Instruction Manual
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PLAYBACK PAGE _______________________________________________________________________ 31 NOTES PAGE ___________________________________________________________________________ 32 CONFIGURATION ________________________________________________________________________ 33 CUSTOMIZE APPLICATION __________________________________________________________________ 33 CUSTOMIZE FILE _________________________________________________________________________ 33 OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES ______________________________________
PRODUCT OVERVIEW The Novak Sentry Data Logger (Model #2000 and #2010) system is the perfect solution for radio control (RC) drivers who are looking for a more visual representation of their vehicle’s performance. It is feature rich and easy to use. The system consists of the Novak Sentry Data Logger device and the Novak Sentry Data Acquisition software application.
PRECAUTIONS Water and Electronics Don’t Mix! Never allow water, moisture or other foreign materials to get inside speed control, motor or data logger. Water damage will void the product warranty! Disconnect Batteries When Not In Use Always disconnect the battery pack from the speed control when not in use to avoid short circuits and a possible fire hazard.
SOFTWARE INSTALL ATION REQUIREMENTS Microsoft Windows XP™ or Windows Vista™ operating system Microsoft .NET™ Framework version 2.0 Microsoft Report Viewer NOTE For proper display, your screen resolution should be set to 1024 by 768 or higher in the Windows Display Properties dialog box under Settings tab. INSTALLATION AND FIRST USE To install the Novak Sentry Data Acquisition software application, double click on the Setup.exe file on the CD.
DEVICE SETUP The Novak Sentry Data Logger is equipped with a number of sensors that are used to monitor various parameters. Except the input harness, all other sensors are optional. Because the device is powered via the vehicle’s BEC or receiver pack, either the speed control input harness or the servo input harness must be plugged into the device. WARNING! The maximum input voltage is 7 volts. Using more than 7 volts will damage the Sentry Data Logger and void the product warranty.
ACCELERATION (G-FORCE) SENSOR Sensor Description: A unique feature of the Novak Sentry Data Logger is the built-in 2-Axis Accelerometer that accurately measures G-force. The placement in the vehicle is critical for proper measurement of acceleration. Measurement Range: -5 to 5 G Resolution: 0.
BATTERY VOLTAGE SENSOR Sensor Description: The Battery Voltage Sensor is used to monitor the voltage of the main battery pack in an electric vehicle. Measurement Range: 0-20 volts Resolution: 0.100 mV Plugs Into: The 2-pin connector plugs into the Voltage Slot (VOLT) in the Novak Sentry Data Logger unit with the black wire toward the outside/left edge of the case.
ANALOG TEMPERATURE SENSOR LOOP Sensor Description: The Analog Temperature Sensor Loop uses a high-temperature thermistor to accurately measure temperature on circular objects, such as mufflers and motors. Measurement Range: 0-150°C (0-302°F) Accuracy: ±3% Plugs Into: The 2-pin connector plugs into the Engine Temperature Slot (ENG.T) in the Novak Sentry Data Logger unit. There is no polarity for this sensor connector.
DIGITAL TEMPERATURE SENSORS Sensor Description: These Digital Temperature Sensors use a highly-sensitive digital probe to accurately measure temperature at various locations. A dual temperature sensor harness is included to measure in 2 locations. The Sentry Data Logger Pro (#2010) includes 4 additional temperature sensors and an expansion board. All the Digital Temperature Sensors have a unique ID (1 – 6) as noted on the white label on the sensor (see images shown below).
RPM SENSOR – SENSORED BRUSHLESS Sensor Description: The Brushless RPM Sensor accurately measures the RPM of a sensored brushless motor, which can help in gear ratio optimization. Measurement Range: 500-99,999 RPM Plugs Into: The 3-pin connector plugs into the RPM Slot (RPM) in the Novak Sentry Data Logger unit with the black wire toward the outside/left edge of the case.
RPM SENSOR – NITRO/BRUSH MOTORS/SENSORLESS MOTORS Sensor Description: The Nitro/Brush RPM Sensor accurately measures the RPM of a nitro engine, brushed motor or sensorless brushless motor. RPM measurement can help in gear ratio optimization. The included magnets are required for installation. Measurement Range: 500-99,999 RPM Plugs Into: The 3-pin connector plugs into the RPM Slot (RPM) in the Novak Sentry Data Logger unit with the black wire toward the outside/left edge of the case.
