Beltronics Vector Series Owner's Manual

Vehicle
PERFORMANCE COMPUTER

Vehicle
PERFORMANCE COMPUTER

OWNER’S MANUAL

Vector SERIES with Vacuum Fluorescent Display

The manufacturer is not responsible for any accidents,
property damage, or injuries that occur while using
the Performance Computer.

Like your car’s speedometer, this device is no more than
a measuring instrument, a tool that can be used to
measure vehicle performance. Obey all traffic laws on
the street. Drive responsibly, and use common sense.

ROLLOVER WARNING

This device measures G-Forces, but it does not change
the laws of physics. Under certain circumstances,
almost any vehicle can roll over, causing serious injury
or death. Taller vehicles such as SUVs, trucks, and vans
are more likely to roll than conventional cars, so even
more care needs to be taken with those vehicles.

No electronic device can take the place of the driver’s
judgment.

IndexWARNING

One-button Operation 3

Quick Start Guide 4-5

Remote Control Cord 6

Installation 6-7

How it works 8

Specifications 8

G-Meter Operation 9-15

Performing Timed Runs 16-19

Measuring Horsepower 20-23

Using the Setup Mode 24-30

One-button operation

TIMED RUN OPERATION

Stop car,

press TIMED RUN button,

then start anytime.

G-METER OPERATION

Press and release G-METER button
to display G-Forces. Press again to

choose alternate G-Meter displays.

To enter Setup Mode, hold this button

Optional Accessories 31

Troubleshooting 32

Warranty 34

Service 35

2

REVIEW TIMED RESULTS

Press UP or DOWN buttons

to review data from

last ten timed runs.

G-METER CALIBRATION

Install unit on windshield,

park on level ground, then press

and release CALIBRATE button.

To adjust display brightness, hold this button

3

Quick Start Guide

Please read the entire manual to learn details of the
many capabilities of your new Performance Computer.
This page provides only a basic overview of the instal­lation, features, and capabilities.

INSTALLATION

1) Plug into lighter socket

Plug the cord into the Performance Computer, and into
your car’s lighter socket. The Performance Computer is
always “On,” there is no on-off switch.

(If your car’s lighter socket is always powered,
unplug the Performance Computer when not in use to
avoid discharging your car’s battery.)

2) Attach to windshield in center of car

Mount the Performance Computer centered between
the driver and passenger with the suction cup mount.
Make sure the unit is mounted squarely in the car. Do
not mount the unit so it is angled toward the driver.

Pivot the unit on the bracket until it is approxi­mately level (it is not necessary to be perfectly level).

3) Park on a level surface, then press

and release the CALIBRATE button

Each time you remount the unit, you must calibrate
the G-Meter. (The calibration is stored in memory even
if the unit is unplugged, so you don’t need to calibrate
again unless you reposition or reinstall the unit.)

TIMED RUN BUTTON

Press and release to start a timed run

Your car must be stopped before you can perform a
timed run (0-to-60, quarter mile, etc.).

1) Press and release the button

2) Wait a few seconds until the display
shows “Run READY, Start anytime”

3) Accelerate whenever you are ready.

During your run, the unit automatically records and
saves complete run data. The yellow LED lights when
the unit is in the timed run mode and also when you
are reviewing timed runs.

UP AND DOWN BUTTONS

Press to review timed runs

The 10 most recent runs are saved in memory. Press
the UP and DOWN buttons whenever you want to re­view these runs.

CALIBRATE BUTTON

Press and release to calibrate G-Meter

BRIGHTNESS ADJUSTMENT

Hold the CALIBRATE BUTTON to adjust

the brightness of the display

Power-on LED

G-METER BUTTON

Press and release to select different

displays of G-Forces and other data

Except when performing timed runs, the unit is nor­mally in the “G-METER” mode, where it can display
the acceleration, braking, and cornering G-forces of
your car. Press and release to select different G-Meter
displays. A good initial choice is G-Meter Option 1, a
Bar Graph that shows acceleration and braking forces
on the top line, and cornering forces on the bottom line.

SETUP MODE

Hold the G-METER button

to enter Set-Up mode

54

Installation

Mounting Location

Mount the unit on the windshield, centered between
driver and passenger. The unit must be straight across

Do not angle the unit toward the driver!

the car.

Angle adjustment

Pivot the unit on its windshield bracket until it is
approximately level. It is important that the unit stays
in position during use. If the unit pivots too easily,
tighten the large Phillips-head fastener slightly.

Calibration

• G-Meter: Park on a level surface, then press the CALI­BRATE button to calibrate the G-Meter function.

• Timed Run: You do not have to press the calibration
button before a timed run. The Performance Computer
automatically performs a separate internal calibra­tion before each timed run.

Remote Control Cord

A convenient way
to control your
Performance Computer.

Press and release the button to operate the G-Meter

•
function. Press again to change to different display.

Press and hold the button to start a Timed Run.

•

Unit must be mounted squarely in car

Mount the unit on the windshield, centered between
driver and passenger. The unit must be straight across

Do not angle the unit toward the driver!

the car.

!

YES!

Mount the unit

straight across the car.

!

NO!

Do not angle the unit.

Unit does not have to be exactly level

The unit does not have to be perfectly level side to
side, special circuitry automatically compensates for
mounting angles up to 30 degrees from level.

OK

OK

Tilt does not have to be exactly level.

