A short review of the 14.7 SLC DIY WBO2 controller/datalogger

[prj]

Introduction
I wanted to post this a very long time ago, and since I now got a bit of free time, I will, because this is genuinely one of the best pieces of kit I have used and is at present without rivals.

Features
You can get the full list of features at the website, but I will outline a few, which I feel are the most important:
* Wideband O2
* EGT
* USB connectivity
* Toggleable display between AFR and EGT
* RPM pickup
* Programmable 0-5V output
* Programmable narrowband output for stock ECU
* Full datalogging
* Seven additional 0-5V loggable inputs
* No calibration needed

Installation
The entire thing arrives as a kit. It has a PCB with pre-soldered microcontroller and SMD resistor and then a large bunch of through-hole components.
Expect soldering to take 2-6 hours, depending on your soldering skill. Or you can let someone do it.
It uses a 20 pin MOLEX connector for all of it's inputs and outputs - which is very nice, because you can get setup quick, and then add different things (MAP sensor input, RPM input) later.
It is also just a rectangular black box. The color of the display is red, the same red as in the instrument cluster of our cars. You can attach it using double sided tape, and you won't need to turn your car into starship enterprise.
Alternatively you can attach it using velcro, and take it inside with you, if you don't like leaving it in the car or your car is parked in some shady place.
Here is a picture of how it looks fully installed in my urS6, the mobile phone camera messes up the gamma a bit, so it seems orange:



The narrowband output allows you to directly replace your old narrowband sensor with a wideband, and feed the simulated output to motronic, which motronic is perfectly happy with.
This has the additional benefit of not needing to make a hole in your exhaust for a second lambda sensor, you will need to do so for EGT though.

Datalogging
The most important part for me.
It uses Winlog for logging.
Using Winlog you can make any dashboard and log everything at the same time. You can also specify custom translation values for every input (as I did with the boost sensor input, to have it show in BAR instead of just a voltage) and if you are so inclined, write additional drivers. It allows you to log from multiple sources onto the same graph, etc. There is more about it on it's website.
Here is what a graph generated by Winlog looks like:


And here is a matrix graph. Those who tune ECU's, will know why this feature is a MUST have:


Prices
Controller: $99
Wideband O2 sensor: $50
EGT Probe: $40
Cable: $10
Total: $200

Because it is sent as a bunch of parts, it usually gets by customs without additional fees.
All the competitive solutions are priced significantly higher, and they do not offer nowhere near as many features.
The one that gets closest is VEMS Round, but it costs exactly twice as much with the sensors included, uses serial port for communication and does not have as many inputs.

Accuracy
There are a few people spreading hearsay about the accuracy of "kits". This controller even has the option to calibrate and compensate for hardware tolerances.
It is spot on when comparing to products from VEMS and AEM, as I have done.

Support
I had a few issues, but the author of the kit resolved all of them and always reacted to all of my e-mails very promptly.
I have only good things to say about the prompt support and communication from the seller. All my worries were taken care of.
There is also a discussion forum for the product here:

http://www.14point7.com/forum/

Conclusion
For the money, this is the best you can get, period.
Even if you put the small cost aside, you are getting EGT, Wideband O2 and datalogging in one neat package, with good support and features, that no other solution on the market has to offer.
I hope the creator of this controller sells many, many more of them, as for each one sold there will be a little bit less frustration when diagnosing faults or tuning a car.

Alternative
If you don't need EGT and you don't feel like soldering anything, you can get most of the same functionality (except just one 0-5V input and no EGT) in the form of SLC Pure Plus.
Check it out as well

[Acidburn]

lot of features for the money, how long you been running it and if you don't mind me asking what issue's have you had?

Only bit I can't get over is the similarity of that and:


the back to the future speedo

[prj]

When I received the kit, it was missing the small red plexiglass overlay, which makes the display readable at daytime.
Also, the narrowband output was stuck at 0.9V.