INPUT HARNESS SENSOR Sensor Description: The Input Sensor Harness monitors the throttle or steering position. Measurement Range: -100% to 100%, 0 = neutral Plugs Into: The 3-pin connector plugs into the first or second slot in the Novak Sentry Data Logger unit with the black wire toward the outside/left edge of the case.
CURRENT SENSOR Sensor Description: The Current Sensor accurately measures current flow. This sensor is included in the Novak Data Logger Pro (#2010). Measurement Range: 0-100 amps Resolution: 0.5A Plugs Into: The 3-pin connector plugs into the Current Slot (CUR) in the Novak Sentry Data Logger unit with the black wire toward the outside/left edge of the case.
USING THE DEVICE RECORD DATA There are 2 ways to start and stop recording data. 1. Remote Start/Stop – Use full brake or steering to start recording: The Sentry Data Logger will need to be calibrated to your transmitter in order for the Remote Start/Stop feature to work properly. This is configurable in the Customize ESC Input Signal dialog box. To enable the Remote Start/Stop feature, you must make sure the Remote Start/Stop option is selected in the Device Setting dialog box.
USB CONNECTION IMPORTANT Make sure that the speed control is turned off before connecting the USB cable to guarantee the Windows operating system properly detects the USB connection to the Sentry Data Logger. Before turning on the speed control, take special care to plug in all the sensors in the correct slot with the correct polarity. Refer to the Device Setup section for setup instructions. Plugging in the sensor connectors backwards will damage the Novak Sentry Data Logger and void the product warranty.
DOWNLOAD DATA In order to view the data stored on the Novak Sentry Data Logger, the recorded data file(s) must first be downloaded to the PC. The Novak Sentry Data Logger must be connected via USB to the computer. Refer to the USB Connection section for more detail. INITIATE DATA DOWNLOAD You can do one of the following to download the data from the Novak Sentry Data Logger device: Click on the icon next to Download Data when the connection menu display appears.
After selecting the files to download, a Save dialog box will appear on the screen. In the dialog box, set the file location by selecting a folder in the ‘Save in’ box. Enter a name in the ‘File name’ box. The stored file will automatically have a .log extension. Click on the Save button when finished. As the files download, the message to the right will display on the screen, indicating the file (shown in sample as ‘file1.log’) is currently being downloaded from the device.
REAL-TIME DATA OBSERVATION The Real-Time Data feature provides a live visual of all the sensors connected to the Novak Sentry Data Logger device. This feature will assist in confirming the functionality and operation of all the sensors on the vehicle. The Novak Sentry Data Logger must be connected via USB to the computer. Refer to the USB Connection section for more details.
CONFIGURE DEVICE The Novak Data Acquisition software allows you to configure and calibrate the Novak Sentry Data Logger device. Configure the device settings via the Device Settings dialog box, and calibrate the device via the Customize ESC Input Signal dialog box. The Novak Sentry Data Logger must be connected via USB to the computer. Refer to the USB Connection section for more details.
Enduro Mode – This feature allows the recording of multiple battery packs all in one reading. By selecting this option, the Maximum Number of Runs will be set to one, and all of the data will be stored in one log file for review. Remote Start/Stop – By selecting this option, you can remote start/stop data acquisition from your transmitter by either applying full brake or full steering in one direction for the allotted amount of time.
ERASE DEVICE MEMORY You can erase the memory on the Novak Sentry Data Logger via the Novak Sentry Data Acquisition software. HINT: The Novak Sentry Data Logger device memory can be erased directly by pressing and holding the push button on the device. Click here to see an image of the push button. The Novak Sentry Data Logger must be connected via USB to the computer. Refer to the USB Connection section for more details.
DATA ANALYSIS OPEN FILE To open a file: On the menu bar, select File>Open. On the tool bar, click on the Open Click the Look in box to navigate to the folder, in which the file is stored. Once the file appears in the list of files, double click on the file. icon. The Novak Sentry Data Acquisition software will begin to load the file. ANALYZE DOWNLOADED INFORMATION The Novak Sentry Data Acquisition software consists of 5 sections to assist you in analyzing data.
