Support The Forum: Buy ALDL Cables!

[RobertISaar]

Been chatting with Mark about this for a while now, figured I should pull the trigger and actually do it.

http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-Injection/attachment.php?attachmentid=3910&stc=1

Support the forum!

Every ALDL cable sold nets Mark $5 to keep the forum at its current level of awesome.

For $45 shipped to anywhere the continental US, you'll receive a USB ALDL cable (based off of the Uber-Easy design i have posted about) in either of the two styles shown above. The switches on the side are used to connect/disconnect a 10K resistor needed for certain ECMs to stream data. A 4 foot USB cable is semi-permanantly attached, I say "semi" since it's replaceable should it wear out/get destroyed by removing the cover, pulling the old one out and slapping in a new one. I like easily replaceable wear items. If 4 feet isn't enough, USB extension cables do exist and I see no reason why they wouldn't work in this application.

If there is enough interest, I can look into creating a cable with the OBD2 end, or even making a single cable with both the 12 pin and 16 pin connectors to cover practically everything GM 1995 and earlier. The OBD2 only end would likely end up at the same price, but the 12 + 16 cable would probably cost a little more, maybe $60 shipped?

In any situation, please voice any concerns/questions/needs in this thread.

[EagleMark]

Well thanks Robert. I didn't know about the $5. It will go to upgrades I've been wanting to do...

Nice Red X picture!

[RobertISaar]

:laugh: bad linking. should be fixed now.

[Six_Shooter]

Is it just the picture or is there only an inch or so between the 12 pin connector and the box?

[RobertISaar]

it's not the picture.... i can't find a source for the molded connectors that are longer, have the correct pins present and are cheaper. aldlcables.com wants $21/shipped just for their connector.

while the wires could be extended, that would make a weak point in the cable since solder won't hold up to being tweaked/twisted/abused the way copper can. this is the best compromise i can come up with. i've used them as-is without issue, but the location of the port will really be the biggest factor in how easily they will work. the port location on a W-body works great.

[Tunedperformance]

I'll take one to try on a 730 what's your paypal address robert ?

[RobertISaar]

it would take me a few weeks to get the parts needed shipped in...

i really need to just stockpile a good 10 or so of everything needed to get the stuff done within a day of a request.

[EagleMark]

Does this have a 10k switch that can be turned on AND off?

[Tunedperformance]

let me know when I can get one :thumbsup:

[RobertISaar]

Does this have a 10k switch that can be turned on AND off?

that is what the switch on the side is for... could also make it a direct link if for some reason you wanted to be able to flash codes on the SES light if you knew you would never need the 10K resistor.

[EagleMark]

Cool! Cables got to have an on/off 10k switch!

I'll take two!

[RobertISaar]

i guess i should start ordering parts then... :D

[sherlock9c1]

I'm interested in one as well for my '94-95 LT1s. But let me ask - I have an existing ALDL cable that's 6' long - could you make an option where you send me the box all built up with everything BUT the ALDL cable portion and then I'll just wire my ALDL cable into the box myself?

[RobertISaar]

i wouldn't mind it at all... if you can solder onto a .1" pitch header(or through-hole if the header is removed) then you shouldn't have issues attaching any cable to the converter board. i would need a estimate on the diameter of the insulation for the cable so that the box can have the proper sized hole in it to pass the cable through.

if you can't, or don't want to risk it, then you could mail me the existing end and i'll attach it. expect around ~$2.30 to ship it USPS first-class in a padded envolope.

either way, that's less parts for me to buy, so i can cut you a break on the price as well.

[sherlock9c1]

Quick question, but would this thing support PCM reflashes? I didn't seem to find a clear answer in the other thread.

[RobertISaar]

done it MANY times on the MC in my sig... the 93-95 3100 PCM is a slightly stripped down version of the 94-95 LT1 PCM (seeing how it came out in 93, perhaps it would be better to state that the 94-95 LT1 PCM is a more equipped version of the 93-95 3100?) with no issues whatsoever.

[sherlock9c1]

Robert, just wanted to give you a heads up that I ended up purchasing a few of these boards from the Ebay seller. I'm going to hardwire the board into the car so I can just hook a USB cable right to the dash.

