LM-1 compared to Wide band commander
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Yes, we have experience with both, and we prefer the LM-1.
Both are decent units, don't get me wrong - we simply prefer the ease of use, options & accuracy of the LM-1, and you can see it listed on our web site in a couple of configurations - one is the base unit, for a permanent installation of the wideband O2 in the vehicle, and then the other is a much quicker setup - kinda like a tuner would use, where you can be up & running in under 5 minutes, and take it form one vehicle to the next in just a few minutes, too.
From A/F's ranging from stoich all the way down to about 11.2:1, the LM-1 is as accurate as the $3000 Horiba unit we used to use - that's pretty impressive bang for the buck. the main things is simply that the cost of quality wideband O2 sensors & good firmware has come down, so now just about anyone can afford a portable wideband A/F ratio recorder & datalogger like the LM-1
There is also a lot of info on the Internet from many people regarding datalogging other outputs using the LM-1's additional 0-5 volt inputs, as it can datalog rpms, A/F & 4 other 0-5 volt data streams simultaneously at surprisingly high speeds/transfer rates.
Just FYI, for whatever it may be worth - feel free to call us if you'd like to go over this in more detail, & best of luck whatever you decide!
Both are decent units, don't get me wrong - we simply prefer the ease of use, options & accuracy of the LM-1, and you can see it listed on our web site in a couple of configurations - one is the base unit, for a permanent installation of the wideband O2 in the vehicle, and then the other is a much quicker setup - kinda like a tuner would use, where you can be up & running in under 5 minutes, and take it form one vehicle to the next in just a few minutes, too.
From A/F's ranging from stoich all the way down to about 11.2:1, the LM-1 is as accurate as the $3000 Horiba unit we used to use - that's pretty impressive bang for the buck. the main things is simply that the cost of quality wideband O2 sensors & good firmware has come down, so now just about anyone can afford a portable wideband A/F ratio recorder & datalogger like the LM-1
There is also a lot of info on the Internet from many people regarding datalogging other outputs using the LM-1's additional 0-5 volt inputs, as it can datalog rpms, A/F & 4 other 0-5 volt data streams simultaneously at surprisingly high speeds/transfer rates.
Just FYI, for whatever it may be worth - feel free to call us if you'd like to go over this in more detail, & best of luck whatever you decide!
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 5
From: NC
Mike T.
Mike,
Thank's for the info. You've been tuning my trucks for 5 yrs and you don't know who this is.
.
We talked on the phone about the LM-1 now you have the auto tap. which is the better unit for my needs?
Also, I saw on the auto tap site that it logs A/F from the 02 sensor. Is this less accurate than the tail pipe or welded in bung?
Thanks,
Peter...................from Vermont
Thank's for the info. You've been tuning my trucks for 5 yrs and you don't know who this is.
.We talked on the phone about the LM-1 now you have the auto tap. which is the better unit for my needs?
Also, I saw on the auto tap site that it logs A/F from the 02 sensor. Is this less accurate than the tail pipe or welded in bung?
Thanks,
Peter...................from Vermont
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi Evo,
I know, I know - it's my curse, I guess. One day I'll remember whose screen name here belongs to which real name, and then the next 2 years I won't remember it to save my life - my apologies! There are some days when I'll remember & know exactly how someone is, but then not remember it the very next time I "talk" to them here...............shoot me, I guess.
I know that at one time, you & I were talking more frequently here (a coupla-few years ago), and during that time I remembered who you were almost every time you dropped by - I think we discussed the Evo's (cars), as well as the Weld EVO series of wheels (among many other things), etc. in relation to your screen name here. But if I don't talk to someone for a while, or if I don't talk to them fairly often both here and on the phone too, then my chances of remembering who's who at any given time may be slim.
At any rate...............To answer your question - yes, AutoTap can log the O2 sensor voltage, and I can convert that into an inferred A/F ratio - but it's not accurate enough to tune by, because the factory O2 sensors are "narrow band" - meaning they are only accurate at stoich A/F (14.64:1), and the further away from stoich you get, the less accurate narrow-band O2's are.
So to get the actual A/F ratio, you ALWAYS have to use a true wide-band O2 sensor.
AutoTap can datalog everything *except* the actual A/F ratio of the engine - for that, you always have to have a wideband O2 in the exhaust stream.
On our web site, we carry both AutoTap and the LM=1 units so people can go over all of those details, etc - and a LOT of our customers pick up these datalogging packages from us.
What we generally recommend is, if your engine is NOT supercharged and/or you do not have a lot of mods, then just pick up AutoTap, and then for those times when you need true A/F's, go to your local dyno. However, for anyone with a forced-induction engine (supercharged or turbocharged), or if they have a significant number of modifications, we recommend picking up AutoTap, and then maybe get a friend to go in with you to pick up the LM-1 unit "tuner" version as we have it listed on our web site, as that gives you everything to be able to take it from one vehicle to the next in under 5 minutes, and get instant A/F's any time, anywhere.
Give me a call sometime to go back over all of this in proper detail - and the instant I hear your actual name again, I'm sure I'll remember you - right now all I know is that I used to know who "evo" here was, and that we have talked here numerous times in the past - it's just been too long for me to remember the real name behind your screen name - forgive me!!
I know, I know - it's my curse, I guess. One day I'll remember whose screen name here belongs to which real name, and then the next 2 years I won't remember it to save my life - my apologies! There are some days when I'll remember & know exactly how someone is, but then not remember it the very next time I "talk" to them here...............shoot me, I guess.
I know that at one time, you & I were talking more frequently here (a coupla-few years ago), and during that time I remembered who you were almost every time you dropped by - I think we discussed the Evo's (cars), as well as the Weld EVO series of wheels (among many other things), etc. in relation to your screen name here. But if I don't talk to someone for a while, or if I don't talk to them fairly often both here and on the phone too, then my chances of remembering who's who at any given time may be slim.
At any rate...............To answer your question - yes, AutoTap can log the O2 sensor voltage, and I can convert that into an inferred A/F ratio - but it's not accurate enough to tune by, because the factory O2 sensors are "narrow band" - meaning they are only accurate at stoich A/F (14.64:1), and the further away from stoich you get, the less accurate narrow-band O2's are.
So to get the actual A/F ratio, you ALWAYS have to use a true wide-band O2 sensor.
AutoTap can datalog everything *except* the actual A/F ratio of the engine - for that, you always have to have a wideband O2 in the exhaust stream.
On our web site, we carry both AutoTap and the LM=1 units so people can go over all of those details, etc - and a LOT of our customers pick up these datalogging packages from us.
What we generally recommend is, if your engine is NOT supercharged and/or you do not have a lot of mods, then just pick up AutoTap, and then for those times when you need true A/F's, go to your local dyno. However, for anyone with a forced-induction engine (supercharged or turbocharged), or if they have a significant number of modifications, we recommend picking up AutoTap, and then maybe get a friend to go in with you to pick up the LM-1 unit "tuner" version as we have it listed on our web site, as that gives you everything to be able to take it from one vehicle to the next in under 5 minutes, and get instant A/F's any time, anywhere.
Give me a call sometime to go back over all of this in proper detail - and the instant I hear your actual name again, I'm sure I'll remember you - right now all I know is that I used to know who "evo" here was, and that we have talked here numerous times in the past - it's just been too long for me to remember the real name behind your screen name - forgive me!!