CUSTOMIZE VIEW After opening a data file, the Customization Toolbox will appear at the bottom of the screen. The Customization Toolbox looks similar to the image below. You can use these checkboxes, text boxes and buttons to customize the look of the downloaded information. The Customization Toolbox is visible at the bottom of the Summary, Data, Graph, Playback and Notes pages. 1. Checkbox – Used to show and hide the sensor data.
EDIT FILE There are several places to enter information about the run and the vehicle used. Vehicle Name Weight Final Gear Ratio Tire Diameter Notes page The speed data is used in 3 places. One of the locations is in the Playback page. In the playback mode, the speed of the vehicle is displayed. The speed is also displayed in the Real-Time mode. At the bottom of the Summary page, the maximum speed, minimum and average speed is displayed.
To print the data table, make sure the Data page is displayed on the screen. Select print (see above for reference) and wait for the Print Preview window to finish loading. Select the Print preview window. icon on the toolbar of the When the Print dialog box appears, make sure the correct printer is selected. If only a select number of pages should be printed, click on the Pages radio button in the Page Range section. Type the page range in the text box next to the Pages radio button.
SUMM ARY PAGE The Summary page displays the maximum, minimum and average values for each of the observed parameters. To view this page, click on the Summary tab at the top of the screen. 1. Sensor Name – Labeled at the top of the maximum / minimum group. 2. Maximum / Minimum Radio Button – Click on the Maximum radio button to view the maximum value for the sensor. Click on the Minimum radio button to view the minimum value for the sensor. 3. Average Value Table - List of average value for all sensors. 4.
DATA PAGE The Data page allows you to view the recorded data in a table form. To view this page, click on the Data tab at the top of the display. 1. Data Rows – Initially sorted by time. 2. Scroll Bar – View all the data by scrolling up and down. 3. Column Headers – Indicating the sensor data. Sort data by a specific column – Click on the column header of the column to be sorted.
GRAPH PAGE The Graph page displays the graphical representation of the downloaded data. To view this page, click on the Graph tab at the top of the screen. Depending on the length of the run and the number of sensors used, this page may take a few minutes to load. The zooming and select/deselect features will not function until the page finishes loading. 1. Data Scale – Represented on the Y-axis (up and down). There are a total of 5 scales.
PLAYBACK PAGE The stored information is played back on the gauges shown below. Click on the Playback tab at the top of the display to view this page. Click on the Start button to play the data. The playback can be stopped at any time during play by clicking the Stop button. To reset the display, make sure playback is stopped and click the Reset button. 1. Analog and Digital Temperature Gauges 2. Analog and Digital Speedometer 3. Analog and Digital RPM Gauge 4. Analog and Digital Timer 5.
NOTES PAGE The Novak Sentry Data Acquisition software provides some extra space to store pertinent information about the conditions of the test. To learn how to save the changes to this page, click here. To view this page, click the Notes tab at the top of the screen. 1. Date of run – The date of the download will automatically be stored after the file is initially saved. To change the date, delete the old date and enter a new date. 2. Track Temperature. 3. Track Name. 4.
CONFIGURATION CUSTOMIZE APPLICATION The Customize Application dialog box contains the default parameters used when storing a downloaded file for the first time. Any changes made in this dialog box will affect future downloaded files. To customize an existing file, use the Customize File dialog box. See below for more details. Each item setting can be edited. To edit an item setting, click on a parameter in the box on the left side of the dialog box.
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES Battery Voltage Sensor Novak Kit #5362 Analog Temperature Sensor Loop Novak Kit #5364 Digital Temperature Sensor Novak Kit #5363 (dual sensor harness) Novak Kit #5361 (4-pack harness with expansion board) Brushless PRM Sensor Novak Kit #5365 RPM Sensor f or Nitro/Brush/Sensorless Novak Kit #5366 Input Harness Sensor Novak Kit #5315 (4 inch input harness) Novak Kit #5320 (9 inch input harness) Current Sensor Novak Kit #5360 SERVICE PROCEDURES Before sending your Sentry in f
PRODUCT WARRANTY The Sentry Data Logger is guaranteed to be free from defects in materials or workmanship for a period of 120 days from the original date of purchase (verified by dated, itemized sales receipt).
