I am undecided between wideband controllers with a gauge to monitormy a/f ratio. I am looking for the most accurate and has the fastest response. I also would like to datalog and/or use with a standalone.

So far I am looking at the FJO, NGK, Zietronix, and Innovative. I am looking for help from members, tuners, and vendors that have used more than one of these and can give me the most information about each. If it's too much to write, I'll be more than happy to give you a call to explain to me. Thank you.

 

Zietronics has the most features, great reliability, and can do all that your asking of it. Appears to be tuners choice around here too

FWIW. I have the NGK which is a great wideband. Very dependable and accurate and using the analog outputs pinned directly to the stock ECU for logging works great these output could also be pinned to a stand alone but you knew that

 

Zeitronix is made in the USA, is the highest quality available and is used by the US Government's rocket engine test facility (8 per rocket engine).

The Zeitronix is a feature rich wideband with tons of options. Even with the base model, out of the box you can log AFR, LAMBDA, RPM, TPS and 0-5v input. Simulated narrowband output, Linear wideband output, boost sensor, egt options. Programmable alarm and safeguard options, peak/hold displays and LED gauge options.

You can't beat them.

Here is a snapshot of the INCLUDED proprietary datalogging software;



If you are interested in picking one up, we are the USA's master distributor and can take care of you. Send us a PM to TTP Engineering, of contact us at 407-475-0010.

Thanks
TTP

 

When choosing your wideband you should consider the software you are going to use for logging - unless you just want a gauge to look at or your planning on using included software and external/included sensors for logging. For example if your going to use EvoScan for logging then you should only consider EvoScan supported widebands. Evoscan supports Innovate, AEM Uego, and Zeitronix. I've never used the Zeitronix so I can't comment, but I own both a Uego and a LM1. I prefer the Uego for an installed setup. The LM1 is portable and we use it when tuning cars that don't have a wideband installed. Innovate products warm up and calibrate every time you turn them on (takes about 30 seconds or longer to start reading AFR. The Uego is ready to go as soon as power is applied as it's got a set calibration. Also the LC1 which is commonly used in fixed installation does not include a gauge while the Uego does.

As far as accuracy goes I would say all of these widebands have similar accuracy as we've cross checked them against other widebands and they all seem to read the same if properly installed. Both the Innovate and the AEM will read in AFR or Lambda. I've got no way to measure response time but I've never had a response time issue with any wideband that I've used - even using the LM1 at the tailpipe.

Reliability, I've had my Uego for 2yrs on the same sensor. We've had to replace the LM1's sensor and it's been used alot less, but it's also been exposed to overly rich cars, alternative fuels, race gas etc.

Included software. The AEM comes with no software and you have to make your own logging cable (really simple, $2.00 @ RadioShack), The Innovate includes LogWorks which is pretty decent stuff but I prefer to log Evo's with EvoScan as it pulls in all the info from the factory sensors via OBD2 Tactrix cable. Either solution requires an external 9pin serial port, since most laptops these days dont have a 9 pin serial any longer you'll probably need to purchase a USB>Serial converter that is compatible with the Tactrix cable.

You didnt mention which standalone you'd like to use it with, but most stand alone engine management will use a variety of wideband sensors if you wire them up and put the correct calibration information in the stand alone. However, using an AEM sensor with an AEM stand alone is going to be plug and play. The AEM and Innovate use the same connector for the sensor so I would reason that the Innovate sensor will work with a AEM EMS as well (not 100% on this as I've not tried it). Also, a little OT but the OEM computer is extremely capable and works pretty well up to around 500whp.

* also you could replace the stock narrow band o2 and feed the inputs into your ECU using it's connection but that would require additional wiring, ECU hacking, etc in order to achieve.

 

The Innovate products require constant freeair calibration which requires removing the sensor from the exhaust pipe in order to do it correctly.

The ZEITRONIX wideband is SELF CALIBRATING and doesn't require all that extra work.

 

+1 Yea, forgot to mention that. It's not much of an issue with the LM1 but would be a PITA with fixed installation (LC1). That said, I've only had to recalibrate the LM1 once since I've owned it. However, I've heard of other Innovate owners having to recalibrate all the time. The Uego as previously mentioned has a fixed calibration so like the Zeitronix it doesnt have this problem either.

 

is the AEM wideband self calibrating?

 

Yes, it's fixed calibration. I don't really know how it works but it's accurate and doesnt require calibration.

 

I've had the innovate for about 8 months or so now with no problems. I recalibrated it once but it didn't change anything. I've had the NKG come highly recommended by a local dyno shop, but went with the LC-1 because the hack to wire it into the stock ECU was out and the NKG hadn't been confirmed to work with it at the time. It does now though

PLX is another good choice.

 

I've been considering a wideband sensor, but I currently have my A/F gauge hooked up to the stock narrowband sensor. Are the reading for that inaccurate, if so how much? I've read that for tuning you need a wideband for the correct AFR, so I am assuming the readings are off by a bit.

 

A narrowband sensor is only accurate at 14.7 (stoich) at any other reading other than stoich they are not accurate at all and should not be trusted for any tuning IMO. The engine uses them in a corrective loop and that's all they need to read. If the engine detects lean it adjusts and adds more fuel and checks again and this process repeats several times per second.

 

So my AFR hooked up to a narrowband is nothing more than a light show (I thought this might be the case)?

 

i have the Innovate LC1 and it works very well, its been in there for 1.5 yrs

and you dont have to remove the sensor to calibrate the sensor, you just have to wait at least 6-8 hours from the last time the car was ran. its in the manual

in the whole time ive had my wideband ive only recalibrated it a handful of times, and not because the wideband was reading off, just because i thought i should

 

I have the AEM Uego and I am completely satisfied with it. Looks great, does what I need, very simple install (no calibration). If you really want the best of the best though, I'd say go for the Zeitronix. If I was to do it all over again I'd probably go that route but my AEM gauges are working just fine right now.

 

PLX or NGK is all I will ever use.

The Aem units are by far the worst widebands I have worked with.

Good luck.