3 aeroforce gauge overkill?

[Kermit]

I will be getting Vegas Nate's center gauge pod once they are available but I'm having a hard time deciding what gauges to put in it.
He can make a two or three pod (he recommends the three because two would not look as good in the middle of the dash) so I'm looking at doing the three.

Now for gauges. I have my eye on the AeroForce Interceptors because of the multi-reading that it can do by hooking up to the OBD II port. http://aeroforcetech.com/products_interceptor.html
I get two displays for each gauge for a total of 6 readouts if I wanted. Do you think 3 interceptors are overkill? Maybe 2 interceptors and 1 analogic gauge that looks like the interceptor (for consistency in appearance) but hooks up like a traditional gauge which I would read boost and Air/fuel ratio.

If I get these gauges that hook up to my OBD II port, what would I have to do when I get tuned by HPtuners. If I unplug the gauges, I loose power and info to the gauges. I would need to at least know my Air/fuel ratio and boost to help with my tuning. That's why I think getting one analogic gauge that is hooked up like a traditional one would be fine because that one would not be affected by the HPtuners.

Any and all input would be helpful.

Thanks for reading my novel.

[Eidolon]

I don't think three gauges are overkill. I like mine a LOT. I've got the HSV trim. Now that I think about it, I don't think I ever posted that I put these in.

http://www.eidolways.com/images/G8/mods/gauge-1.jpg

The gauges can be hooked up to be powered off of your OBD-II port or you can wire them in to separate accessory power. They give you the option to do either. If you want to run a wideband, they also give you that option (http://aeroforcetech.com/products_sensors.html). Their wideband sensor would tie in to a separate header on a single Aeroforce gauge and would not take data from the OBD-II port. So if you wire them for separate power and use their wideband sensor, you may be able to get AFR readings for tuning and still have the OBD-II cable unplugged. You'd have to ask them to be sure, though.

[locrzn#92]

Looks good to me.

[Daniel Linnett]

I would love to change my two in the JHP pod and get rid of the atari gauges. THe tripple aeroforce looks sick!

[Eidolon]

Crazy Paul was also great to deal with for the ordering process. If you've never ordered anything through him, it's almost worth doing so just for the experience of it. So the HSV trim through Crazy Paul and, now, Nate's triple-pod trim are both terrific options. Just depends on what you want.

Wiring up the gauges was also a piece of cake, since there's so much empty space behind the dash that running anything is easy. If you go with a three-gauge setup, Aerforce sends you a one-OBDII-to-two-gauge cable, a one-OBDII-to-one-gauge cable, and a third party one-OBDII-to-two-OBD II splitter cable. You hook up the gauges, then run the two OBDII connectors to the third-party splitter, then plug it up and that's it. I coiled up the spare wire and zip-tied it into place behind the driver side kick panel. So the only downside is the rather thick connector sticking out of the OBDII port. I can provide a pic, if you'd like.

EDIT: Note that if you need to wire up accessory power so your gauges remain powered when you unplug the OBDII, things do get a bit more complicated.

[Kermit]

The gauges can be hooked up to be powered off of your OBD-II port or you can wire them in to separate accessory power. They give you the option to do either. If you want to run a wideband, they also give you that option (http://aeroforcetech.com/products_sensors.html). Their wideband sensor would tie in to a separate header on a single Aeroforce gauge and would not take data from the OBD-II port. So if you wire them for separate power and use their wideband sensor, you may be able to get AFR readings for tuning and still have the OBD-II cable unplugged. You'd have to ask them to be sure, though.

Looks good from what I can tell!!

So it looks like I CAN get three but use one of them as my designated boost and A/F read out. Just get their sensors and hook up that one gauge to a different power source. That way, when I tune I still get to read boost and A/F and not worry about the other two gauges which actually can be monitored by HPtuners.
This helps a lot.
Yes, please get a pic of the OBD II hook up that you have now. It can't be THAT bulky can it? :)

I'm just now waiting on a response from Aeroforce service department to confirm some stuff.

Thanks a lot Eidolon

[Eidolon]

Here's a pic, a little rough though it may be.

http://www.eidolways.com/images/G8/mods/OBD2.jpg

So you can see it sticks out a little bit. I occasionally brush it with the toes of my clutching foot. This is just the cable they give you, though. There are 90 degree cables (http://www.scantool.net/cable-j1962m-right-angle-to-j1962f-2ft.html) available that would likely fix this. The cubby you see just above the connector is the hood release latch cubby, by the way.

[Kermit]

That does not look too bad. I will ask for the 90 degree plug if they offer it. Still waiting on a reply. Starting to get annoyed in the lack of a response.

[VinnieMacsG8]

I had them in my Prix. Only used 2 in mine, didnt really have the need personally for more than 4 readouts (Boost psi, KR, Ignition Adv, Something random for the 4th like IAT)

[Eidolon]

Still waiting on a reply. Starting to get annoyed in the lack of a response.
Yeah, their responses were never immediate for me, either. They require a little patience.

Also, one of the gauges they sent me at first was locked up. Of course, I discovered this after I installed it. So check yours fully first. Set 'em up, pick some parameters, etc. Also, when Aeroforce sent me the replacement gauge, it was an earlier software revision, technically an older unit. The LCD is actually slightly different, and is a bit more heat-sensitive. So it's a bit more washed out than the other two gauges after my car's been sitting in the sun. It still works perfectly, but somehow it just kinda bugs me. If you're curious, it's the center gauge in the picture above.

[Kermit]

Wiring up the gauges was also a piece of cake, since there's so much empty space behind the dash that running anything is easy. If you go with a three-gauge setup, Aerforce sends you a one-OBDII-to-two-gauge cable, a one-OBDII-to-one-gauge cable, and a third party one-OBDII-to-two-OBD II splitter cable. You hook up the gauges, then run the two OBDII connectors to the third-party splitter, then plug it up and that's it. I coiled up the spare wire and zip-tied it into place behind the driver side kick panel. So the only downside is the rather thick connector sticking out of the OBDII port. I can provide a pic, if you'd like.

EDIT: Note that if you need to wire up accessory power so your gauges remain powered when you unplug the OBDII, things do get a bit more complicated.

I have talked to Aeroforce and their suggestion is to do a duel interceptor and a single analogic one. That way when I have to unplug the OBD plug to hook up HPtuners, I can still have one gauge (analogic one) reading my boost and Air/fuel ratio. Yes, like you said "things do get a bit more complicated" but I guess that is what I need to do to fit my needs. :( Thanks for your input. If you really think things could work out with out all this extra work, explain please.

[Eidolon]

If you really think things could work out with out all this extra work, explain please.
Unfortunately, I don't think there's a way around it. You need a power source that'll run when the OBDII port is otherwise occupied. So that means tapping into a keyed power source. Check out some of the threads about installing the triple-gauge pod, as those should give you some ideas. Also, a good wire tap (http://www.amazon.com/3M-3MT-R-100-22-18-Gauge-T-Tap/dp/B00152RH4O/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1315098471&sr=8-6) will keep you from needing to do any fancy splicing.

[Panzer Leader]

I have always loved the triple gauge pod. Three analog gauges on the center pods and a double "A" Pillar pod for the Aerforce gauges. BTW I think the center double pod with the AERFORCE gauges and the Ataris would not be bad at all. Personally, I am waiting for Nate to develop a Doppler Radar system. LOL

[VegasNate]

No doppler system planned but possibly something that rhymes with " paddle lifter " system.......

[Panzer Leader]

Nate you must have some wild dreams of modding. Can't wait to see the next step.