[FSJ Guy]

Wow. Somehow I missed this thread. I'll buy one for my at the moment non-existent TBI equipped vehicle.

PM will be sent.

[RobertISaar]

hey everybody, sorry about the lack of updates, going through a slight design change and am verifying that everything will still be working as expected. moving to a significantly smaller(about 60% smaller) PCB inside of the box to give an easier assembly/more room. also moving to a 6 foot mini-B cable for now, instead of the 4 foot B cable. my parts supplier was getting was too inconsistent in what they were sending me, so i went elsewhere to keep everything easier to interchange if necessary.

knowing me, yet another revision will be made, but it will probably be a while before that comes around... i've been buying the PCBs rather than having them made for me. because of this, i basically have to adapt to whatever i can find, rather than make what would work best. i just have to make sure i'll be able to reliably hot air solder the FT232 chips, since SSOP-28 can be done with an iron but it's not as clean as i would like.

anyways, as soon as i verify that the new PCB will work, i'll be ordering quite a few of them, there's a lot of backed-up orders/requests.

[FSJ Guy]

Sweet!! Thanks for the update!

I suspect you already know of this place, but they'll do short or large runs of custom PCBs for you: www.batchpcb.com

[RobertISaar]

maybe i'm blind/tired, but i couldn't find any way for them to do an estimate on custom boards without me actually sending them gerber files?

in any case, the boardhouse i'm looking at should be able to do batches for me in multiples of 40 at VERY reasonable prices.

[RobertISaar]

newest adapter arrived in the mail this morning, results are good, so i'm going to pull the trigger and order quite a few of these at once, since it seems to take forever to get here.

[FSJ Guy]

Thanks for the update! My project is slowly moving forward, so your timing is perfect.

[Playtoy_18]

Just tell me how to buy,how far out till I can get ahold of it?

[RobertISaar]

i'd like to give an exact date, but i don't have one. apparently i can't give an estimate either with how variable shipping has become lately.

[RobertISaar]

well, got parts for another cable in, built, tested, ready to go...

problem is, it's only one cable and there is a LOT of pent-up demand.

i hate having to cannibalize the project money i build up for this to support other projects. that and backorders and needing to know mandarin or cantonese to get what i need delivered.

[EagleMark]

Can you find a better supply for a little more money? You can skip the $5 to forum if that helps you get this project under control.

[RobertISaar]

possibly. i know it's a popular thing to buy from where i am, import them to the US and them sell them for a markup with the promise of "get your stuff faster".

i imagine that's why i run into shortage issues, when i slam them with a request for 10 at a time, they just can't fill the order fast enough.

[roughneck427]

Ive had the Y cable from tunercats for a few years now that does the LT1 stuff but it only does 8192 baud i have a new project ant its the old 160 baud will your cable work on them?? its a 1988 s10 with a 4.3

[RobertISaar]

i'm kind of amazed the tunercat cable doesn't work with 160...

but yeah, it's been used by a few people now with 160 baud applications, the only issues seem to be building reliable definitions since the hardware side works.

[roughneck427]

i use ttsdatamaster also efi live has the obd1 scanner that is free where do i send payment for cable?



also here is what is posted on TC website of the Y-cable he sells
These are high quality USB/ALDL interface cable sets that allow you to connect your PC to the vehicle's ALDL connector for programming of the vehicle's computer or data logging. The cables are compatible with the C.A.T.S. Tuner and WinFlash programs for the 1994/1995 LT1 cars and are also compatible with most scan tool and data logging software for GM vehicles with 8192 baud ALDL data streams. The cables are not compatible with vehicles using the early 160 baud ALDL data stream

[RobertISaar]

anticipating ~10 days before parts get here for more cables.

[mytmouz]

I still want them...

[RobertISaar]

expecting final parts to arrive for another batch today or tomorrow, other parts i've ordered at the same time have shown up in the last two days.

[Achilles]

These are $45 shipped?


expecting final parts to arrive for another batch today or tomorrow, other parts i've ordered at the same time have shown up in the last two days.

[RobertISaar]

correct, for anywhere in the US, expect international shipments to be a little more.

i just got the mail, and while i have a bunch of packages in-hand, none are what i need at the moment.