The first issue was resolved, after I was shipped another bit of plexiglass.
The second issue was due to a firmware bug in the controller, so I had to send it back and have it reprogrammed.

There was also another bug (which did not affect me), which was when AFR dipped below 10.26, it would show "69", but that is fixed as well. It does not display below 10.26, because the Bosch sensor is not specified lower than that. You can verify that yourself by reading the datasheet.

If you buy a controller now, you will of course receive a version where all that is ironed out. I have not noticed any other issues.
I also did not incur any additional costs, everything was paid for by the seller.

I have been using it for about half a year now I think, works just as well as day 1.

[Acidburn]

is it possible to get one prebuilt?

[prj]

Nope, you would have to buy SLC Pure Plus.
It is interesting to build your own kit, but if you had to do it for others multiple times, I'd imagine it'd be really, really boring.

There is no crazy precise soldering there or anything though, it's just a bunch of through-hole components.

[s2_wot]

is it possible to get one prebuilt?

x2

[prj]

You can just buy the kit and let someone local do the soldering job for money.
The creator of the kit said that he does not like soldering, and he would not do it, even if I offered him money for it.

Honestly, soldering through-hole components is fun the first couple times, and then it gets tedious. Just like socketing a ECU for example.
It's fine to do it for your own need - because you have this bunch of parts and it's really cool when you put it together like LEGO and it becomes greater than the sum of it's parts

[Acidburn]

ok thats interesting to know. Something more to add into the list of stuff to get.

[rs200]

I thin that price is ok. but only thing I can't stand this is digital gauge...OMG...

must be analog gauge..

[prj]

Well, you can take an analogue gauge with a linear input and use the output on the SLC DIY to feed the gauge.

That way you can have an analogue gauge.
What is the problem?

[s2_wot]

They do a plug / play version too, but more expensive naturally. Thanks Dmitri, looks like a nice piece of kit.

[prj]

The plug and play version does not have EGT though
That is why I like the DIY version. It is cheaper and has much more features.

You really don't need to have a hand like a surgeon or be a genius to put it together.
As long as you have some basic soldering experience, and a decent soldering iron, you will do just fine!

[rs200]

Well, you can take an analogue gauge with a linear input and use the output on the SLC DIY to feed the gauge.

That way you can have an analogue gauge.
What is the problem?

well I don't like digital gauge.. don't know why , but only thing in my car on digital gauge will be EGT... because analog dont existe .. everything else must be analog..

g4 gauge from inovative motorsport cost 90$ ,and whole kit 250$ , then I my case is better to get from inovative..
I realy don't like digital.. have a alergy on it...

[Rocco]

Dmitri, are you using the stock narrowband hole position in your downpipe with the wideband sensor?? always i´ve heard that the wideband sensors should be just before the cats position,around 1 meter back from turbo exhaust and in the upper pipe position like the analogclocks at 10:10 hours....

this item seems to be very similar to the Zetronix

[prj]

well I don't like digital gauge.. don't know why , but only thing in my car on digital gauge will be EGT... because analog dont existe .. everything else must be analog..

g4 gauge from inovative motorsport cost 90$ ,and whole kit 250$ , then I my case is better to get from inovative..
I realy don't like digital.. have a alergy on it...

Erm...
You can SWITCH the SLC DIY to show EGT.
And use a separate ANALOG gauge for AFR.

Innovate LC-1 has Serial communications, no additional logging inputs, no RPM pickup, no EGT (you have to pay extra), no boost logging...
Sorry, but I do not understand your logic.

Dmitri, are you using the stock narrowband hole position in your downpipe with the wideband sensor?? always i´ve heard that the wideband sensors should be just before the cats position,around 1 meter back from turbo exhaust and in the upper pipe position like the analogclocks at 10:10 hours....

this item seems to be very similar to the Zetronix

Yes, I am using it in stock location and I have NO problems with it.
ZT-2 costs over twice as much, but yes, it is also a good product.