[bwilson4web]

Ok,

We can not have SPAM even for products that could be useful for hybrid owners. But in this case, I have some comments and to allow the original poster to reply, I have not banned the user ... yet:

goodmagtan said:

V-checker A301 introduction：
V-checker A301 is a multi-function trip computer which helps users to quickly access to vehicle
trouble code information and vehicle status. . . .
Function Descrption：
1.Quickly retrieves vehicle Diagnostic Trouble Codes and other vehicle security information.
2.Displays real time oil consumption data, helps lowering maintenance cost.
3.Clears trouble code information and saves maintenance costs.
4.Real time vehicle trouble alerts include vehicle malfunction、high water temperature,
over-low battery voltage, fatigue driving, over-speed, maintenance reminding, shift reminding.
5.Displays vehicle parameters, including engine speed, air pressure,
real time oil consumption, acceleration performance, coolant temperature,
oxygen sensor voltage.
6.Displays vehicle parameters, including engine speed, air pressure,
real time oil consumption, acceleration performance, coolant temperature,
oxygen sensor voltage.
. . .
All models support the OBD standard.
. . .

The problems with this product:

• No listing of supported vehicle protocols - OBD is just a 16-pin connector but there are several protocols that use different pins and timing plus the manufacturer specific interfaces. For example, my NHW11, 2003 Prius, uses ISO-9141, KWP2000 but my wife's Prius uses CANbus on a different set of pins. Without listing these protocols, one can not tell if it will really work with any given hybrid.
• Only display, no recording - there are many scanners that display stuff to distract the driver but a serious user needs to have the data recorded for analysis. For example, I am using Autoengiuity to record selected vehicle data to analyze oil additive performance.
• No user defined codes - the really interesting and useful data is found in the vendor codes but this scanner has no ability to let owners program in these vehicle specific codes. For example, my NHW11 had 38 modules whose voltages are reported in 19 pairs. This scanner does not let me enter the commands needed to read out these voltages like I can with my ScanGauge.

I have tested about half a dozen scanners and own Graham miniscanners, ScanGauge, AutoEnginuity, and one over-the-counter unit that I failed to return fast enough. Other scanners were bought, tested and returned for cause. Yet I've started some code to make my own ELM scanner because I remain so disappointed with what is on the market. Feel free to share my comments with the community.

Bob Wilson

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Bob,

This guy needs to get real, he lists out "real time oil consumption" twice when I think he means fuel consumption. He is also listing basic parameters that any scan tool you can pick up at a local box store or auto parts store can do. I keep an Actron CP9180 at the office to scan codes for the guys there that will do more than that and it's a cheap scanner that was purchased at AutoZone.

Anything more and the Modis comes out to get torque, RPM and temps on MG1 and MG2 as well as module voltages, ohm readings on the packs, battery temps, etc.

[bwilson4web]

GeorgiaHybrid is right and at the risk of piling on, there are some details to add.

The original poster is Chinese and his English leaves a lot to be desired but some of their products are useful even if the "Owner Manual" reads like ... some of my poorly edited postings. An engineer by nature and training, my poor spelling and grammar skills means I've always had to treat English as a foreign language. <grins>

The EPA mandated the OBD as a means to keep emissions systems in cars working or maintained. The "Check Engine Light" is part of this emissions related maintenance system. In fact back in the 1980s, it was common to use a jumper to have the "Check Engine Light" flash errors codes. The OBD connector made reading the standard set of emissions related faults much easier. Sad to say, this manufacturer, as GeorgiaHybrid points out, implemented just the minimum set related to emissions and such scanners can be bought for less than $50.

Beyond the minimum, emissions set are the really interesting metrics such as torque, traction battery current and voltage and a host of hybrid fields that let us really understand what is going on. I've had three products that provided some Prius hybrid data:

• Graham miniscanner, $250, ISO-9141/KWP2000, RS-232 recording port - works only with the NHW11 Prius, this scanner provides about 50 data fields that are critical to understand what is going on. No programming beyond selecting the 4-6 current data fields.
• AutoEnginuity, $450 and your laptop, ISO-9141/KWP2000 and CANbus, data recording - works with all Prius models, more or less and can record all data fields per electronic control units (ECU.) However, it won't record data across different ECUs, say both transaxle and engine fields. Worse, they have flaws in some of the data fields that remain uncorrected and the ZVW30 fields were late and have yet to include the transaxle and traction battery ECU data.
• ScanGauge, $175, ISO-9141/KWP2000 and CANbus, no data recording only four fields - works with all Prius models but the absence of data recording makes engineering data analysis difficult unless the display is monitored with a video recorder. It does support up to 25, user defined, XGAUGEs for specific data fields across any combination of ECUs.

