Haltech good bad and ugly?

[Shannon]

After just starting on a first year team a month or two ago I have a question. A haltech E6X system was already purchased. Is it really as bad as the stuff I am reading?
Is there anyone out there with a positive experience involving a haltech?

[Shannon]

After just starting on a first year team a month or two ago I have a question. A haltech E6X system was already purchased. Is it really as bad as the stuff I am reading?
Is there anyone out there with a positive experience involving a haltech?

[neil trama]

Firstly, I have to say that I have not used the new Windoze based software but....

I have to say straight up that I do not like Haltech.

I have used Motec for more than 10 years and had my first major experience with Haltech in the UNSW@ADFA first year car. I found the Haltech software incredibly clumsy and slow to use. I could not look at the complete fuel and ignition maps in 3D, this is unacceptable. Maybe I just couldn't work it out, but I could not get the Haltech to accurately interface with the standard Suzuki sensors and why would you want to use aftermarket sensors when the Suzuki sensor are perfectly suited to the job? The problem is, if you have to pay someone else to set up and tune your engine, the Motec will cost less.

Lastly, by the time you have bought a lower end system like the Haltech, then bought a usable logger you will wish you bought a Motec (or similar) whose logging can be used, for example, with the Motec Interpreter software. You will have spent less money in the long run and ended up with a really nice setup.

All of that said, if you want to use aftermarket sensors, the Haltech is perfectly able to run your engine.

Neil

[Travis Garrison]

When I was up at WWU the Haltechs gave us nothing but trouble. I believe one actually had bad injector drivers, the real issue was the lack of tech support, and the stone age software. For the money, go P.E.

-Travis

[Shannon]

Not much can be done about it now. We already have the system in hand. I think it cost around 1300. I haven't looked at other systems since this one was already ordered by someone that has since left the team. I'm very new to engine control stuff but I'm trying to learn as I go. Just by doing a quick search it does seem that motec is a pretty widely used system in fsae.

Anymore opinions, experiences, input will be of great help.

Shannon

[Erich Ohlde]

The AEM EMS has worked wonders for us in the past, from the reading I've done it is similar to the Haltech system.

[BeaverGuy]

For the money, yeah I would probably select the P.E. over the E6x. As their functions are pretty much the same. However, I would use the newer Haltech offerings before I used a P.E. I have used the E6X/K, E8, and E11. The dos software is a bit hokey but does what you need it to do and is fairly easy to use, the Windows software is incredibly easy to use and for the E8/11 allows an incredible number of options including customized sensors. I don't think the E6X version of the Windows software allows this. The sensors it uses are standard GM sensors that can be found anywhere. The only time that we have used support has been when a team mate had the header welded while the ECU was connected. For him, he had no problems with support though he was for the most part in contact with Haltech Australia.

Support is generally handled by the supplier but personally I've had no reason to use it. This may have changed recently as the US branch of Haltech has been reorganized recently. If you don't know who supplied the system to you, you aren't entirely out of luck. The Haltech website has a forum that is frequented by a few different Haltech suppliers. They are generally very helpful to everyone. That said I would use a Haltech E8/11 in heartbeat or E6K/X if it only cost a couple hundred dollars.

As far as comparing it to the Motec, for the US teams at least an E11 which has serial connectivity with the AIM MXL PISTA dash and an Innovate LC-1 wide band which is also fully compatible with the Haltech would be vary comparble to the package deal offered to FSAE by Motec in price and capability. There would be some things that eash system has and the other doesn't. If you were to select the E8 and the MXL pro you would get more features at the same price with fewer ECU inputs and outputs.

But the E6X was really out of date once Haltech released the E11 and pointless to consider once they released the E8 almost a year ago. The E8 sells at only a $100-200 more and is a much better system.

[pengulns2001]

the haltec is annoying i would go with the AEM if i had my choice of anything

[RiNaZ]

Im not working on the engine, but our engine guy is having trouble tuning the engine using the Haltech.

I think we bought it for 1200 bucks, but then adding sensors and everything, cost a little over 2000 dollars. And later, we had to buy a wideband sensor.

Our engine guy called the support center in Australia, and the guy just simply said "dont worry mate, everything will be alright". Since then, the engine guy doesnt seem to be fond of australians http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif.

[james17]

Ok, here we go again. We got a free E6X, put it in the car and it was nothing but a complete pain in the, well, it was bad. The unit never worked right, the software was a pain to work with, and the tech, ha. The drivers where funky, and everything was just a pain to use. SO, we decided to try a P.E. unit, from the time the tape was cut on the box to the time the car fired and ran was 4 hours, and we have not had a SINGLE ECU issue with it since, the tuning software is very easy to use and has a very good 3-D display on both fuel and spark, the smoothing and basic divide/multiply and add/subtract features are intuitive and conveinient, the wiring harness is simple and reliable and the unit simply works right every time we push the start button, as long as I am on the team, even if we are throwing money away, we will use a P.E.. I am actually looking into using a P.E. on my daily driver at some point if I can make it fly. As far as power, does a very accurate 84 H.P. with more on tap with more tuning from a NA engine sound nice...

The Haltechs are very popular in some circles, you could probably sell it and get enough money to buy a P.E. unit, and then you could save money on the phone calls to Australia at 11pm...

Just wanted to add, I would have no issue at all reccomending the P.E. unit to anyone, best friend, business associate, ANYONE, but I would'nt wish the Haltech issues we had on ANYONE.

[raska]

I like Haltech.

[Greg 08]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I like Haltech.


