Notices
General Engine Management / Tuning Forum Discuss general EMS tuning concepts that do not pertain to a specfic brand or product.

Making a tuning cable?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 10, 2008, 08:38 PM
  #1  
Evolving Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
4G63 4EVR's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Northern, KY
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Making a tuning cable?

I was curious if anyone has looked into making their own tuning cable. I just ordered a Tactrix cable and it looks feasible based upon the pictures.

Is anyone aware of any threads regarding this? I am starting to think my search methods totally suck. I get nothing but non-pertainable info. Find other interested threads nonetheless.
Old Jan 10, 2008, 08:41 PM
  #2  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (2)
 
TouringBubble's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Chelsea, AL
Posts: 2,639
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Of course it is possible. However, it's likely much more cost effective and MUCH less time consuming to just purchase one. $80 isn't a lot of money.

Parts alone to build one to the quality of the Tactrix cable you can buy would likely be $40 or so at least.
Old Jan 11, 2008, 06:30 AM
  #3  
Account Disabled
 
lemmonhead's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: wexford,pa
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
you can order the parts for a total of $4.00 for the connector, $5.00 for the USB connector and wire. Very easy to do. Just search for USB pinouts on the internet. why spend $80. total waste.
Old Jan 11, 2008, 08:45 AM
  #4  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (2)
 
TouringBubble's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Chelsea, AL
Posts: 2,639
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Thats a little cheaper than I thought ... lol. Good info. Any links for suppliers?
Old Jan 11, 2008, 03:57 PM
  #5  
Account Disabled
 
lemmonhead's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: wexford,pa
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
here is the pin out http://pinouts.ws/usb-pinout.html
here is the connector http://www.carplugs.com/
(its a little higher in price, look around for cheaper, allied electronics ect..)
Old Jan 17, 2008, 07:28 PM
  #6  
Evolving Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
4G63 4EVR's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Northern, KY
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the info. I haven't gone to the links (will do so after writing this). I figured you could get the parts relatively cheap. Being an EE its amazing how cheap the parts are on most electronic equipment. Price usually makes the general public think magic happens in little plastic IC chips. The cost is usually attributed to R&D, documentation, advertisments, and all the other overhead in desigining something. After that its bulk order which greatly reduces cost.

I already purchased a cable since I don't have the time to deal with it but in the future I might take a stab at it. Plus I don't want to miswire something, give too much voltage or current to something and smell burning plastic. Back in the day I loved going to lab and smelling people burning up IC chips. The good ol' days....

Even if it was $40.00 I would consider $50.00 savings to be put towards a mod or an oil change!

Thanks again for the responses!
Old Jan 17, 2008, 07:33 PM
  #7  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (13)
 
EVOlution561's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: South Florida
Posts: 853
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
I wouldnt even bother with it. It is a hassle and a cable is only 80bucks.
Old Feb 21, 2008, 08:48 PM
  #8  
Evolving Member
iTrader: (16)
 
KillaItalian904's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
So now the question is how do you determine which wires go where. i mean the pinout only shows soo much. do i have to disassemble a real tactrix cable to find out or does someone have a wiring diagram
Old Feb 21, 2008, 09:26 PM
  #9  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (20)
 
voidhawk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 891
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I could be wrong about this, but I thought it's not just a straight cable (pin to pin), but there are some IC's in the connector housings? I've actually never taken my tactrix cable apart, even though I'm curious. If it really was just a matter of matching up the correct pins, that would be ridiculously easy ... however, since newer versions of ECUFlash have had issues with correctly detecting older tactrix cables, I suspect there's more going on inside the connectors.
Old Feb 21, 2008, 09:39 PM
  #10  
Newbie
 
undeadmonk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: ca
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
dang man just get one on the forum it safe
Old Feb 22, 2008, 07:31 AM
  #11  
Evolving Member
iTrader: (16)
 
KillaItalian904's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I already have one, im going to take it apart for a lil reverse engineering. I want to know what makes it tick. There is prob a very small IC in there or something
Old Feb 22, 2008, 10:44 AM
  #12  
Account Disabled
 
lemmonhead's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: wexford,pa
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
here is the schematic, so easy so cheap way less than 89 bucks.
http://obddiagnostics.com/DataSheet.pdf
Old Feb 22, 2008, 11:36 AM
  #13  
Evolving Member
iTrader: (16)
 
KillaItalian904's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
wow... thanks alot for the help man. im gona start making these, i already started ordering parts. am i still going to be able to use standard logging software or am i going to have to make a program or modify one. my only concern is that the intialization sequence might not be the same for this chip making it incompatible with ecuflash. has anyone actually done this yet or will i be the first brave soul
Old Feb 22, 2008, 01:11 PM
  #14  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (10)
 
20Grockit's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: wilmington, NC
Posts: 807
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
nice info man. to bad i already got my tactrix cable.
Old Feb 22, 2008, 06:13 PM
  #15  
Newbie
iTrader: (1)
 
jaxredevo1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: jacksonville FL
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
it will never work and joes car will blow up lol


Quick Reply: Making a tuning cable?



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:46 PM.