Nanocom & Instrument Mode improvements & Idea

[BBS Guy]

Although the Nanocom Evolution does of course provide all the usual diagnostic abilities, it also provides what we call an instrument mode, that in short provides a selection of pages that can be used for displaying additional information to the driver via its TFT screen, like pressures, Air & fuel flow / usage and much more.

I don't know how many Nanocom owners use this particular feature, but I do know that to some it represents much more day to day type usefullness to Nanocom ownership, which is why we also offer a Windscreen type mount.

For TD5 engined Vehicle owners, it has always been possible to configure their Nanocoms such that when powered up it auto starts in Instrument mode, and likewise they have had the ability to record the Data to a CSV file on an inserted SD card, such that those expert with the likes of Microsofts Excel can import and use the data.

In recent months however, it is quite an understaement to say we have vastly improved things.

To start with, we created the additional CSV viewer software I have already posted about in this section, which is very powerful.
This then caused us to address and re work a lot of unit type and timing information issues in the instrument mode itself, for which we are still working on the documentation.
We then added Instrument modes for all other Vehicle engine managements, including my own 2010 Sport.
We then added CSV saving functions for all of them.
Next we made it so that Auto start was possible on CAN BUS vehicles.
We then Implimented an auto recording feature.
Along the way we have provided editable Tyre Co efficients on all Instrument modes to deal with MPH V KMH/ KPH road speeds.
We have also implimented over temperature warnings, that most recently I am testing differing sound options as well as flashing warning effects.

Most lately we have tackeld the possibility that when the instrument mode is Auto started as well as having set up Auto Record, but their is no SD card present, that you now have an option to either insert one and carry on, or temporarily cancel auto record until the next Auto start.

It really seems that we have been following and chasing a path where solving one problem or adding some new improvement, leads to another problem or issue arizing, even if it is of lesser note, that TBH we have spent more time chasing that we ever imagined and at some point will have to call it a day on this.

I personally am probably the greatest benefactor of these recent improvements,
I got Instrument Mode for my own Can BUS vehicle in the form of a choice of about 5 pages to choose from.
I got the ability to set my Nanocom to automatically enter instrument mode when I power it up, which i can do with just touching the screen for a couple of seconds.
I got the ability to save the data to my SD card.
I got the ability to now set this data saving to be automatically done.
I got the ability to analyse the fies and data and even replay it all on my PC.
I got the ability to set up a display of MPH or KPH based road speeds
I got the ability to set up an over temp warning, featuring selectable sounds and even a flashing warning display.

I reallly feel that I should be happy, but having all this has maybe left me a little spoiled. This is because every time my instrument mode starts / Auto starts, it is always showing the first screen, however my viewing preference is actually the third screen. I just love to see the Inlet manifold pressure / Turbo Boost Pressure compared to Ambient.

I know it is only a couple of button presses to change the displayed page to the third page, but it is not so easy in practice when you are driving etc.

As the Boss, I could just demand / Ask that my guys add yet another feature to an alreadly seemingly endless chain in the form of the ability and functionality that the Nanocom Remember the last displayed page, such that it would return to that page. However I do wonder if I am taking things too far and may be concentrating too much on my own personal preferences.

So I thought that I might solicit a more wider input and gather opinion from other Nanocom owners / Instrument mode users.

So I ask the question, does anyone else see a benefit to having the Nanocom auto start it's Instrument mode in a display Page other than the first ?

ATB

Colin

[Xtreme]

Don't be apologetic for the numerous functions that you have now designed and are adding to the Nanocom functionality.

I use the instrument mode regularly on the Td5 Defender and have often thought that it would be nice if it auto started on the desired page. I also look forward to the temperature warning feature that you are working on - a very useful addition which will eliminate the need (and cost) for a separate instrument.

However, I must confess that I haven't had the time recently to explore all of this amazing instrument's capabilities. To date I haven't even found the OBDII socket in the Freelander to use it there. :o

Thanks again Colin for all these enhancements without the additional charges so often found with other software based systems. It's no wonder that Nanocoms hold their value so well and have so many satisfied owners - many of us who haven't yet utilised anywhere near their full capabilities. ;)

I must go and find that OBDII socket on the Freelander now!

[gavinwibrow]

Hi Colin. Please don't stop your enhancements thinking. The unit has come a long way, as have your support mechanisms.

