Gauges or S.E.C.S?
07 February 2004, 09:32 AM
#1
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Gauges or S.E.C.S?
was thinking about getting engine oil temp/pressure and boost gauges, but then saw a S.E.C.S monitoring device, which does this and loads more.
anyone got one of these or had good/bad experiences?
also, how easy are either type to fit?
any advice appreciated!
andy.
for MY03 STi by the way.
anyone got one of these or had good/bad experiences?
also, how easy are either type to fit?
any advice appreciated!
andy.
for MY03 STi by the way.
07 February 2004, 11:19 AM
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I have a set of Defi BF guages for oli temp\prss and boost and they do look the dogs danglys.
Easy to fit, Greddy do a sandwich plate that fits sandwiches between the oil filter for the oil guages. Boost is taken from near dump valve. Would take you an afternoon to fit, but I got mine fitted at Powerstation.
Easy to fit, Greddy do a sandwich plate that fits sandwiches between the oil filter for the oil guages. Boost is taken from near dump valve. Would take you an afternoon to fit, but I got mine fitted at Powerstation.
07 February 2004, 12:10 PM
#3
May also be worth your while looking at the DIY ECU monitors like the scoobymonitor (www.scoobymonitor.co.uk) - similat functionality as the S.E.C.S but at a fraction of the cost....
07 February 2004, 01:08 PM
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Well...it all depends!
I have a SECS display (MY02 WRX), and think its great.
I also have a mechanical boost guage and Knocklink
The SECS displays all the wonderful parameters the ECU 'sees', and therein lies the strength and weakness of the product.
Independant gauges are a PITA to install, with loads of sensors, signal wires, power and lighting wiring before you even find somewhere to mount all the dials, without making the interior looking like 1950's fighter plane (...although this look may appeal to you)
The SECS has one simple plug, which fits to the pre-installed Select Monitor output, and takes power etc from there as well, so is much faster and neater to install.
The downside of the SECS is that it reports what the ECU 'sees' - I personally have a Unichip piggy-back which alters the values as reported to the ECU for boost, fuelling, timing, air flow etc, to obtain 'correct' fuelling for what the standard ECU would consider 'excessive' boost. This means that the SECS reports what the ECU is told by the Unichip, not what is really happening.
An example, the highest boost recorded by the SECS dislay is 1.04 bar, the highest boost reported by the mechanical boost guage is 24psi (1.65 bar), so somewhat different!
Additionally with the SECS unit, a digital display is harder to read than the analogue guages, but does record the 'highs' for boost, revs, speed etc (I know Defi's do this as well
)
Final potential negative is that the SECS updates every 1/5th second (IIRC), so is not 'real-time' so to speak (but bl00dy close!)
The SECS is a great piece of kit, but as my next move is for a MoTec ECU, the SECS will be redundant.
In summary, the SECS is really good - and really simple, but does rely on the ECU and sensors. If you are hoping to monitor the 'actual' operation of the engine, you really need separate guages and sensors.
The decision really hinges on:
A) which do you prefer
B) What mods are you thinking of/planning for the car - the more mods you make, the less use the SECS would be (As is my case!)
I also have a mechanical boost guage and Knocklink
The SECS displays all the wonderful parameters the ECU 'sees', and therein lies the strength and weakness of the product.
Independant gauges are a PITA to install, with loads of sensors, signal wires, power and lighting wiring before you even find somewhere to mount all the dials, without making the interior looking like 1950's fighter plane (...although this look may appeal to you
)The SECS has one simple plug, which fits to the pre-installed Select Monitor output, and takes power etc from there as well, so is much faster and neater to install.
The downside of the SECS is that it reports what the ECU 'sees' - I personally have a Unichip piggy-back which alters the values as reported to the ECU for boost, fuelling, timing, air flow etc, to obtain 'correct' fuelling for what the standard ECU would consider 'excessive' boost. This means that the SECS reports what the ECU is told by the Unichip, not what is really happening.
An example, the highest boost recorded by the SECS dislay is 1.04 bar, the highest boost reported by the mechanical boost guage is 24psi (1.65 bar), so somewhat different!
Additionally with the SECS unit, a digital display is harder to read than the analogue guages, but does record the 'highs' for boost, revs, speed etc (I know Defi's do this as well
)Final potential negative is that the SECS updates every 1/5th second (IIRC), so is not 'real-time' so to speak (but bl00dy close!)
The SECS is a great piece of kit, but as my next move is for a MoTec ECU, the SECS will be redundant.
In summary, the SECS is really good - and really simple, but does rely on the ECU and sensors. If you are hoping to monitor the 'actual' operation of the engine, you really need separate guages and sensors.
The decision really hinges on:
A) which do you prefer
B) What mods are you thinking of/planning for the car - the more mods you make, the less use the SECS would be (As is my case!)
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07 February 2004, 06:35 PM
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The useful readouts from SECS are: Lambda ratio (air/fuel), knock correction, water temp, intake temp, boost, oil temp (requires additional sensor), oil pressure (requires additinal sensor) and exhaust gas sensor (requires additional sensor). To replicate this with gauges would be expensive (at least twice the cost) never mind finding somewhere to fit them all. The SECS can be fitted next to the radio if you have a single DIN slot radio or in a pod where the clock is.
In addition the SECS has alarm settings for high water temp and low battery voltage, and can be used to read fault codes and reset the ecu.
I have found a separate boost gauge useful to monitor boost readings at a glance, e.g. for driving off boost when warming up the engine.
Alan
In addition the SECS has alarm settings for high water temp and low battery voltage, and can be used to read fault codes and reset the ecu.
I have found a separate boost gauge useful to monitor boost readings at a glance, e.g. for driving off boost when warming up the engine.
Alan
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