FXL23 (Superseded by the FXL25 that was superseded by the FXL32 then the FXL35)

A significant upgrade is planned to convert existing FXL23 loggers to FXL36 loggers, so they will be able to run the "Four Pack" with up to four stainless steel pressure senders and up to four Suspension Movement detectors. They will also have the chance to run 11 thermocouples (8 for EGT monitoring and 3 for water / oil temps), as well as other optional sensors for oxygen sensing, vacuum, scoop pressure and other reserved functions.

The FXL23 is a 23 Channel Data Logger designed specifically for V8 engines used in Drag Racing. This is a well developed, proven, mature product. The logger monitors up to 2 switching inputs standard and up to four rpm's standard. Optional sensors are required if the vehicle uses a magneto or a manual transmission.

It can also monitor (with the optional exhaust gas temperature amplifier module) up to eight exhaust gas temperatures and monitor (with another optional analogs amplifier module) up to four pressures, one G Meter and has two inputs for oxygen sensor inputs, (Logger has to be returned for an internal modification) and battery volts monitor.

It can log up to:

Two switch positions:

• Wide Open Throttle - Standard. This triggers the recording.
• Two Step or Transbrake - Standard. This is the Record Inhibit line.

Four rpm's:

• Engine RPM - from the tacho terminal of an MSD ignition - Standard.
  
• Input Shaft RPM - Optional for Manual Transmissions.
  
• Drive Shaft RPM - Sensor and collar supplied standard.
  
• Right Hand Front Wheel Speed in MPH - Sensor and 5 magnets standard.
  

( Magneto equipped engines need the optional crank pickup and magnet kit )

Eight Exhaust Gas Temperatures: Eight K type Thermocouples were supplied with the optional thermocouple amplifier module. The thermocouples are a short probe 110 mm ( approx 4.5 inches ) long. Each thermocouple requires a braided cable. The standard length is 2 meters. Any extra length is charged out at $8 AUD per meter.

Battery Volts Monitor: With the early serial numbers, this is from a single external cable (connected to the 25 pin Dee socket) that had resistance (2 x 8k2 in parallel, to make 4k1) in series with it and was connected to any point the customer wanted to monitor, typically the voltage applied to the ignition. Some of the later serial numbers had an internal mod so they could monitor the applied voltage to the logger. At the time, (1996) there was no convention as to what pin it was on, usually Pin 1, sometimes on Pin 8.

Pressures: Up to four optional pressure sensors can be added. The customer may choose from a combination of up to four high quality, high accuracy stainless steel pressure senders or up to four VDO Marine two wire 10 - 180 ohm oil pressure senders, or any combination of the two types. These VDO senders are not calibrated to readout on the graph, however they give an excellent indication of pressure. The cost per VDO sender is $115 or $125 AUD which includes the cable and is considerably less than the stainless steel senders. These senders are an oil pressure sender, and were never designed to handle methanol fuel. The preferred setup for the pressure senders is two high accuracy stainless steel senders to monitor fuel pressure and boost pressure, and two VDO oil pressure senders to monitor oil pressure and transmission oil pressure.

The pressure ranges and prices for the stainless steel senders are:

0 - 200 psi Normally used for fuel injection pressure, $450 each.
0 - 100 psi Normally used for boost pressure, $450 each.
0 -   50 psi May be used for boost pressure, $450 each.
0 -   25 psi Absolute. This pressure sender monitors from total vacuum to 10 psi above atmospheric. It can be used for up to four separate functions, although not at the same time. It can be used to monitor scoop pressure, fuel pressure up to 10 psi, sump vacuum and plenum vacuum. If you run a normally aspirated engine, then this is the one pressure sender you should have, particularly to monitor scoop pressure. If the scoop can make 1 psi of pressure, then you will get 7 percent more power. Pro Stock cars can get this at 170 mph. This is why some cars can overhaul others at the top end. $450 each.

The pressure ranges for the VDO oil pressure senders are:

28 psi or 2 Bar in metric. Rarely used.
70 psi or 5 Bar in metric. Rarely used.
145 psi or 10 Bar in metric. This is the preferred sender for monitoring engine oil pressure.
362 psi or 25 Bar in metric. This is the preferred sender for monitoring transmission fluid pressure.

2 Bar, 5 Bar and 10 Bar senders are $115 each. 25 Bar senders are $125 each.

A full description about the capabilities of pressure senders is in the you need to know about pressure sensors page. Pressure sensors are not covered by any form of warranty.

G Meter: An optional G Meter module can be fitted to the vehicle and wired into the Analog Amplifier Module. The G Meter needs to be mounted to the chassis of the vehicle and must be pointed in the direction of travel. Arrows are written on the module to indicate the front of the vehicle. $225 each.