[mytmouz]

ARRGHH!!! lol, When you get some together, I want whatever it is I need...

[EagleMark]

China is not known for good shipping...


http://youtu.be/tPzRPga6uDg

[RobertISaar]

well, i got the first 5 ALDL ends here finally.... and the others will probably be a day or two behind.

unfortunately, i have the wrong ones. i was led to believe that they were the units i'm used to using... turns out they're not. they're about a foot longer(good), but the wired pins aren't correct... A, B and M are present, but E is not(in place of it, G), so while they would work just fine with any 8192 baud application, to work with 160 baud the ALDL connector on the vehicle would need repinned(the vehicle-side E pin would need to be moved to M). if i were to build the cable as-is and use G in place of the E pin and the G pin on the vehicle-side connector were populated, a dead cable is a certainly, since to my knowledge, G was only ever used to provide an alternate way of powering the fuel pump...

so, now i don't know what to do. i'm not going to force anybody to use it if they don't want it, but now it's going to take even longer to get the correct parts in.

[sherlock9c1]

Just sell them as 8192-specific. I know the LT1 DIY tuner community would love to move away from DB9 serial ports. I just got my little Uber Easy setup working in a benchtop configuration the other day and it is wonderful. Now I need to put it in a box or something!

[RobertISaar]

and i wouldn't mind selling them as such.... but i don't think there are too many people wanting to be limited out of 160 baud. my personal cable, which i've been using since sometime in 2009, doesn't have 160 baud capabilities, i assumed i wouldn't need it and i've been correct so far.

[RobertISaar]

finally, a better source of cables.

not only are they the correct ones, they got here within 2 weeks of ordering, they're cheaper than before and the seller has a excellent attitude about me asking questions.

as a test run, i only ordered one from them(and a batch from my slower, more expensive, but at least correct supplier), but they have my business from here forward.

so, i'll have one ready to go probably sometime tonight or tomorrow(i have LONG overdue ball joints to replace on the ranger), the rest will be ready as the other ends come in, which will probably be within the week.

[mytmouz]

Sweet!

[devind]

Sound Good
Thanks for the updates

[mytmouz]

I still want one, lol...

[mytmouz]

Updates?

[RobertISaar]

none as of yet. the "slow" source is still slow, though reliable. they can't be far off.

[mytmouz]

Anticipation, lol...

[RobertISaar]

now i have an update.... this morning, our mail carrier left me a card in my mailbox indicating that i need to go pick up the package, so i guess that will happen monday.

[mytmouz]

Yay!

[EagleMark]

now i have an update.... this morning, our mail carrier left me a card in my mailbox indicating that i need to go pick up the package, so i guess that will happen monday.I hate when they do that...

[RobertISaar]

as do i.... but at least it's better than no notification at all.... that has happened a lot lately.

[RobertISaar]

alright, after lunch, my day is pretty much determined. i'll have 4 on-hand after the pre-orders are built, so i guess i'm ordering more parts tonight too.

[mytmouz]

Anticipation...

[RobertISaar]

all 6 tested out as expected, these are getting sent out now, assuming the post office hasn't closed(they had their hours cut down a week ago, haven't seen the new hours yet).

[RobertISaar]

3 out, 3 left, another 4 will be ready in ~2 weeks.

[Playtoy_18]

Are these new cables 160 baud capable?And are they all spoken for already?

[RobertISaar]

3 left, including you, potentially 1 left.

and yes, i've seen them used in a couple of 160 baud applications now. the rocker switch on the side of the box applies and removes the 10K resistor needed for some to start and others to start and continue streaming.

[EagleMark]

:jfj:

[RobertISaar]

yah, things be moving now. as long as i can keep this momentum up, i'll be happy.

[Playtoy_18]

What is the paypal to send,didn't see it on first page?Unfortunately I bought an ALDL with OBDII plug the other night,so only have $30 in paypal currently.
I would rather wait till saturday for ebay to finish a couple auctions so I don't have to transfer into paypal.
If that sounds good than mark one for me and i'll paypal on saturday morning.

[RobertISaar]

works for me... just take a couple more days to get to you. we'll be unavailable all day saturday anyways(wifey has some business stuff to attend to).

i smashed the crap out of my finger while dealing with the 92 ranger, so any fine motor-skill work will be a little while before i'm up to it. since i have ~2 weeks before the next batch of cables can be built, that will probably be enough time to recover, good thing i got all of the cables done when i did.

