CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD SPREADSHEET FILE

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD ECUX GROUP FILE

Instructions for using the 4xECUx spreadsheet.The 4xECUx is an excel spreadsheet that incorporates visual basic for applications to simplify the process of creating charts using data from APR’s ECU Explorer (ECUx) output. The intent is to enable a quick assessment of the data collected. Up to four separate data pulls can be extracted for display.The following are steps to take to use the spreadsheet.

1. (Optional) Load the CV egp file into ECUx and associate the correct ECU via the properties file. Log data.

2. This egp file is set up to record 32 variables. If you encounter problems with data dropping out, ensure you do not have other software running in the background, and then try reducing the number of variables being recorded.

3. The only variables that the program must have in order to function are:
a. RPM
b. BoostPressureDesired
c. ThrottlePlateAngle

4. Other than the three required variables you may chose to log any variables you wish. If you have been using MarkP’s group file the data it collects will work with this spreadsheet also. The program will only use the 32 variables I have selected in the egp file, additional variables will be ignored.

5. The program uses the three required variables to look for the first block of data that is indicative of a wide-open throttle run. An important point about this to remember, if you aren’t going wide-open throttle then don’t use this spreadsheet to evaluate the data you collect.

6. The order in which you log the variables does not need to be the same as what I have created in the CV group file. This egp file will get the most information out of the program and is optimized to work with the spreadsheet.

7. Log your data and export to csv format, then open the 4xECUx.xls file in Excel. Ensure no other excel spreadsheets are open before proceeding.

8. On the “Main” page there is a section for setting threshold values which tell the program where to look for your key data.
a. Requested Boost Threshold sets a value that once the Requested Boost exceeds tells the program there is a possible area of interest coming up.
b. Requested Boost Change from Previous Value tells the program that if the Requested Boost value has risen by over this amount, an area of interest is coming up. Both of these thresholds must be exceeded for the program to proceed to the next step. The exception is if the throttle plate angle has exceeded 95%. If this occurs the program will check the next criteria.
c. The Throttle Plate Angle Threshold value tells the program at what throttle plate angle or greater it should begin copying data. This is after checking Requested Boost against its threshold values.
d. While creating the program I used the values that are now found in the respective cells. They can be modified, but I found them to work well with the data I tested.

9. Enter your best estimate of the vehicle weight. This data is used to calculate approximate horsepower and torque.

10. The minimum number of data points tell the search routine how many consecutive data points are required to satisfy the criteria for importing data. If a series of data points meets the conditions for a pull, but the number of data points is less than specified, the data series will not be imported. The purpose of this is to avoid importing aborted runs, where the boost and throttle position met the search criteria for a short time, but stopped short of a full pull.

11. The AF Ratio constant is used by an equation that calculates the car’s estimated air to fuel ratio. The term should be tweaked so that the calculated AF Ratio closely approximates a measured AF Ratio on the vehicle. If this is not possible, the default value can be modified so the calculated AF Ratio is close to the desired AF Ratio returned by ECUx, and thereafter can be used for relative comparisons. This will involve some trial and error.

12. The minimum and maximum RPM’s for display can be changed at anytime before or after importing data to scale the axis showing rpm values.

13. Now, select “Run” and find the saved CSV file and open it.

14. The program will find the data of interest, or report no data meets your criteria. It will rearrange the data, perform some calculations, and then chart the results.

15. At this point you may wish to save the excel file with a new name. The 4xECUx.xls file has had the Read-Only property enabled so that you don’t accidentally overwrite the program.

16. My recommendation would be to use the 4xECUx file as a grapher for data contained in your CSV files. Save the CSV files as raw data, and import as desired but don’t save the data in the 4xECUx file. A couple of reasons for this are, the charts created with ECUx make the file large, the CSV files are much smaller. You can also compare various different files against one another very easily if you wish to compare data from various different runs.

17. If you want to permanently save new default values on the Main page, for example, your vehicle weight, you have two options for saving the new information to the file.
a. Before opening the file, use the Windows Properties function to deselect the “Read-Only” property. Then open the file, input your values, save the file, exit, and re-select the “Read-Only” property.
b. Alternatively you can input the values and save the file with a different name. Delete the original 4xECUx.xls file, and then rename the file you just saved to 4xECUx. It is important to use this name as the program uses it when copying from the saved CSV file. Set the “Read-Only” property of the 4xECUx file so you don’t accidentally overwrite it.

18. I have found the program to work most reliably when a fresh copy has been opened. Do not have multiple Excel files open as the program will confuse the data you want to read with the other spreadsheet and crash.

19. Notes about code implementation. The program uses vehicle speed and weight as well as the time stamp to determine horsepower and torque. If the vehicle speed is not recorded, but the gear is, the program will calculate speed from rpm, based off of information obtained from my S4 with 17″ wheels.

20. After importing data and telling the program there are no more files to open, it is still possible to import additional information, another data file. This can only be done if the program has not been closed. The reason for this is that the program retains in memory the information about how many files have been imported. Once the file is closed and reopened, that data is lost. Importing additional data at this point will attempt to overwrite the existing data, which could cause errors on the charts.

Output Explained

One the main page there will be summary information for each imported run. These values should be self-explanatory if you are using ECU explorer. Each tabbed page shows some of the imported data or calculated data. Clicking on each tab will bring up the respective chart as well as resize the chart to fill the window, and adjust the x axis minimum and maximum rpm values to what is specified on the main page.