These are the only scanners I can recommend for the Prius community and only the last two have any chance of working for all hybrids. The Graham miniscanner was the best of the lot but limited to just the NHW11. The other two either lack data recording or have flawed implementations.

I was hoping my comments might lead the original poster to consider what needs to be in their next design ... if they ever have another one. It is important to share with our community what works and doesn't work in scanners.

Bob Wilson

[jdenenberg]

I can add two new scanners that are under development to Bob's list:

• Rennacs - Works for NWH10 Prii (Japanese version) now as well as a generic OBD2 scanner. The New Zealand developer promises to extend the software to the newer models this summer.
• pEEf - A sharp computer engineer in CA (he is active on Prius Chat) is about done developing his very versatile, low cost scanner for NWH11 Prii. He intends to update the firmware for the Gen3 Prii soon thereafter.

I have the ScanGuage2 which is useful, but as Bob says it is marginally effective for tracking hybrid parameters.

JeffD

[HighDesertHybrids]

jdenenberg said:

• pEEf - A sharp computer engineer in CA (he is active on Prius Chat) is about done developing his very versatile, low cost scanner for NWH11 Prii. He intends to update the firmware for the Gen3 Prii soon thereafter.

This is a CAN-based system, so would be for NWH20 but not NWH11? If it is possible to have user programming and the ability to plug in a laptop, then this may be the best alternative for Gen II and III in the future, at least if the primary concern is data collection across multiple ECUs.

[bwilson4web]

HighDesertHybrids said:

This is a CAN-based system, so would be for NWH20 but not NWH11? If it is possible to have user programming and the ability to plug in a laptop, then this may be the best alternative for Gen II and III in the future, at least if the primary concern is data collection across multiple ECUs.

I have a parallel effort for ELM software that I plan to use ScanGauge, XGAUGE definitions for the protocol. The ELM claims to have both CANbus and ISO9141 capability so it would be easy enough to let the Layer 1/2 definitions be programmable.

My goal is a data recorder with a round-robbin, data archive and wireless connectivity to display system(s). The idea is a WiFi equipped iPod/iPad/<other> unit's browser could either display near real-time data and/or access the recorded archives to pull out engineering data.

Bob Wilson

[billysbarn]

bwilson4web said:

I have a parallel effort for ELM software that I plan to use ScanGauge, XGAUGE definitions for the protocol. The ELM claims to have both CANbus and ISO9141 capability so it would be easy enough to let the Layer 1/2 definitions be programmable.

My goal is a data recorder with a round-robbin, data archive and wireless connectivity to display system(s). The idea is a WiFi equipped iPod/iPad/<other> unit's browser could either display near real-time data and/or access the recorded archives to pull out engineering data.

Bob Wilson

Hi Bob
Have you any conclusions yet about the new 4.05 Scangauge2?
Does it have any extra features like recording etc?
Thanks
Billy

[bwilson4web]

billysbarn said:

. . .
Have you any conclusions yet about the new 4.05 Scangauge2?
Does it have any extra features like recording etc?
. . .

For the NHW11, it handles IOS-9141/KWP2000 better and does not need a pig-tail that passed only ground, power, K-line, and L-line. Thanks to Vincent1449p, I have added 23 important diagnostic, information, and key Prius metrics so it has become my primary diagnostic device to shoot the problems of other NHW11 Prius.

I do not have an NHW20 to test but I believe a ScanGauge with the diagnostic XGAUGEs would be an excellent choice. There is nothing worse than to be on a trip and have an error light come on and no way to read out what is going on . . . like having a flat tire and discovering your spare is flat too.

In our ZVW30, the standard, emissions fields work just fine. I know work is being done on getting more XGAUGE definitions but it is slow work. For example, I have AutoEnginuity 9.1 and it sees a lot more data as it shadows the TechStream diagnostic system.

There is a documented 'trip record' but I haven't tested it. Because there is no data interface, the information has to be manually transcribed.

Bob Wilson

[billysbarn]

Thanks Bob.
I will postpone my purchase until you are happy that any bugs have been sorted out.
BR
Billy

[billysbarn]

Oh. I forgot to mention that my car is a Lexus RX400h and am fitting an Enginer PHEV kit, so I want to monitor its performance.
I am also trying to find out the ECU connection to fit an EV switch as their instructions refer only to the Prius.. If anybody knows, can the please tell me!!!
Thanks
Billy