Project G20 Racecar: AEM AQ-1 Data Logger Installation

Project G20 AEM AQ-1 Data Logger USB Port

When not in use, the standard USB port is low profile and unobtrusive. To mount, we drilled a hole with a step bit, inserted the port and threaded on the included plastic nut. Simple.

Project G20 AEM AQ-1 Data Logger Kill Switch Concerns Finalizing Log File Data Corruption

Care must be taken with kill-switch equipped cars to reduce the likelihood of data corruption caused by interrupting power before the AQ-1 has finalized a log file. We will make sure to only use our kill switch during emergency situations, and long-term storage. Interrupting constant power to the unit will also reset its internal clock, so be sure to re-sync with the unit to update the time and date before use.

In the end, one of the primary reasons we were especially interested in data logging was the fact that our car is driven by more than one driver. With more than one driver, one might be faster through a certain section, while the other might be faster through another. Without data logging, there is no way to know who is faster and combine each driver's strengths into the best line through a racetrack. With data logging through the AQ-1, not only can we see which driver is faster through each section, but also the things he did to get there: turn in, braking, when to mash the gas and how much, these are all things that are almost impossible to accurately describe afterwards. Add to that the additional ability to monitor our newly turbocharged engine, and the value was too good to pass up. Being able to see if our intercooler is large enough to keep up with a 30 minute race session, if our coolant temps were getting out of hand in sections where we couldn't watch the gauges, seeing if our coolant temps were too low (we aren't running a thermostat anymore, more on that in the next article), and a myriad of other things gives us plenty to do between sessions other than rotate tires and check pad wear. We plan on playing with this item quite a bit, and will find a use for every channel on it.

AEM AQ1 installed, data logger

Once upon a time, data-logging was out of reach for the everyman (many sanctioning bodies even forbade them in their rules). Now, AEM's AQ-1 Data Logger can fit in even the barest privateer budget, and may just save you some money pointing out a problem you were probably too busy to notice during the race.

Check out the rest of our Project Infiniti G20 Racecar build here!