Reviews
G-TECH/Pro
Performance Meter
Excellent tool for driving enthusiasts
The
G-TECH/Pro is a performance meter for your car. You can use it
to measure horsepower and torque, the time it takes to accelerate
from to 0-60 miles per hour (or any other speed), to reach 60
feet, 1/8 and 1/4 mile, and how long it takes to brake back down
to zero. The little device also measures G forces and engine RPMs
so that you can record and later analyze your performance on a
race track or a solo event.
The
G-TECH/Pro does all this using a very sophisticated internal accelerometer
system, the same technology used in missile guidance systems.
To compute its wealth of performance data, all the G-TECH needs
to know is the weight of your car. The rest is all math and physics,
and some exceedingly clever programming by the G-TECH's inventor,
Tesla Electronics, Inc.
Installation
is trivial. The G-TECH is mounted to the windshield via a suction
cup system similar to that of most radar detectors. It plugs into
the cigarette light to draw power and read engine RPM but apart
from that doesn't have to be wired into the car's electronic system.
This means that you can use the G-TECH to measure the performance
of more than one vehicle. In fact, it can be configured for up
to four vehicles.
There
are two versions of the G-TECH. The US$199.95 SS model looks the
same as the US$299.99 RR model, but it doesn't have the multi-car
support, the road racing/ autocross programming, and you can't
upload data into your PC for analysis. The PC upload capability
alone makes the RR model the better deal.
Using
the G-TECH is both simple and complex. To measure acceleration
and power, all you have to do is go into ãDrag Strip Modeä and
then push the Okay button when you're ready to take off. After
the run you can analyze the results either on the display or upload
it into the accompanying PASS software that runs on most Windows
systems.
If
you have certain expectations about your car's performance and
power, the G-TECH's results may initially have you puzzled. A
car that's rated 200 horsepower and 6.2 seconds zero to 60 may
show just 140 horsepower and take 7.2 seconds for the acceleration
run. That's because the 200 hp are measured at the flywheel of
the engine whereas the G-TECH measures power after drivetrain,
rolling resistance, and aerodynamic losses. Those losses depend
on the vehicle, the road, and the prevailing wind. Studying all
those relationships can be fun. You also quickly realize that
entering the exact weight of the car is a must. If that is wrong,
everything else is off.
Even
though the G-TECH's monochrome LCD measures just 2-1/2 inches
diagonal, it can display an amazing amount of data both numerically
and graphically. RPMs and G forces from a run can be played back,
you can scroll through the power and torque curves and you can
view just about any performance data you can imagine. Those into
drag racing can set the start modes, rollout distances and more.
The G-TECH can also simulate a drag strip ãChristmas treeä or
illuminate very bright shift lights.
Uploading
and analyzing data in the PC-based PASS software may provide the
biggest benefit of this terrific little tool. With a bit of practice
you can spot sub-optimal shift points, wheel spin, and the impact
of tuning and performance modifications. Racers can analyze their
G forces from lap to lap and compare them to the car's handling
potential. The opportunities are endless, and anyone interested
in engine tuning will find the G-TECH not only entertaining but
also a very valuable tool.
öConrad Blickenstorfer
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