[devind]

My new cable showed up in the mail box Thursday. Plugged it into my lap top and it automatically started loading the necessary driver. Then I set up the com port in Tuner Pro went out and plugged it in to my Jeep and it works perfectly.
Great product thanks Rob.

[RobertISaar]

wonderful. speaking of, down to 1 left in this batch.

[EagleMark]

Did you get one sent to JiminDorris?

[jim_in_dorris]

Yes he did, Thanks. I will get a chance today to make a log file. TunerPro RT V5 works great, it had to have been my homemade cable that was the problem.

[EagleMark]

With all the help you have shared around here I'm really happy your finally using TPV5! :thumbsup:

[mytmouz]

I recieved mine last week, finally got to open it tonight. Now to learn how to use it, lol...

[EagleMark]

Here's a start... :innocent2:

http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-Injection/showthread.php?1557-Cable-Installation-to-TunerPro-RT

[Nasty-Z]

Sent a P/M to Robert to put me in line for a new cable,

Need a replacment as I finished the old cable off just last night after a '7427 marathon ......... :mad1:

Thanks

TOM

[Playtoy_18]

Just got mine in the mail.About to drive up the road in the old caprice,time to try it out.
Thanks robert,looks great.


Mytmouz,it will be my first time datalogging OBDI as well.
I've only used TP as a hex editor and to make some simple changes for emissions so far.
The only thing that generally messes with me is for years i've been using fuel trim percentages (OBDII) and now I guess I should get used to BLM's.

[EagleMark]

Just think BLM 128 is 0% fuel trim. Higher then 128 is + fuel trim... lower then 128 is minus fuel trim!

[RobertISaar]

Sent a P/M to Robert to put me in line for a new cable,

Need a replacment as I finished the old cable off just last night after a '7427 marathon ......... :mad1:

Thanks

TOM

and that will finish up this batch.


The only thing that generally messes with me is for years i've been using fuel trim percentages (OBDII) and now I guess I should get used to BLM's.


Just think BLM 128 is 0% fuel trim. Higher then 128 is + fuel trim... lower then 128 is minus fuel trim!

yep. it's a simple system really.

if it REALLY bothered you, change the ADX equation for BLM and INT to:

(X - 128) / 1.28

and then you'll have the values display exactly as they would with OBD2.

[Nasty-Z]

and that will finish up this batch.

Thank you sir .

TOM

[RobertISaar]

two more done and tested, earmarked for lilhupper and chevytruckz.

should have another two ready to go this saturday.

[Tunedperformance]

I'll take one to try on a 730 what's your paypal address robert ?

I never heard back , take me off the list please.

[RobertISaar]

ugh, that's what happens when it takes 5 1/2 months to find reliable suppliers combined with my spotty record-keeping.

[roughneck427]

Have any cables that do 160 baud if so I'd like to buy one

[RobertISaar]

they'll all do 160 with no problem....

lack of supply is a problem though. i have parts inbound, but no time estimate yet.

[RobertISaar]

1 is ready to go, i'll need to see what drivers i'm using with it to keep it simple during installation.

another will be ready pretty soon as well.

[tolow4phathoes]

ARe you still selling these cables? If so I'd like to purchase one.

[RobertISaar]

none on-hand at the moment, though as i've mentioned through PMs, should have some ready within a month. overseas shipping is about to get quite hectic too....

[greasegrenade]

Any cables ready?

[RobertISaar]

none yet, i don't know if the weather in combination with my location has been contributing to shipping delays, but i've been waiting on parts to arrive for a while.... some are even shipping from california and haven't arrived.

[steveo]

robert pm me if you get them built any time soon, i'll take one for my tbi junker

[RobertISaar]

i've been watching tracking for parts like a hawk, raising my blood pressure, wondering why tomorrow will have been a full 3 weeks that my money has been in their hands yet they haven't bothered to ship, only notified the shipping company to expect the package.

[steveo]

what parts are you waiting for? perhaps i can help

[RobertISaar]

the male 12-pin connectors.