Cables: The system comes with a wiring harness cut to the customer requirements, 1.5 meter downloading cable to connect the logger to a lap top and DOS based software for downloading the data and viewing the graph. The customer is required to quote the cable lengths from a list. See the list in the Features page. There is an optional 10 meter long Downloading Cable if the customer will be keeping the computer in the trailer rather than having to mount the computer beside the logger for downloading. This cable is $105 AUD if purchased separately or an extra $60 AUD if selected as an option rather than the 1.5 meter Downloading Cable.

Sample Rate: Sample rate is 100 samples per second. Recording time is 11.33 seconds triggered from the Wide Open Throttle switch when the two step or transbrake is released. This lines up the start of the race with the Time Zero on the Graph. There is a small portion of the recording ( 0.8 seconds ) left behind the Time Zero.

Technical Specifications: 11 May 2005

FXL23 (Superseded model) The FXL23 was designed in February 1996 and 29 were sold.

The serial numbers were 1 - 20 and 45 - 54. Serial Number and Customer Number are the same. If a logger is sold second hand then the new customer has the same customer number.

The FXL23 was made in a blue anodised aluminium box. It had 6 leds on the front panel next to the downloading connector.

It had 4 Dee connectors, one on each side.

On the front is the 9 pin comm port.

On the rear is a 25 pin Dee male connector that connects to the RPM/Switch loom.

On one long side is a 25 pin Dee male that butts against the optional thermocouple amplifier. No cable is used to connect the logger to the thermocouple amplifier module. They simply butt together.

On the other long side has a 25 pin Dee socket that has 8 x 0-5 volt analog inputs plus +12 volts DC.

RPMs: Up to 4. Only Hall Effect Switches are used as these have a high immunity to RF interference. These Hall Effect Sensors are only triggered by the South end of a magnet. Engine rpm can also be monitored if the vehicle has an MSD or Dyna or similar ignition with a tacho terminal. The logger can pick up from the tacho terminal, saving the cost and difficulty of mounting a sensor and magnets to the crank. Input shaft rpm sensing can be done on a manual transmission. It is virtually impossible with an auto because the pump drive is in the way.

Switch Monitors: Up to 2. Wide Open Throttle is essential to trigger the recording. The other is a two step or transbrake monitor which is used as 'Voltage Seeking Record Inhibit' so the vehicle can go to Wide Open Throttle on the line, but not trigger the recording.

Thermocouples: Up to 8 K Type ( Yellow Connectors ) isolated from earth. Only open tip thermocouples are used.

Pressure Senders: Usually a combination of up to two high accuracy stainless steel senders and up to two VDO Marine two wire 10 - 180 ohm senders could be used for the FXL23.

G Meter: Only one is needed. It is connected to the Analog Amplifier Module.

Comm Port 9 pin Dee connector.

This is on what is considered to be the front, beside the 6 LEDs.

The comms port is a simple RS232 format, 9600 baud 8N1. It is set up to only use a null modem cable.

Pin 2 is Data In, Pin 3 is Data out and Pin 5 is earth.

The logger responds to simple ASCII commands, but the replies are in binary, as this is substantially faster to download than ASCII. A more detailed description of the commands and replies are in the You don't want to know about Binary Stuff.

RPM and Switch Connector 25 Pin Dee male connector on the back.

The Four RPM cables will have heat shrink tubing for insulation and identification. The color corresponds to the color of the traces on the DOS based software.

RPM 1 Engine RPM cable if fitted, will have Blue heat shrink.
RPM 2 Input shaft RPM cable if fitted, will have Red heat shrink.
RPM 3 Drive shaft RPM cable is always supplied as standard, will have Green heat shrink.
RPM 4 Front Right Hand Wheel speed if fitted, will have Black heat shrink.

RPM Cable Pin Function: ( Viewed from behind the connector where all the wiring comes out )

Pin 1 RPM 1 Signal - Engine rpm signal return. White/Blue wire.
Pin 2 RPM 1 Power - Engine rpm sensor power. White/Orange wire.
Pin 3 RPM 2 Signal - Input Shaft rpm signal return. White/Blue wire.
Pin 4 RPM 2 Power - Input Shaft rpm sensor power. White/Orange wire.
Pin 5 RPM 3 Signal - Drive Shaft rpm signal return. White/Blue wire.
Pin 6 RPM 3 Power - Drive Shaft rpm sensor power. White/Orange wire.
Pin 7 RPM 4 Signal - Front Right Hand Wheel speed signal return. White/Blue wire.
Pin 8 RPM 4 Power - Front Right Hand Wheel speed sensor power. White/Orange wire.