Martin Raska
www.formulaubc.com (http://www.formulaubc.com) </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Can you elaborate a little bit about what features you like and don't? I don't have much to do with the engine, other than making stuff for them, but I am always interested to learn. Way back we ran a haltech, then motec, and now this year PE, mostly because our motec was archaic, we wanted a second ecu and we could get two new pes for the price of one motec. Thanks.

Greg Ehlert Michigan Tech FSAE

[RiNaZ]

funny this thread should come up, coz i just got a call from my teammates that our haltech just blew up. My advisor doesnt seem to be very happy about it so i suggested getting something cheap ie PE and he just went "why didnt you suggest this before we bought haltech?!" http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

me and my advisor are heading back from auburn univ for baja and when i find out what is wrong with our haltech, i'll share it with you guys.

[Frank]

lets face it...

the hardware in an ECU is worth $20

the rest of the cost is software development, product development, and technical support

some ECU manufacturers issue documentation that is better (for us) than others...
some ECU manufacturers issue documentation that is better (for average joe) than others...

it's all about choosing your poison....

and the crossover to datalogging is an important consideration too.

If I were "shopping for an ECU" I'd only buy one with a mil-spec connector.

[raska]

Greg, it is one of the most cost effective routes for one, although PE was also a choice $47.90 cheaper for us. I have no experience with the PE and have only heard good things, but reasons we opted to upgrade (from a line of E6's) to the E8 is it does have the advantage (from reading about the PE on their website) of 4 injectors and ignition outputs, any trigger wheel setup very easily, CAN, 32x32 maps, a nice datalogging setup which is easier than running our standalone datalogger is parrallel with the crank trigger, injectors, etc. Other little things like able to utilize peak and hold injector control, 4pwm & 2 digital outputs, and maybe others I can't think of led to the verdict that we would once against go the Haltech route. I think on street vehicles or if you decide to go with things like idle speed control, you might have an advantage going with teh Haltech as well. I just compared it to PE because it is the closest in the price range that I saw as the next best option.

I have been able to contact Haltech quite easily and readily as well, although I haven't used them for tech support, but maybe because of stubborness/pride and the wealth of information out there on the internet it's satisfying searching for your own as well, although maybe I've just been lucky enough to never run into anything too perplexing. It would be hard to beat PE in that regard anyways I imagine - I've never heard of a company with absolutly everybody raving about it. We have had very good reliability with it, and although I have heard of some drivers dying, I've also heard that Haltech has fixed them to customer satisfaction, and most ignition drivers failure I've heard of are because people try to to drive them directly, which burns them up, and I've heard of all these similar failures across all ECU types.

[B Lewis @ PE Engine Management]

Hi Everyone,

First of all, thanks for the nice words about PE that some of you have posted. I have been following this thread very intently and have a couple of things to add to the discussion. It is true that a large part of the cost of any ECU is development and customer support, however, I can assure everyone that the total cost of components and manufacturing is much, much higher than $20 (I wish we only spent $20 to make an ECU http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif ).

While I agree with a previous post that good connectors are important to the overall reliability of the design, MIL-Spec connectors can add more than $100 to the overall cost of the package. We have been very successful using connectors from Duestch (http://www.deutschipd.com/). They are very robust, waterproof, and have a very high mating cycle endurance compared to other automotive units. I would suggest these connectors to anyone building and wiring a race car.

Good luck to everyone and we'll see you in a couple of weeks!!

[muffrx4]

I like haltech.

though it's not on my fsae car, obviously motec is the way to go, but alot of troubles from haltech come from a lack of understanding of looms and ignition control module shortcuts I believe.

Rinas, maybe your engine guy needs to learn how to ask the right questions. Honestly, your'e buying an ecu for 2000 AUS and expecting service like motec.

muffed out

[RiNaZ]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by muffrx4:
I like haltech.

though it's not on my fsae car, obviously motec is the way to go, but alot of troubles from haltech come from a lack of understanding of looms and ignition control module shortcuts I believe.

Rinas, maybe your engine guy needs to learn how to ask the right questions. Honestly, your'e buying an ecu for 2000 AUS and expecting service like motec.

muffed out </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

No, we're paying USD 2K and expecting a service like PE ...

[RobCMT]

I've had some nasty haltech moments but won't elaborate on those.

Haltech tech support have always been helpful and responsive to my requests.

Just remember you will need to run wasted spark ignition to run sequential fuel on an e6x. I reccommend this setup, could never get an e6x to work properly with sequential spark. That means you are likely to need a pair of twin post coils, and a 2-channel ignitor. Be careful with the coil charge time settings, they can do damage - consult tech support if in doubt.

[pengulns2001]

PE's service is amazing, motecs service is generally horrible, they have good answers if and when they answer though (they usually dont) and will NOT respond to phone calls ever email is the only way for contact

the problem i have with haltech is the interface i cant stand the way the maps work its more of a software problem for me

[jdstuff]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by pengulns2001:
PE's service is amazing, motecs service is generally horrible, they have good answers if and when they answer though (they usually dont) and will NOT respond to phone calls ever email is the only way for contact </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Pengulns,

Where are you located?? We've run Motec for several years and have never had a problem just calling them up and talking to a service rep. As a matter of fact, one of our EE's spend an hour or two with them on the phone last Saturday troubleshooting.

[RiNaZ]

I was wondering if any teams out there that has a spare haltech S3 hall effect sensor.

My engine guy seems to be having problem with the sensor. It seems to be working fine when he did a testbed for it, but when we put it up on to the engine, it's not detecting the RPM right.

I'll borrow or buy whatever you have, postage and what not.

Thanks guys