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What are the new G-Timer products?
The G-Timer Vehicle Performance Meters evaluate your vehicle's performance by measuring
its acceleration, horsepower, cornering and braking forces.
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What exactly do the G-Timer Vehicle Performance Meters do?
The products have two basic modes:
In the "Timed Run" mode, the G-Timer Vehicle Performance Meters measure your
vehicle's acceleration and braking forces during a brief timed run, and calculate
acceleration times (including 0 to 60 mph times, quarter mile times and speeds, and 60
to 0 braking time and distance). After you make a one-time setup with your car's weight,
the unit can also calculate horsepower.
In the "G-Meter" mode, the G-Timer Vehicle Performance Meters continuously
measure and display the acceleration, braking, and cornering forces your car is
producing.
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Why would I want one?
The G-Timer Vehicle Performance Meters provide an easy, fun, accurate way to measure
your car's performance. If you tune or modify your car, the G-Timer Vehicle Performance
Meters let you measure how much your vehicle's performance and horsepower have changed.
For drag race, autocross, track event or road race enthusiasts, the G-Timer Vehicle
Performance Meters can measure your vehicle's performance as you change components,
set-up, or driving styles.
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Are G-Timer Vehicle Performance Meters hard to operate?
We've designed-in the same intuitive "one-button operation" and
industry-leading performance that our radar detectors are known for.
For a timed run, just press the "Start" button, then accelerate whenever you
are ready. At the end of your run, the results are shown automatically. For the G-Meter
mode, just press the "G-Meter" button.
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How do G-Timer Vehicle Performance Meters work? How hard are they to install?
They work by sensing the acceleration forces, using miniature internal solid-state
sensors. There is no connection with your car's speedometer or tachometer.
No installation is required. The G-Timer Vehicle Performance Meters simply plug into
your vehicle's lighter socket, and mount to the windshield with the included suction cup
mount.
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What is the accuracy of the G-Timer Vehicle Performance Meters?
For most vehicles, the readings will be within 100 milliseconds "out of the box,"
and within 50 milliseconds after fine-tuning setup items for the specific car.
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Can the G-Timer Vehicle Performance Meters be used on motorcycles?
We have done no testing on motorcycles. The cornering G-force reading will definitely
not work, due to the way motorcycles lean into turns. The acceleration, braking, and
timed run modes may work, providing the motorcycle does not lift its front wheel
during acceleration.
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How many axis accelerometer does the G-Timer Vehicle Performance Meter use?
After extensive testing, we are using a 2-axis accelerometer, and have found that to be
as accurate as a 3-axis system in every respect.
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Can a G-Timer Vehicle Performance Meter display Metric units?
G-Timer GT2 models produced since July 2004 can be configured by the user to display
English or Metric units. The G-Timer GT1 has no Metric display option.
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How does the G-Timer Vehicle Performance Meter know the speed and distance?
The G-Timer Vehicle Performance Meter tracks acceleration forces over time, and from
this continuously calculates speed and distance. For accuracy, it tracks all these
items approximately 200 times per second.
Here's a simplified explanation of how the system works:
For this simplified example, we'll assume a G-Timer Vehicle Performance Meter that
performs calculations only once per second. We'll also assume that our car can accelerate
with a force of 0.45G.
An acceleration of 1 G means that car would accelerate at 32.2 feet per second per
second, which is about 22 mph per second. (That means, from a standing start, after one
second, the car would be going 22 mph. After two seconds it would be going 44 mph, etc.)
In our example the car accelerates at 0.45G, which is about 10 mph per second.
So, let's look at the 1st second of our timed run: We were going 0 mph at the beginning
of that second, and we were going 10 mph at the end of that second. So our average speed
during that second was 5 mph. We can then calculate how far the car went: 5 miles per
hour = 26,400 feet per hour = about 7 feet per second.
So after the 1st second, we've traveled 7 feet, and we're going 10 mph.
Now let's look at the 2nd second of our timed run (remember, we're still accelerating at
10 mph per second): We were going 10 mph at the beginning of that second, and we were
going 20 mph at the end of that second. So our average speed during that second was 15 mph.
We can then calculate how far the car went, which turns out to be about 22 feet.
So after 2 seconds, we've traveled 7 + 22 = 29 feet, and we're going 20 mph.
Now let's look at the 3rd second of our timed run: We were going 20 mph at the beginning
of that second, and we were going 30 mph at the end of that second. So our average speed
during that second was 25 mph. We can then calculate how far the car went, which turns out
to be about 37 feet.
So after 3 seconds, we've traveled 7+22+37 = 66 feet, and we're going 30 mph.
This is a simplified way to see how the G-Timer Vehicle Performance Meter tracks speed and
distance during a timed run. Remember, in actuality, the G-Timer Vehicle Performance Meter
continuously measures G-forces, and makes these calculations hundreds of times each second.
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Do you ship G-Timer Vehicle Performance Meters outside the United States?
Puerto Rico and the Canada are the only places we ship G-Timer Vehicle Performance Meters
to outside of the United States, but we do not accept those orders online due to special
shipping considerations. If you require shipment to Puerto Rico or Canada, please call us
at 800-964-3138 to place your order.
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I changed some settings on my G-Timer Vehicle Performance Meter, or someone
changed them for me. My G-Timer Vehicle Performance Meter no longer seems to work
properly and I'd like to reset it to the factory defaults. Is there an easy way to do
that?
To reset the factory defaults from the G-Timer setup mode (reached by holding down the
G-Meter button), press the Start button repeatedly until you reach "Fact
Default?", then press the up arrow to select that option. You can also
"re-boot" to the G-Timer factory default mode by holding down three buttons,
plugging in the power cord, and then releasing the buttons. If you're not ambidextrous,
you may want to have a friend plug in the power cord while you are holding the buttons!
The three buttons to hold down are the up arrow, the down arrow, and G-Meter.
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I purchased the optional software and download cable for my GT2, but I do not have
an available serial port. Can I use a USB port and a USB to serial adapter?
We have tested the model GUC232A USB to Serial adapter from IOGEAR, which can be used to
connect to an available USB port. After installing a USB to serial adapter, you will need
to know the number of its COM port. Navigate to the Windows Device Manager, select
"Ports" and note the COM port number assigned to the adapter. Launch the
Vehicle Performance Tools application and select the Serial Connection tab. Then select
"Show Serial Communications Activity." Click on the COM port that matches your
USB adapter COM port number. If you have a G-Timer connection to the COM port and powered
on, the Vehicle Performance Tools software will confirm that it sees a working GT2 on the
COM port.
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