AKA: the only part that is difficult to find a reliable supplier of.

[steveo]

ahh no doubt! that is hard to find

the chinese connector factories can make them for you with a few weeks lead time; for less than 50 cents each.

wherever you're buying them from, i bet that's where they got them originally.

it's setting that up and communicating that's difficult. minimum order would probably be around 100-200.

although the quality might be an 8/10, for the price of the damn things you could afford to offer a lifetime warranty on the connector and have a few spares around

[RobertISaar]

$.50 X 100 = $50..... that's not that much more than what i'm paying for 5 of them. :/

[jim_in_dorris]

Robert, If you can get an accurate drawing of the part, 3-D printing might be the answer. Current prices are about $0.75 per CC of plastic. Just a thought. I am trying to get a DIY 3-D medal powder printer figured out, I think a 4 barrel TBI that fit a square bore carb intake and used stock GM parts would be a great idea for the hotrod community.

[RobertISaar]

i could draw it down to 1mm resolution, it's a simple enough thing to replicate, i'm not sure how well 3D printed items with wiring embedded in it would turn out?

[steveo]

$.50 X 100 = $50..... that's not that much more than what i'm paying for 5 of them. :/

seriously man set up a china buy

there are these adaptors they make for going 12 to 16 obd and vice versa so they DO have the connector template, you just have to have them tool up and make you a hundred bare connectors

they have to be cheap, since a complete wired adaptor is less than a dollar.. (or less than 50 cents in larger quantities)....

then YOU could supply the diy crowd the bare connectors, selling them for $10 a peice or more and making 1000%+ profit....

let me know if i can help, i've done some chinese parts buys before.

[RobertISaar]

i'm clueless as to the process of something like this. the 12 to 16 adapters are what i cut up for use on the cables now, ending up with a larger distance from the box that holds the UART->USB adapter/10K switch/etc would certainly be useful.

[RobertISaar]

GUESS WHAT ARRIVED TODAY?!?1/1?

THE SECOND PAIR OF CABLE-ENDS THAT I ORDERED A MONTH AGO, THAT WOULD BE OKAY, BUT......

GUESS WHO SENT THE WRONG DAMN CABLES?1!?!?!

:mad1::mad1::mad1::mad1::mad1::mad1::mad1::mad1::m ad1::mad1::mad1::mad1::mad1::mad1:

now even my slow and expensive, but reliable source is sending me the wrong parts. these ones only have 4 pins wires, A, G, K and M, so it would work for most 8192 baud applications, but nothing else.



in the past year, i've lost at least a thousand dollars over wrong parts, delays and general asshat'ery on the behalf of the cable-end producers and distributors, i'm officially done dealing with them, they still haven't shipped the first set of ends i ordered just short of 6 weeks ago and i'm sure those will be wrong as well.


DIY is FTW and clearly the only way to get consistent results, let's get this 3D printed/custom design ball rolling.

[jim_in_dorris]

GUESS WHAT ARRIVED TODAY?!?1/1?

THE SECOND PAIR OF CABLE-ENDS THAT I ORDERED A MONTH AGO, THAT WOULD BE OKAY, BUT......

GUESS WHO SENT THE WRONG DAMN CABLES?1!?!?!

:mad1::mad1::mad1::mad1::mad1::mad1::mad1::mad1::m ad1::mad1::mad1::mad1::mad1::mad1:

now even my slow and expensive, but reliable source is sending me the wrong parts. these ones only have 4 pins wires, A, G, K and M, so it would work for most 8192 baud applications, but nothing else.



in the past year, i've lost at least a thousand dollars over wrong parts, delays and general asshat'ery on the behalf of the cable-end producers and distributors, i'm officially done dealing with them, they still haven't shipped the first set of ends i ordered just short of 6 weeks ago and i'm sure those will be wrong as well.


DIY is FTW and clearly the only way to get consistent results, let's get this 3D printed/custom design ball rolling.

Robert, I talked with the printer yesterday. He misunderstood me and was trying to print the car side of an OBD2 connector. We go that straightened out, I will see him Monday. He is also a car nut, so he is motivated.

