NO

PUSH

AUTO START

Accident Recon Use

VC4000DAQ Manual 26

4. Press the

Auto Start

key. The VC4000 will display 'Auto-Start-

Ready' and the current G reading.

5. Accelerate the car to the desired initial braking speed. After

reaching the desired initial braking speed, trigger the

VC4000 using the external trigger or tap the brakes hard

enough to break the G-Threshold (0.200 default). Then

impact the object.

NOTE: Be sure to set the G Range back to 2G for other types of

testing so speed and distance are more accurate.

The Grade, or Slope, of the road can be very accurately measured

using the VC4000. G Summation must be off and Pitch Factor set to

Set G Summation off and Pitch Factor to 0

1. To power on, press the

POWE R

key and hold for 1 second

until the unit beeps.

2. Press the Tools key. Scroll to Setup and press ENTER /

YES . Scroll down to Accelerometer… and press ENTER /

YES. Select G Summation and press ENTER / YES.

Choose Summation OFF and press ENTER / YES.

3. Press CLEAR / NO to get back to the Setup screen.

4. Scroll up to Pitch/Roll Factors and press ENTER / YES.

Press 0, ENTER / YES, then CLEAR / NO . Press

CLEAR / NO to get back to the Tools screen.

Measure the slope

1. Drive to the slope you want to measure, facing directly uphill.

Measuring Slope

VC4000DAQ Manual

2. Scroll up to Monitor and press ENTER / YES then select G-

Force.

3. The display will show:

4. With the vehicle at a complete stop press CLEAR / NO. The

VC4000 will zero adjust the accelerometers and display

0.000 for the Gx axis.

5. Now turn the vehicle 180 degrees so it is facing downhill and

read the Gx value. This number is two times the sine of the

angle.

6. Use this formula to calculate the grade in percent if the slope

is 6 degrees or less: (Gx / 2) * 100. If the grade is more than

6 degrees use a calculator to find sin-1 of Gx/2 (sin-1 =

ArcSine):

)(deg Gx

ArcSinereesinAngle 



7. To calculate the grade in percent over 6 degrees, first

calculate the angle in degrees (). Then calculate the

cosine of that angle. Now divide Gx/2 by that number, which

gives you the tangent. Now multiply by 100 to get the %

grade.

100

%







Cos

Grade

SAVE IN FILE

MEMORY?

DEPRESS YES or NO

Accident Recon Use

VC4000DAQ Manual 28

If you are testing a motorcycle or large truck that decelerates by

more than the default 0.200G threshold when shifting or lifting from

the accelerator, to avoid false triggering of your braking run, you may

press the Auto Start key any time after zero adjusting. For example,

you may press Auto Start after the vehicle has reached the desired

braking speed and before applying the brakes. If it’s not possible to

press a key while moving, increase the G-Threshold to 0.300. See

Setup, G-Threshold on page 69. The acceleration mode may be

used also. Perform a timed test for 10 seconds or the desired time

to complete the test. See Acceleration testing on the next page.

The VC4000 can be used to measure to a preset Time, Speed or

Distance. This is useful for:

1. Measuring time and speed from a stop sign to a preset

distance at an accident scene in an intersection.

2. Measuring time and distance to a preset speed.

3. Measuring passing time and distance from a preset speed to

a preset speed.

To perform a preset distance test

1. Drive to the area where you want to take a measurement,

where the slope is the consistent.

2. To power on, press the

POWE R

key and hold for 1 second

until the unit beeps.

Acceleration Testing

Avoiding False Triggering

VC4000DAQ Manual

3. From the “READY” screen press the

Acceleration

key with the

vehicle at a complete stop. The VC4000 will zero adjust the

accelerometers and applicable sensors, show the available

record time in seconds, display the run number being saved,

and then display:

0-30 mph

0-60 mph

0-80 mph

0-100 ft

0-300 ft

0-5 sec

Custom

AutoStart 1/4 mile

4. Choose one of the presets shown or choose Custom. For

Custom, scroll down to Distance and press ENTER / YES .

Type in the distance in feet or meters and press ENTER /

YES.

5. The VC4000 will display 'Auto-Start-Ready' and the current

G reading.

6. Accelerate the vehicle until the VC4000 beeps indicating it

has reached the preset distance.

To perform a preset speed test

1. Drive to the area where you want to take a measurement,

where the slope is the consistent.