Of course you could always revisit the instrument mode (which I use regularly with my 2 Evo units which are permanently fitted into my cars (along with carrying a BBS kicker in the RRC).
I did raise with you some time ago the possibility of not only accessing separate pages, but also the prospect of individual/customisable menus for each page. For example, I normally use page 1 because I'm paranoid about overheating (audio in addition to the visual warning will be great) but I really don't normally need to read revs or speed because they are in the main dash, and a choice of alternative replacement readings would be great.
Likewise many people (not me) have a separate boost gauge often in conjunction with EGT, so they would not need that function on page 1.

I realise we are dealing in the outer regions here, BUT if you feel inclined to continue fiddling, for which we are very grateful, no harm in asking!!!!
Cheers and keep up the good work. Gavin

[Disco-tastic]

Hi Colin.

You know i am still trying to decide between your unit and another for my D3. Something i really want a diagnostic tool for is live readings for temp for transmission and engine, as well as other interesting tidbits like exhaust temp and throttle position.

A customisable page would be awesome, and would make the unit that much more of a permanent fixture. Lots of people mount extra gauges and temp alarms and to have all of that it one, customisable unit which does so much more... well i think that would be awesome.

Cheers

Dan

[Stuart02]

Hi Colin,
Love the ongoing development.
I haven't seriously entertained keeping the unit permanently plugged in cos of the cable and OBD port position. Even a right angle plug would keep the cable away from my right foot more.
That aside, it'd be super cool if when offroading it could start up in suspension mode for adjustments on the fly (rods and other suspension mods could become obsolete!)
Cheers
Dean
PS any luck finding the extra cylinders and MAF on the TDV8?

[gavinwibrow]

Right angle plugs for the Evo end are available, and I think BBS even has them in their shop now?

[Stuart02]

Right angle plugs for the Evo end are available, and I think BBS even has them in their shop now?

Sweet!

[Rok_Dr]

So I ask the question, does anyone else see a benefit to having the Nanocom auto start it's Instrument mode in a display Page other than the first ?


Good idea! I also like Gavin's suggestion of being able to customise what parameters are displayed on each screen, but suspect that will be a step too far at present.

Cheers

Steve

[BBS Guy]

Thanks to all for your feedback on this,

following which I have one of my guys on this instrument selection page save / auto return feature addition already, and will hopefully be trialing it myself when it is implimented before it gets into the next Beta release.
TBH I really cannot wait and due to these recent changes find myself becoming more a daily user of the Nanocom rather than the owner of the company that makes it, if that makes sense

As such I also find the idea of a customisable Instrument mode page appealing, however knowing the equipment as i do, as many suspect, implimenting that, even if possible at all, would take many months of work and have a very heavy impact on the Nanocoms Graphic resources that I believe would indeed be a step too far.

In apologizing for this, I would humbly ask everyone to consider that the Instrument mode function is not something any other diagnostic equipment provider includes at all. The nanocom freely provides this as an additional benefit and function that is barely mentioned in our sales literature, if at all.

We have clearly already invested a substantial amount of time, money and resources that almost entirely and at no additional cost, mainly benefits existing owners, especially given that prospective owners will likely only ever discover the instrument mode functionality the Nanocom has some time after they have purchased one.

I once again have case to thank the members of this forum for their input, assistance, feedback and guidance.

Warmest regards and thanks to all

Colin

[Ferret]

...Instrument mode function is not something any other diagnostic equipment provider includes at all.

Not really familiar with nanocom so perhaps I'm misunderstanding something about what 'instrument mode' is. And my intention is not to start an argument about which gadget is better. I'm sure your product and service is competitive with alternatives in the market, however, I'm not sure what you're saying here is correct.

GAP's IID tool allows from 1 to six of any selected parameter to be displayed live, either as a numeric display of changing values or as a graph updating in real time. The user picks and chooses as they wish from anything that is being measured, all displayed at the same time on the same display.

Perhaps nanocom's 'instrument mode' is something different to what GAP is doing. If so then I guess this is an opportunity to explain the difference to those who are not yet nanocom owners.

[Fluids]

Instrument mode is very much what you describe ... Page 1 shows rpm, speed, coolant temp, battery voltage, boost .... Page 2 shows .... Page 3 shows .... and so on.

What's been asked is if we could "tag" in a setup screen, any mix of up to 6 parameters that are currently available across the 5 instrument mode screens, and have them displayed together on a single screen.

[BBS Guy]

Hello Ferret:
No worries or argument here, just healthy discussion and information exchange, and I understand your point, easy misunderstanding and question, and of course would be only too happy to explain and provide more detail and understanding as you suggest about the difference between inputs and our "unique" Instrument mode function, even with some pictures to help.