Pin 9 Voltage seeking two step/transbrake input. Single White wire with short lengths of Green heat shrink tubing. It was originally designed to be Earth seeking, but was changed to be a voltage seeking input. There could be 2 or 3 loggers still having earth seeking input, but most are voltage seeking.

Pin 10 Wide Open Throttle switch power. This is a White/Blue wire which goes to either contact on the Wide Open Throttle switch. There will always be a companion White wire inside the cable. This White wire is an earth from the logger, either pin 22 or 23. The shield is earthed at the logger end of the cable, either pin 23 or 22. It is NOT earthed at the switch. Wrap insulating tape or put on heat shrink tubing at the switch end.

Pin 11 is +9 volts DC to power an external shift light. All the FXL23 and the first 12 of the FXL12 loggers could flash their own optional shift light. Most customers chose to ignore this function, and the it was dropped in later designs.

Pin 12 MSD input. This allowed the logger to connect to the MSD tacho terminal to monitor engine rpm. This is far simpler than fitting a sensor to pick up crank rpm.

Pin 13 Master Power. This is the +12 volts input. Single White wire with short lengths of red heat shrink tubing.

Pin 14 Earth for RPM1 Sensor
Pin 15 Earth for RPM1 Shield
Pin 16 Earth for RPM2 Sensor
Pin 17 Earth for RPM2 Shield
Pin 18 Earth for RPM3 Sensor
Pin 19 Earth for RPM3 Shield
Pin 20 Earth for RPM4 Sensor
Pin 21 Earth for RPM4 Shield
Pin 22 Earth for Wide Open Throttle Switch
Pin 23 Earth for Wide Open Throttle Switch shield

Pin 24 Output from a BC547 transistor (collector) that was able to flash a shift light. Abandoned design.

Pin 25 Master Earth. (This was previously incorrectly stated to be the MSD input. The MSD input is pin 12)

Thermocouple connector for the FXL23.

25 Pin D connector (not compatible with the FXL22, FXL25, FXL32 or FXL35.)

Top Row

Pin   1 is Cylinder 1 positive input YELLOW, matches pin 14.
Pin   2 is Cylinder 2 positive input YELLOW, matches pin 15.
Pin   3 is Cylinder 3 positive input YELLOW, matches pin 16.
Pin   4 is Cylinder 4 positive input YELLOW, matches pin 17.
Pin   5 is Cylinder 5 positive input YELLOW, matches pin 18.
Pin   6 is Cylinder 6 positive input YELLOW, matches pin 19.
Pin   7 is Cylinder 7 positive input YELLOW, matches pin 20.
Pin   8 is Cylinder 8 positive input YELLOW, matches pin 21.
Pin   9 is an earth.
Pin 10 No connection.
Pin 11 No connection.
Pin 12 No connection.
Pin 13 No connection.

Bottom Row

Pin 14 is Cylinder 1 negative input RED, matches pin 1.
Pin 15 is Cylinder 2 negative input RED, matches pin 2.
Pin 16 is Cylinder 3 negative input RED, matches pin 3.
Pin 17 is Cylinder 4 negative input RED, matches pin 4.
Pin 18 is Cylinder 5 negative input RED, matches pin 5.
Pin 19 is Cylinder 6 negative input RED, matches pin 6.
Pin 20 is Cylinder 7 negative input RED, matches pin 7.
Pin 21 is Cylinder 8 negative input RED, matches pin 8.
Pin 22 Earth.
Pin 23 Earth.
Pin 24 Earth.
Pin 25 Earth.

FXL23 Analog Connector: This is a 25 pin D socket connector.

Pin 1 is connected directly to the microprocessor. Do not use this pin. It will erase the program if you do.

Pin 2 Not used.
Pin 3 Not used.
Pin 4 +12 volts out
Pin 5 +12 volts out
Pin 6 is Analog 8 0-5 volt bare input. 1k ohm to earth, 2u2 capacitor for filter.
Pin 7 is Analog 7 0-5 volt bare input. 1k ohm to earth, 2u2 capacitor for filter.
Pin 8 is Analog 6 0-5 volt bare input. 1k ohm to earth, 2u2 capacitor for filter.
Pin 9 is Analog 5 0-5 volt bare input. 1k ohm to earth, 2u2 capacitor for filter.
Pin 10 is Analog 4 0-5 volt bare input. 1k ohm to earth, 2u2 capacitor for filter.
Pin 11 is Analog 3 0-5 volt bare input. 1k ohm to earth, 2u2 capacitor for filter.
Pin 12 is Analog 2 0-5 volt bare input. 1k ohm to earth, 2u2 capacitor for filter.
Pin 13 is Analog 1 0-5 volt bare input. 1k ohm to earth, 2u2 capacitor for filter.
Pin 14 to pin 25 are all earth.