2. To power on, press the

POWE R

key and hold for 1 second

until the unit beeps.

Accident Recon Use

VC4000DAQ Manual 30

3. From the “READY” screen press the

Acceleration

key with the

vehicle at a complete stop. The VC4000 will zero adjust the

accelerometers and applicable sensors, show the available

record time in seconds, display the run number being saved,

and then display:

0-30 mph

0-60 mph

0-80 mph

0-100 ft

0-300 ft

0-5 sec

Custom

AutoStart 1/4 mile

4. Choose one of the presets shown or choose Custom. For

Custom, scroll down to Speed and press ENTER / YES .

5. Type in the “START FROM” speed in mph or kph and press

ENTER / YES. Then type in the “UP TO” speed and press

ENTER / YES.

6. The VC4000 will display 'Auto-Start-Ready' and the current

G reading.

7. Accelerate the vehicle until the VC4000 beeps indicating it

has reached the preset speed.

Information available after an acceleration test (using User Type

Accident Reconst.)

After an acceleration run, bring the vehicle to a complete stop. The

ending Time, Speed, Distance and Average Gx will be displayed.

Press the Graph/Data key to display graphs of the run. Press

Speed, Distance, G-Force, RPM or Sensor. Press the same key

again to scroll through multiple graphs, such as pressing the G-Force

key to scroll through longitudinal, lateral or vertical G-Force.

Speed Accel Run

0-60 MPH 5.50 sec

221 ft

Avg Gx= 0.34

Accel Display (12)

VC4000DAQ Manual

The Acceleration Mode operating limits are:

Imperial Metric

Maximum time 99.9 seconds 99.9 seconds

Maximum speed 255 MPH 511 KPH

Maximum distance 9000 feet 1800 meters

Maximum acceleration +2G +2G

Transit Use

VC4000DAQ Manual 32

4. TRANSIT USE

This section gives specific instructions on how to

use the VC4000 for Transit Bus testing.

User Type

When you first receive your VC4000 the User Type will be “General”

which displays all available data. You should change this setting to

“Transit” User Type. This will show all the data necessary for the

typical transit vehicle brake test.

To change the User Type to Transit, follow these steps:

1. Press the Tools key.

2. Scroll to Setup and press ENTER / YES .

3. Scroll down to User Type and press ENTER / YES .

4. Scroll up to Transit and press ENTER / YES .

5. Press CLEAR / NO to get back to the READY screen.

Or use Profile to change the setup in the VC4000 from your PC:

1. Start the Profile program

2. Connect the VC4000 to your computer

3. Turn on the VC4000

4. In Profile, Click on the VC4000 Setup icon (or Tools/VC4000

Setup)

5. Profile will connect and retrieve the VC4000 setup

6. Click the User Type drop down box

7. Select Transit.

8. Click the “Send Setup” key

ALL settings can be changed using Profile. Not all settings can be

changed using the VC4000 keypad.

Initial Setup

VC4000DAQ Manual

Do not use this unit in violation of federal, state or local laws. For

safety reasons the driver should never press any keys on the

VC4000 while the vehicle is in motion. If observation and operation

of the VC4000 is required from a moving vehicle, use a separate

observer/passenger. Please buckle up and drive safely.

Mounting

The VC4000 does not have to be level to get accurate results. It

uses a 3 axis accelerometer and calculates the vector sum of all 3

axis to calculate G force, speed and distance. G “Summation 3D

(XYZ)” must be on in Setup. It is on by default. See page 86 for

details. Mount the VC4000 so the display is roughly facing the back

of the vehicle, or so the x-axis is roughly along the front to back line

of the vehicle.

Figure 10: Single mount on windshield

Alternatively mount the VC4000 flat and level using the single

suction cup mount or the dual bracket option with two suction cups.

Get VC4000 Ready

Transit Use

VC4000DAQ Manual 34

Figure 11: Dual cups mount

Attaching accessories

Plug in any accessories before turning the VC4000 power on. It may

be easier to plug in cables before mounting the VC4000. If you do

not wish to use the batteries on the VC4000 plug provided power

cord into back of VC4000 and into vehicle's accessory jack if one is

available. Plug external activation connector into VC4000 if you are

using it (see page 105 for external activation). Plug in other sensors

and tachometers.

Figure 12: VC4000DAQ back panel

Turn on external sensors if using them

Each external sensor or tachometer must be turned on for the

VC4000 to record data from it.