Like most good diagnostic equipment, the Nanocom also provides the ability to select pages that provide live input information which updates in real time. Here is a picture of one by example.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/07/712.jpg (http://www.blackbox-solutions.com/photos/INSTM/inputs.jpg)

However, given that the nanocom Evolution has it's own built in full colour TFT display, and is small enough to be permanenty mounted in a vehicle, It seemed a good idea to provide the ability to use it not just as an occasionally used traditional menu driven diagnostic tool, but also as a secondary Instrument to the usual Instrument pack, displaying EMS input information in real time not normally avaliable to the driver.

To that end we also offer a range of mounting hardware, including RA leads that allows the Nanocom to be located in easy view of the driver as desired.

To the Left

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/07/713.jpg


Or the Right
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/07/714.jpg


It is even possible to invert the display 180 degrees to best suit fitment and best cable routing for LHD / RHD or personal preference, but more important the Nanocom can be set to automatically go directly into this Instrument mode display when it is powered up rather than the usual diagnostic menu.

As a second Instrument display, instead of just some boring Live data display, we made it look the part in providing a retro display style for the values that emulates the origional Green seven segment type displays and we also provide a the choice of several pre configured display screens with different Data on each.


Here are 3 pictures of some instrument Mode displays from my own Sport

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/07/715.jpg


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/07/716.jpg


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/07/717.jpg


It goes even further in providing an ability to alter the math used in the road speed calculation to cater for different wheel sizes and MPH / KPH aspects as well as setting up an over temperature alert at a user choosable temperature.

I would humbly add that although the Nanocoms display and processing ability means it cannot do real time trace graphing, and as I have stated custom selection of parameters is a really big ask, it does however have the ability to record all live data to a CSV file on it's SD card, that can now also be set to be done Automatically among other options.

I unhumbly also add that any number of these CSV files can then be pulled into our recent and free CSV viewer software, where they can be filtered as desired, replayed at multiple speeds, merged, zoomed into, out of, are shown in real time and much, much more etc. This software provides simply outstanding capabilities and we are very proud of it.

Here are a few basic screen shots.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/07/718.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/07/719.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/07/720.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/07/721.jpg



I can but only hope this all helps in better understanding and appreciating why this is called an instrument mode over just being an input display as well as my statement of it's uniqueness to the Nanocom :-)

Hiya druids:
Yep I did indeed understand that the request was for an ability to pick through existing parameters to create a custom page, but as I stated this would not be quick or easy. By example if we did it, we would have to do it for all Engine managements, not just one ;)

ATB

Colin

[cjc_td5]

Old thread I know but...
Anyone know if the Nanocom can display EGTs for the D4 3.0l TDV6? The 3.0l TDV6 has EGT sensors and I know the GAP Iidtool can display EGT, but I cannot find EGT in the Nanocom Instrument Display screens??

Anyone know if this is doable??

Cheers,
Chris

[sierrafery]

Old thread I know but...
Anyone know if the Nanocom can display EGTs for the D4 3.0l TDV6? The 3.0l TDV6 has EGT sensors and I know the GAP Iidtool can display EGT, but I cannot find EGT in the Nanocom Instrument Display screens??

Anyone know if this is doable??

Cheers,
Chris
It certainly cant display EGT in instrument mode, i went through all the D4 engine management's electric diagrams as that EGT thing seemed odd to me and i can tell you 100% that there's no EGT sensor shown in the diagrams... so if that GAP IID shows such value IMO it's some emulated or calculated figure not a real thing, there are two sensors on the exhaust but IMO they can't be named EGT if we consider the real EGT being pre-turbo, there is one pre-CAT and one post CAT temp sensor unfortunately not shown by nanocom according to the emulator i've seen so maybe the pre-CAT one can be considered as post turbo EGT?.... nanocom is a smart tool so if there was a EGT sensor i'm sure it would have displayed that reading but i have no personal experience with the D4 i'm just grasping at straws based on the electric diagrams

can you provide some evidence about that EGT reading shown by the GAP tool cos it's really strange

EDIT: digging deeper... in the 5 electric diagrams of "Electronic engine controlls" no EGT sensor is shown while in the workshop manual same "Electrionic engine controlls - Component locations" layout there is one on the downpipe nr 1 in the scheme named exactly "EGT sensor" so a post-turbo EGT, i have read the system's "Description and operation" too and nothing mentioned about this sensor either .... so it appears in only one component layout but not in the electric diagrams nor in the system's description which is in the same chapter with the layout which shows it :wallbash:.... i'm stumped

