Data Acquision Systems???

Brad Fultz · Joined: 23 Jul 2001 Posts: 26 Location: Knoxville TN

Has anyone used the piXpress system? and how do you like it.I have not seen this system work ad would like to hear a review. I like the Drak system and it does everything you need, but I saw an add and wanted to check it out. Thanks in advance.

Joe Janowski · Joined: 25 Jul 2001 Posts: 232

Brad,

I've used PI Research System 1 since 1996. I finally had to replace it just last week (I've been using the same system since 1996). Does everything you need, and for the most part, runs flawlessly. Not only that, but they are only slightly more expensive than the My-Chron.

Hope this helps.

Erik Frank · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2001 7:58 am Post subject: Data Acquision Systems???

Joe,

Can you quantify "slightly?" Last time I checked, a PI system cost around $2k whereas a Mychron Pro was around $700ish. However, I don't know if this was a PIxpress system or not.

-erik

[ July 25, 2001: Message edited by: Erik Frank ]

[ July 25, 2001: Message edited by: Erik Frank ]

bird · Joined: 17 Jul 2001 Posts: 147

As I understand it, PiXpress is just the website they set up to sell the products.

We've had ours since 1997 and as far as I remember the only thing is sometimes the track maps come out a bit weird, but they are easy enough to sort out.

- Mary-Ann www.kartlink.net

Brad Fultz · Joined: 23 Jul 2001 Posts: 26 Location: Knoxville TN

Thanks for the follow up.

Gary Osterholt · Site Admin Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 2769

Brad,

I've used both the Pi System 1 and Drack systems.

I had the Pi System 1 first, paid alot more for the Pi than the Drack.

Unless Pi has changed there customer service, I'd say go with something made by Aimsports.

One key advantage of the Drack in my opinion is the data will not be erased if the battery comes undo. The only time I ruined a kart was when someone got turned sideways in front of me and I t-bone him. The battery came undo and all the data was lost. Would have loved to see how many g's i pulled when I hit him.

But all in all both system will do the job.

Gary Osterholt
www.garyosterholt.com

Jon Miles · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2001 5:44 pm Post subject: Data Acquision Systems???

Brad,

I am the data engineer for a Pro Sports car team using Pi data equipment on our race car in addition to being a shifter kart racer so a Pi system on my kart was a given.

I have used My-Chron 2's and My-Chron Pro's on previous karts with great results. They are easy to install, resonably priced and work well on karts. I hate their LCD displays and wanted to log more information however.

My Pi system is a System 1 with a C-dash. In addition to logging and displaying the usual stuff like water temp, EGT, RPM, etc. I also have sensors for steering position, brake position and throttle position with another channel still available to measure something else I may want to monitor (brake temp for example). I will admit my Pi system (about $4K)is overkill for a kart but the data can be facinating (73.4 percent of a lap at Road America at full throttle for example).

I will also admit that the installation can be a bit tricky (when adding the C-dash rather than using the Mini dash) and Pi's support is weak at times. I built a custom wiring harness for mine just to keep things neat and waterproof plus I have the equipment to do it. There are real benefits though. Its segment time reports have helped me improve lap times for example. I was struggling to get under a 1:26.9 at Putnam a few weeks ago and sat down to look at a lap segment report. I could see and think about where I was loosing time. The next session I promptly did a 1:25.4. This may not help all drivers but for me it obviously did. Sometimes I swear after a session that I'm not braking for certain turns but the data shows otherwise.

If you would like to do a Pi system I could help steer you along and avoid some of the problems (they were minor but then, I'm pretty familiar with the equipment).

PiXpress is the web site Pi set up to sell their club level equipment and you save about 10-15 percent by buying it there rather than calling them and ordering over the phone.

[ July 25, 2001: Message edited by: Jon Miles ]

bird · Joined: 17 Jul 2001 Posts: 147

quote:
Unless Pi has changed there customer service, I'd say go with something made by Aimsports.

Gary makes a good point. We live 30 miles from the Pi HQ so we can and have been round there to shout at them (for not sending us stuff on time), and we also have a good friend who was sponsored by them so he helped us. DA is the sort of investment you will most likely want support with so if your Pi distributor is substandard then think carefully.

Ed Weathers · Joined: 19 Jul 2001 Posts: 36 Location: Hood River, Oregon

I have no experience with the Pi but do with the Mychron-2 the Pro and the Drack. I wasn't happy at all with the Pro but my Drack has worked perfectley and the boys at Aim sports have been very very helpfull. I think it says alot about the company when they are out constantly on the road promoting there product at races.