[EagleMark]

That really sucks Robert! Such a cool and needed project and can't even get a simple order straightened out... :rolleye:

I know you have a lot of time into this but seriously... can't find a decent suppplier after all this time? man! :mad1:

[RobertISaar]

is it still going to be roughly the same idea of a 2 piece/individual terminal solution?

I'll still need to figure out a source of 4-conductor wire that will work when the dimensions of the back side of the male end is finalized.

[RobertISaar]

I know you have a lot of time into this but seriously... can't find a decent suppplier after all this time? man! :mad1:

i tend to do okay with a supplier for 1 or 2 orders, after that they start sending the wrong parts that take 2 months to replace via their RMA procedure, so i just take the loss and sell them with a correct description on ebay while finding another supplier.

the used-to-be reliable supplier of DX.com has now hit that list as well. they sell two versions of the 12 to 16 adapters that i cut up for the cable, the short, 12-wire version that works and the long, 4-wire that doesn't. this latest batch has the part number for the short cables on their packaging, but i went over all of the terminals with the multimeter in beep-for-short mode and 5 on the 16-pin side and 4 on the 12-pin side conduct. they also have the long cables listed as out of stock on their site, but the short ones in stock. i'm guessing they have no idea of the difference between the two and just sell whatever they have for the one listing.

[89-S-dime]

I need a OBD1 Scanner Cable - USB to 12 pin ALDL direct, I was wondering if you offer one, I would rather support the forum instead of buy one off of ebay

[RobertISaar]

i'm still being held up by suppliers, i need to chat with Jim and see how the alternative is going.

[89-S-dime]

ok thanks

[57 Handyman]

Are your cables still available? I have a '92 S-10 and will be converting from my stock 4288 ECM to an 8625 PCM.

[RobertISaar]

I've been acquiring parts to test a modified(enhanced) circuit design, but nothing solid yet.

otherwise, I'm still the dragging wheel for the basic cable project that is...... nearly a year in progress?

[steveo]

http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20150326062941&SearchText=12+Pin+to+16+Pin

[RobertISaar]

see, i'll buy one and it will probably be correct, so then I place an order for a dozen of them through the same source and i'll end up with a dozen incorrect ones and a lot of time/money wasted.

I would have to ask the seller to test every one of them for the 4 critical pins to make sure they make it to both ends and I don't know if they're willing to go through all of that trouble.

[joegreen]

How are the cables coming along?

[RobertISaar]

summed into a few words: not very. I still haven't too far into checking/revising the dimensions of the prototype connector Jim and his contact produced with my current planned circuit.... the planned circuit changes noticeably at times when I can't make up my mind about the best way to go about achieving certain goals, so I end up doing the same engineering work multiple times and I get burned out on it quickly.

[madc1500matt]

hi I'm new to the forum i was sent here from GMT400.com i have a 1994 c1500 5.7l 350 tbi and i need the cable for the chip burning, i also have a question do i need to buy the chip separate? or you guys also offer one? thanks in advance!

[fastacton]

I don't believe the cables are currently being sold. You can get pretty much everything you'd need for your '94 at moates.net

[Mickey]

Robert, are you actually selling the ALDL to USB cables?
Sure wish I hadn't thrown away the one we built at GM Powertrain.

[1project2many]

Unfortunately I believe this project has stalled. From time to time old GM equipment shows up in Ebay auctions. I missed a chance at an AVT made cable that appeared to be for datalogging from the ecm service connector. Would have been neat to have. I don't know if any of Bob Rauscher's Lockers schematics are available but that's the best way to get your data if you have the ability to use one.
http://www.diy-efi.org/gmecm/archive/html_gm_archive_num_12/msg08905.html

[RobertISaar]

stalled is probably an understatement... after getting boned by all of the distributors I was using and having no ability to keep producing cables without having to either increase cost considerably or build them at-cost/loss, I threw everything I had accumulated into a box and shoved it into what I like to consider the "cold storage" section of my work area.

[Mickey]

Try these folks out for OBD1 & 2 supplies.
I just received a 12 pin male molded end with ~ 3 feet of able and it appears to be a quality piece @ $15+ship not bad.

[Mickey]

OOOPS! for got
OBD DIagnostics, Inc

[Limitless]

Do you still sell cables here? I made one from some parts I had laying around but having issues. Time to get a good one. Thanks