The front of the unit does not have to be perfectly level,
special circuitry automatically compensates for mount­ing angles up to 30 degrees from level.

OK

OK

76

How it works

Specifications

G-Meter Operation

The Performance Computer measures
the performance of your car by sensing
acceleration forces.

An internal precise digital 2-axis accelerometer tracks
your car’s acceleration, braking, and cornering forces
approximately 200 times each second. A built-in com­puter continuously analyzes this data and calculates
corrected G-Forces for the G-Meter operation, and speed
and distance data for the Timed Run operation.

Your Performance Computer was developed and tested
extensively, both at drag strips and using our VBOX
professional vehicle testing equipment, the ultra­precise data acquisition system used by auto makers
BMW, Honda, and AMG Mercedes; race teams Ford
Racing, Roush Industries, Chip Ganassi Racing, and
Renault F1; tire manufacturers Michelin, Bridgestone,
Goodyear, and Kumho; and car testers at Car and Driver
and Automobile Magazines.

The result is the most accurate accelerometer-based
performance computer available. And it’s the first unit
with true one-button operation: Press a single button
for calibration, a single button for G-meter operation,
a single button to start a timed run, and a single but­ton to review your previous runs.

Accelerometer

+2G range, high-resolution digital outputs.

2-axis,

Processor

Advanced RISC-based 8-bit microcontroller with 128KB
Flash Program Memory, 4KB SRAM, 4KB EEPROM,
integral 8-channel 10-bit A/D convertor. Throughput
up to 14.75 MIPS at 14.75 MHz. Additional external
1MB flash memory for data storage.

Temperature Compensation

Factory-calibrated. Internal digital temperature sensor
provides real-time continuous temperature compensation.

Power Regulation

Ultra-stable high-efficiency digital power supply with
secondary 5 volt regulator for accelerometer power.

Display

Vacuum Fluorescent Graphics display, 1792 pixel.

Housing

Polycarbonate/ABS alloy. Aluminum mounting bracket.

Dimensions

5.5”W x 1.7”H x 1.4”D., Weight 5 oz.

Power Requirement

12 volt DC Negative ground, 250 mA typical.

The basics of G-Forces

When you’re not performing a Timed Run, the Perfor­mance Computer is in the G-Meter Mode, where it can
display the acceleration, braking, and cornering forces
of your car.

These forces are measured in “G’s,” and they are the
best way to measure your car’s performance. You’ve
felt these forces—when a powerful car “pushes you
back in the seat,” when a panic stop presses you for­ward against the seat belt, and when a sharp corner
presses you against the door panel.

What the G-Meter shows

The G-Meter displays the G-Forces exerted by your car,
in the plane of the road. On a perfectly level surface,
the G-Meter will read zero when your car is not mov­ing, or when it is traveling “steady-state” (not acceler­ating, braking, or turning).

However, on hills or sloped surfaces, the G-Meter will
show a small G-Force, even when your car is not mov­ing. This shows the force your tires are exerting to keep
your car from sliding down the slope.

TO SELECT G-METER

Press and release the G-METER button
to choose the G-Meter mode.

Press and release the button again to
select different G-Meter display options.

To Calibrate the G-Meter, park on a level
surface, then press and release the
CALIBRATE button.

WARNING!

This device measures G-Forces, but remember, it does
not change the laws of physics. Under certain circum­stances, almost any vehicle can roll over, causing seri­ous injury or death. Taller vehicles such as SUVs, trucks
and vans are more likely to roll than conventional cars,
so even more care needs to be taken with those ve-

No electronic device can take the place of the

hicles.
driver’s judgment.

98

G-METER OPTION 1: BAR GRAPHS

G-METER OPTION 2: FRICTION CIRCLE

Press and release the G-METER button as necessary to
select “G-METER OPTION 1.”

This display shows straightforward bar graphs of
G-Forces. The top line shows acceleration and braking
forces; the bottom line shows cornering forces.

The default scale for the Bar Graphs is .80 G full scale.
You can adjust this using the Setup mode.

Typical Cornering G-Forces

Below we list typical maximum cornering forces
for different types of cars. Of course, auto testers
use smooth, level pavement under optimum con­ditions to achieve these figures.

Standard sedan .70 G to .80 G

Sports sedan .80 G to .90 G

For example, BMW M3, Acura RSX, etc.

High performance .90G to 1.00G

For example, Corvette, Viper, Porsche 911

Modified car 1.00 G or more

The car is accelerating at .45 G.

The car is braking at .22 G.

The car is cornering to the right at .72 G.

The car is cornering to the left at .43 G.

The car is accelerating at .45 G,

and cornering to the right at .72G.

Press and release the G-METER button as necessary to
select “G-METER OPTION 2.”

The small numbers on this display show the braking
and acceleration force on the top line, and the corner­ing force on the bottom line.

The large number shows the combined G-Forces, and
the arrow shows the approximate direction of those
forces.

The combined G-Force is not the simple addition of the
two forces; instead it is the “vector sum” of those forces,
as shown in the example below.

!

.85G Combined

!

.72G Cornering

!

.45G Acceleration

When the combined G-Force is under .15G, the arrow

is displayed as an outline pointing straight ahead.

The car is accelerating at .43 G.

The car is braking at .32 G.

The car is cornering to the left at 1.03 G.

The car is accelerating at .45 G,

and cornering to the left at .72G.

The combined G-Force is .85G.

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