Michael Brookes · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2001 8:38 am Post subject: Data Acquision Systems???

Jon,

Aimsports sells the Drack Data Aquisition system that seems to do everything the PI does, and it is only $1299.00

Michael Brookes

Brad Fultz · Joined: 23 Jul 2001 Posts: 26 Location: Knoxville TN

Wow, again thanks for all the information guys and gals.
I need to check a demo and see if cost can be justified. The price diff is alot of tires
etc...

Jon Miles · Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2001 7:04 am Post subject: Data Acquision Systems???

Michael,

Yes, I did consider the Drack system, but I hate their LCD displays, very hard to read in the sun. Their wiring, connectors, and housings are all fragile plastic and I've had my share crack and fail. It's like most things, you get what you pay for. However, most karters can't afford or simply don't want to pay $3K+ for a data system and for them the stuff from AIM is perfect. I would recommend their systems to any karter. It's like buying a Ford compared to a Merecedes.

AIM now has their Drack Evo-3 logger but their website is a bit of a mess right now and there isn't much info on it. A decent 8 channel version looks like it is $2450 but I don't know what it includes.

A note to those using the Drack vs. Pi System 1 comparision on AIM's 'old' website: this comparison is about 95 percent inaccurate so don't use it to make a purchase decision.

Gary Osterholt · Site Admin Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 2769

quote:
Originally posted by Jon Miles:
A note to those using the Drack vs. Pi System 1 comparision on AIM's 'old' website: this comparison is about 95 percent inaccurate so don't use it to make a purchase decision.

Jon,

What part of the comparision is inaccurate?

As for as the display, have fun with the Pi Mini Dash, I could never see that when I had my Pi System 1.

Gary Osterholt
www.garyosterholt.com

Jon Miles · Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2001 5:49 pm Post subject: Data Acquision Systems???

Gary,

I agree the Mini dash isn't much better than any of the AIM displays, I have a C-dash on my System 1.

Errors in AIM's Pi System 1 comparison: 10 Hz sampling rate (wrong, the System 1 will log at up to 50 Hz, you will seldom need anything over 20 Hz anyway, even for RPM or wheelspeed. If you were to log a channel at 200 Hz you would fill up that 512K in less than 20 minutes logging only ONE channel); 128k Memory (wrong, it is 512k); External amplifiers needed (misleading since it states Drack doesn't require an amp. for MORE than one thermocouple channel, the System 1 has one built in thermocouple amp and can do a second using an amp but who needs two thermocouple channels?); DOS software (wrong, Pi's Club Expert Windows is a Windows program); Limited printer capability (wrong, Pi software is Windows based and will print to any printer installed in Windows); Upgrades are $500 (not sure what they are referring to, maybe the old 128k to 512k update but even that was only $200); Better hardware & software (I have used both and Pi's hardware is definitely superior, the software almost identical); Display optional (true, but so what. You have your choice between the Mini dash and C-dash); No backlighting for night races (wrong, the C-dash is LED. Kart races at night??? now that would be interesting); Sensors connect with wire block (wrong, the sensor LEADS connect to a wire block, the sensors plug into the leads using Mini Sure Seal connectors and can be changed easily, the wire blocks can be unplugged from the logger in about 10 seconds so a System 1 can be moved as easily as a Drack system).

It looks like AIM is using a fairly old spec Pi System 1 for some of these comparisons and so they are no longer valid.

Dale Nickos · Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2001 6:14 pm Post subject: Data Acquision Systems???

I have good to say about Both systems...
I've worked with the PI Sigma, 5 star and 4Plus systems on the indy cars for the past 5 years. When I got into karting I thought that the PI was a Sure fit. But the one thing that keeps me from going to the Pi at this time is that for 800 you can get a MyChron Pro. It logs just about most of the stuff you need. And honestly the PI system...even with the c-Dash (which is what I want) and the Prograde software. If you don't have EXTENSIVE experience in reading and analyzing the data on a pretty high level..you might get more confused than you were before. Ive been doing this on the Indy Car ranks for the past 5 years and learn something new everyday.

But if you had the extra money...I would do the PI with the C-Dash. But if $$$ is a factor...the MyChrons are great bang for the buck.

I do Love the PI systems though