DL1 PRO Introduction

What is the DL1 PRO?

The DL1 Pro offers the same features as the DL1 MK3 but is encased in a water resistant enclosure with high specification water resistant connectors and an aluminium enclosure for more demanding enviroments

Who is the DL1 PRO designed for?

The DL1 PRO is designed for autosport applications including drag racers, single seater racing cars, rally cars or road cars - however it is also ideal for use on power boats, go karts and motorbikes. It is also an ideal platform for use in the auto industry for car testing of all types, from long term monitoring to competitor benchmarking.

What does the DL1 PRO do?

The DL1 PRO can store data from a number of sources including its built in high accuracy GPS and accelerometers, wheel speeds, shaft speeds, engine speeds, temperatures, pressures, lap times, sector times etc. The DL1 comes packaged with the excellent Race Technology data analysis package for Windows. The software allows super accurate track mapping, user defined channels, powerful graphing and allows direct comparison of up to 10 data sets (races) simultaneously with almost unlimited laps. The DL1 PRO can also be used to supply data to dashboard displays and to drive auxiliary outputs to control fans, pumps, or lights.

Why use GPS?

One of the key features of the DL1 PRO is its built in high accuracy GPS system - this gives the DL1 advantages over other data loggers in 2 key areas - greatly improved track maps and far more accurate speed data.

Track Mapping

Conventional data loggers require a "closed circuit" to enable them to calculate the track map; the shape of the track is estimated from a combination of the lateral acceleration and speed. This works adequately in some situations but it becomes increasingly inaccurate for long tracks and impossible for open circuits, motorbikes or boats. In contrast, the GPS will produce high accuracy track maps in almost any situation.

Speed Measurement

While speed is probably the most important parameter that anyone wants to measure using the data logging system, it is also the most inaccurate in a "conventional" system. The normal way to measure speed is to simply attach a pickup to a wheel to detect how fast it is rotating - but the rolling circumference of a tyre changes by 4% just with wear and temperature. Even worse, the error increases significantly under race conditions where the tyre is under load - typically the tyre slips by up to 20% under hard braking going into a corner. Measuring speed using GPS is now common practice in high-end systems - under typical conditions speed error is well under 1%!

DL1 PRO Features

The DL1 PRO is an all-new, 3rd generation, data logger system from Race Technology. It is a complete redesign of the DL1, retaining all the best features and improving and adding where possible. Some of the most noteworthy features include:

Robust enclosure

The DL1 PRO is housed in an aluminium enclosure with rubber seals around all connectors and the card slot to provide an element of water protection to the electronics. All connections to the unit are through two large multi way connectors and a single GPS connection for easy removal from the vehicle

Built in GPS

The new GPS unit is based on our own high accuracy GPS3 technology and calculates position and speed 5 times every second. This is easily the fastest, most accurate GPS system available for under $1500. The measurements from the GPS and accelerometers are combined to calculate very high accuracy positions and speeds at 100 times a second. Optional storage of raw GPS data for post processing at 20Hz is also possible.

Built in accelerometers

Built in 3-axis accelerometer with 2g full scale (optional 6g full scale).

Built in yaw gyro for slip angle measurement (optional)
Logging to SD cards

Works with SD and SDHC, for up to 32GB storage.

Up to 12 analogue inputs

The DL1 PRO has 12 very high accuracy analogue inputs. All inputs have a maximum of 25V input

Up to 4 output drivers

Low side driver outputs are available for controlling pumps, fans, lights.

2 RPM inputs

The DL1 PRO has 2 RPM inputs, only one of which can be used at any one time. One input is designed to be connected to "high level" sources, such as the ignition coil. The other input is designed for low level signals such as a feed from the ECU.

4 wheel/shaft speed inputs

The DL1 features 4 totally independent wheel/shaft speed inputs. These can be used to measure the speed of all four wheels, or slip ratios across a torque converter for example.

Two RS232 ports

Either port can be used to receive data for logging, one port is always used for outputting data for storage to a VIDEO4 or to a DASH display.

CAN port

CAN port enable receiving and transmitting of messages at configurable rates up to 1Mbit/s

Remote start/stop and add marker inputs
Dual 5v reference outputs

Two independent 5v outputs can be used to drive up to 500mA each for sensor outputs.

Simple operation

A single button to start or stop logging, it's as simple as that! If the button is inaccessible from the drivers seat then a remote button and status indicator can be added if required.

Power supply requirements

The power supply to the DL1 PRO data logger can be taken directly from the vehicles 12v supply, or it can be powered from it's own battery if required. The power supply is smoothed and regulated within the DL1 PRO ensuring its performance is highly robust and stable.

USB interface

USB connection for direct connection to a PC for configuration

Testing

Very high reliability is ensured by calibrating, temperature testing and vibration testing each unit on an individual basis. Autosport applications make tremendous demands on electronic systems and we take great care to make sure our products are up to the task. All the connections to the units are vibration proof, high strength to ensure that connections do not fail at the critical time.

Powerful

The DL1 PRO has the latest 150MHz processor for maximum expandability and functionality