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POWERDYN
Download
Powerdyn
is a shareware. Download it and try it for free.
PowerDyn
2.73 English version (3.5Mo)
If
you like it and want to use it's full functionalities either :
- You can
Send 35 € using
secure payment (Visa, Mastercard ...) and you will recieve your licence
by e-mail.
- To get
the best out of Powerdyn, we recommend the use of the electronic interfaces
from Plug 'n Perf
Ltd who also offers a reduction on the software when purchasing
both the software and the interface.
- Don't
forget to look at our Forum
for more tips and tricks
What
is PowerDyn ?
it's a shareware
Dynamometer for all performance enthusiastic. A dynamometer is basically
a device that measures the amount of power being developed by an engine.
In the past, if you wanted accurate information about the performance
of your automobile engine, you had to take your car to a rolling road
and have it tested. everybody doesn't have access to a rolling road, moreover
it's expensive.
Once correctly parametered, PowerDyn proves to be as accurate as a traditional
rolling road. Also it will be easy to test your changes and totally costless.
You want to compare two state of tune, the first with a dizzy giving 10°
static advance at idle, and the second with 14°. Record some runs and
compare them directly with PowerDyn graphic facility.
What give me this KN air filter or this exhaust/intake manifold ? With
PowerDyn, you will be able to keep a trace of all the modifications and
what are the impacts on the Power band.
All you'll need is a flat section of road, usually less than 1/4 mile
in length.
How
does it work ?
Well, basically
PowerDyn is a precision timing system that looks at a record of ignition
sparks over time. Based on when a single spark plug fires, the program
can compute acceleration, and therefore, power.
The user must supply the car's weight, gear ratios, tire sizes, and some
other variables, but the rest is pure physics.
PowerDyn measures power by the same method as a chassis dyno. Instead
of measuring the amount of power required to accelerate a drum, you are
measuring the amount of power required to accelerate the car.
PowerDyn will allow you to accurately measure the amount of power your
car is putting to the ground, which is an invaluable tool when doing aftermarket
modifications.
What
you need :
- IBM Compatible
running Windows 95/98/Millenium/2000/XP or Windows NT. Sound Blaster
or equiv. sound card capable of sampling in 8 bit/mono format.
- Sound
editing software such as WaveStudio (comes with SB) or Goldwave (shareware).
- Sound
recorder such as a camcorder, laptop, tape recorder, or digital voice
recorder with mic input and earphone output. Also note that using very
cheap tape recorders can cause "wavy" graphs due to high wow/flutter.
- A Cheap
eletronic device that you can make with 1 Jack and 2 resistors and an
inductive pickup (or a coil of copper wire).
- Any cables
necessary to connect the device to your sound card or to the sound recorder
(and the sound recorder to the computer to record the sound after the
run).
- You can
check Plug'n Perf
website too, they sell great kits ready to run, and you can save money
if you buy a bundle.
User
Guide :
First, a
little information about inductive pickups. Inductive pickups are a common
part of most timing lights, dwell meters. it is possible to wire your
own inductive pickup. Below is a schematic of the simple circuit needed
to connect an inductive pickup to your sound recorder.
Inductive
pickups have two leads. These leads are connected to a 1/8 inch phone
plug which should plug into the microphone jack on most sound recorders
or sound card. Although you may be able to get away with simply plugging
the inductive pickup into your sound recorder, the following circuit is
recommended. Keep in mind that inductive pickups vary in signal strength,
noise suppression, and signal quality. Most inductive pickups should work
fine when wired properly/securely, but some may transmit enough noise
to confuse the software. Parts needed:
- Inductive
pickup
- 100 ohm
resistor
- 100k ohm
resistor
- 10 ft.
of two conductor shielded wire
You may want
to use the stereo plug if you are connecting to a laptop. If so, connect
one wire to the inner shaft (the section closest to the screw-off cap)
and connect the other wire to both the middle and outer section (tip)
of the plug. This will give you the same signal in the left/right channel.
Connecting
Things Up
The first
step is to connect the inductive pickup to a spark plug wire. clamp the
pickup to any spark plug wire. Maybe there is an arrow on the pickup,
so you should clamp the pickup with the arrow pointing the spark plug.
Making
a Dyno Run
Now you're
ready for a run! Go to a flat section of road, If you have a laptop, you
can record the run directly as a wav file or use real time acquisition.
You should use 44kHz Mono 8bits to record the run using the 'Line in'
of your sound card. Start out in SECOND gear. Get the car rolling at about
1000 rpm with your FOOT OFF THE CLUTCH. At this point, start recording.
Let the recorder record for about a second and then press the accelerator
to the floor smoothly but quickly. Leave the pedal to the floor until
redline is reached, at which point you may release the gas pedal and push
in the clutch. Stop the recorder.
If you have used a recorder (tape, camcorder...), then you have to transfer
the run in your computer. Just use a the necessary cable to connect the
recorder to the line input of your sound card. use 44kHz Mono 8bits to
record the run.
Edit the
Wav File Using Goldwave (or another sound editor), cut the first second
(just before the acceleration), and the last seconds (just before the
redline) of your run. Save the new wav file, it's ready for processing
in PowerDyn.
If you has
used real time acquisition, there is nothing to do, the Power/torque graph
is displayed at the end of the run.
Plug'nPerf
Ltd also propose you some ready to use electronic interfaces, that
let you use parallel port for real time acquisition. Ask for more in the
forum, this section
is under construction.
Creating
a new run in PowerDyn
- Just
use File/Choose Vehicle/New Vehicle and fill the informations.
- Save
it and select it.
- Then
go to Data Acquisition/Torque & Power, select the Wav file, gear used
for the run and press the green arrow (analyze). Here it is..
Other
great functions :
- -All
graphs are sizeable and you can have the same graph for different vehicles
on the screen at the same time (Mosaic, Cascade...).
- -Print
your results
- -Metric
or Imperial units
- -Graph
of Forces (Drag & rolling resistance)
- -Necessary
power to maintain a choosen speed
- -Torque
and Power graph
- -Export
/ Import of vehicle
- -Export
/ Import Power & Torque values
- -Graph
of Acceleration according gear used (versus RPM)
- -Graph
of Acceleration according gear used (versus speed)
- -Graph
of speed according gear used
- -Direct
comparison of Power & Torque for different vehicle on the same graph
- -Simulation
of acceleration time and distance traveled. (just fix initial abd final
speed, rpm for shifting). Find the best moment to shift. Evaluate your
Quarter, 0-60mph and more.
- -Graph
of RPM and speed versus time
- -Graph
of Acceleration and speed versus time
- -Graph
of Distance and speed versus time
- -Graph
of disponible power and used power versus speed Of course, you can modify
gear ratio, wheels, Mass and other parameters to see what will be the
effect on acceleration, time to distance, speed. Choose easyly your
final gear ratio according to your torque curve...
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