[cjc_td5]

It certainly cant display EGT in instrument mode, i went through all the D4 engine management's electric diagrams as that EGT thing seemed odd to me and i can tell you 100% that there's no EGT sensor shown in the diagrams... so if that GAP IID shows such value IMO it's some emulated or calculated figure not a real thing, there are two sensors on the exhaust but IMO they can't be named EGT if we consider the real EGT being pre-turbo, there is one pre-CAT and one post CAT temp sensor unfortunately not shown by nanocom according to the emulator i've seen so maybe the pre-CAT one can be considered as post turbo EGT?.... nanocom is a smart tool so if there was a EGT sensor i'm sure it would have displayed that reading but i have no personal experience with the D4 i'm just grasping at straws based on the electric diagrams

can you provide some evidence about that EGT reading shown by the GAP tool cos it's really strange

EDIT: digging deeper... in the 5 electric diagrams of "Electronic engine controlls" no EGT sensor is shown while in the workshop manual same "Electrionic engine controlls - Component locations" layout there is one on the downpipe nr 1 in the scheme named exactly "EGT sensor" so a post-turbo EGT, i have read the system's "Description and operation" too and nothing mentioned about this sensor either .... so it appears in only one component layout but not in the electric diagrams nor in the system's description which is in the same chapter with the layout which shows it :wallbash:.... i'm stumped

The 3.0l TDV6 has EGT probes. Attached is an extract from the workshop manual. There is one for each turbo bank. The data is collected, it is just if the Nanocom will display it.

[sierrafery]

Yes that's what i've seen in that component layout as well, though as i said in the same TDV6's electric circuit diagrams no such sensor appears to be connected to the ECU and in the system's description is not mentioned either:confused:... i checked all the 5 sheets of diagrams and the description that's why i'm confused also nanocom doesnt have such reading displayed...also IMO a proper EGT probe should be fitted before the turbo not after it even though this is subject of many debates

[sierrafery]

Here are the first pages from the workshop manual where the EGT appears in the component layout then nothing about it in the overview and further in the description and operation only the components named in the overview list are described :

ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROLS - TDV6 3.0L DIESEL

ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROLS - COMPONENT LOCATION (G1246384)



DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION

Component Location - Sheet 1 of 3
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/08/612.jpg




ITEM
DESCRIPTION


1
Exhaust gas temperature sensor


2
DPF (diesel particulate filter) pressure pipes (connected to differential pressure sensor located on top of transmission)


3
DPF temperature sensors


4
DPF


5
Catalyst (RH (right-hand) bank)


6
HO2S (heated oxygen sensor)


7
Pre-catalyst temperature sensor





ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROLS - TDV6 3.0L DIESEL

ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROLS - OVERVIEW (G1246385)



DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION


OVERVIEW
The 3.0L V6 diesel engine has an ECM (engine control module) controlled engine management system. Multiple sensor inputs and precision control of actuators are used by the ECM to achieve optimum performance during all driving conditions.
The ECM receives and processes information from the following input sources:


Oil level sensor
Secondary turbocharger shut-off sensor
Secondary turbocharger boost pressure sensor
Generator
Differential pressure sensor
CMP (camshaft position) sensor
CKP (crankshaft position) sensor
Fuel rail pressure sensor
Fuel temperature sensor
Air charge temperature sensor
ECT (engine coolant temperature) sensor
TP (throttle position) sensor
MAF (mass air flow) sensor
MAF/IAT (intake air temperature) sensor
MAP (manifold absolute pressure) sensor
EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) sensors
HO2S (heated oxygen sensor)
Catalyst and Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) temperature sensors
Brake lamp switch

The ECM outputs controlling signals to the following sensors and actuators:


A/C (air conditioning) compressor clutch solenoid
A/C compressor clutch
Fuel injectors
Glow plug relay
Fuel pressure control valve
Fuel volume control valve
Fan control module
Vacuum control valves (EGR cooler by-pass, secondary turbocharger compressor shut-off, secondary turbocharger turbine shut-off)
ABS (anti-lock brake system) module
TCM (transmission control module)
Instrument cluster
RCM (restraints control module)
Primary turbocharger control module
EGR recirculation valves
Alternator
Throttle actuator
Secondary turbocharger compressor recirculation valve