OBDLink VS Elmscan

**Vitaliy** · 12-17-2010, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by PhilG

@ vitaliy

I have OBDLink Multiprotocol OBD-II by ScanTool this one shipped 2/17/2010 from MP3car.
If I understand correctly, the new update will lower the standby current draw from 100ma to 30ma but if I upgrade to the new one, it will drop to 1ma ?

No, 30 mA is the best you can ever get on the old hardware. It's not much, but if the battery is weak and you don't drive the car for a few days, it may become the straw that breaks the camel's back.

PowerSave does two things on the new hardware: it puts the main microcontroller to sleep (~60 mA savings), and turns off power to the drivers and the LEDs (~30 mA savings).

The old hardware doesn't have the circuit that is used to turn off the power to the drivers and the LEDs, so the only thing that PowerSave can do on h/w rev 1.7 and below, is put the micro to sleep. The bulk of the remaining current (~20 mA) comes from the "Status" LED, so if this is a permanent install, you can desolder the LED or the current limiting resistors (R38 and R39).

Also very little data is read with the basic bundled software or through Centrafuse 3.1. The vehicle is a 6.0L diesel Ford 2007. Is the issue that I need better software or is this scanner just not capable of retrieving more specific data for this vehicle? The main perameters I need are fuel pressure and oil temp but would like to get alot more if possible.

Using a terminal program, issue the following commands:

ATH1
0100
0120
0140
0160
0180
01A0
01C0
01E0

You will get bit-encoded responses from the ECU, which will tell you which PIDs are supported. Paste them here, and we'll help you decode them.

If the issue is software, what upgrade do you recommend?
Also to read ABS codes, can this device do it with better software?
Thanks!

ScanXL with the Ford Enhanced add-on will give you access to the most parameters, and *may* give you access to the ABS codes too. Contact Palmer Performance about the ABS though, AFAIK there isn't a list of cars that support ABS over standard OBD.

Vitaliy

**Vitaliy** · 12-17-2010, 03:53 PM

Originally Posted by Wayne613

I snagged the PDF on this, however, how exactly does this get setup? I assume using a terminal window into the device's comm port and sending the command (hyperterminal in windows for example)?

Sorry, might be in that document and I just skipped over it as I just skimmed while at work, but I didn't see anything off-hand, it just assumes I know how to give it the set commands. I also saw nothing about setting the parameters permanently either. I'd rather have it default to the lowest draw possible once it senses no voltage on the rs232 line (computer off) without worrying about when I pull the connections for whatever reason.

The command set is found in the STN1100 Family Reference and Programming Manual (FRPM). Specifically, Section 6 of the FRPM. Here is a summary of the PowerSave commands:

SLCS Print active PowerSave configuration summary
SLEEP [delay] Enter sleep mode with optional delay
SLLT Report last sleep/wakeup triggers
SLPCP 0/1 Set PWR_CTRL output polarity
SLU sleep, wakeup UART sleep/wakeup triggers on/off
SLUIT sec Set UART inactivity timeout
SLUWP min, max Set UART wakeup pulse timing
SLX sleep, wakeup External sleep trigger on/off
SLXP 0/1 Set polarity of the external sleep control input
SLXS Print external SLEEP input status
SLXST ms Set minimum active time for external sleep trigger before entering sleep
SLXWT ms Set minimum inactive time for external sleep trigger before wakeup

We are working on updating and consolidating the two documents, but for now refer to the FRPM for the PowerSave commands and their descriptions, and the PowerSave doc you referenced above for the overview and detailed descriptions of the functionality.

Best regards,

Vitaliy