A number of suppliers seem to have been waiting impatiently for the comprehensive introduction of the OBD-outlet. Since there are any number of devices that would like to be connected with it. There are, e.g., add-on headup displays, which as a rule, mostly project information concerning the navigation and the driving speed onto a transparent film fixed to the windscreen or onto any other reflecting optics.

If however, more data is required, the OBD-outlet then becomes interesting. Particularly as during travel, the devices have to be supplied with current all the time anyhow. It does seem reasonable, to use the current from the OBD-outlet from the word go. There is a guarantee for the suppliers, that a certain cable length is sufficient, because the distance that the OBD-outlet is from the driver's seat, is stipulated.

The OBD-data-logger has no problems with the laying of cables because there are none, at least not when it's plugged in. It communicates with the OBD-interface and collects data to be stored. It can then be connected to the USB-interface of a PC or a laptop, where one can see and interpret the data.

You may argue, that the workshop can do this anyway, using the customary testing devices. Indeed, this means a visit with the car to the workshop. With a data-logger one has only very little to carry around and if necessary, the data can be sent all over the world. Apart from that aspect, as you probably know, some faults occur all the time, except when one is in the workshop or when a test-run is being done.

Depending on the amount of data to be stored and the frequency of the data-storage, the data-logger can record, if need be, for eight hours a day and for a whole month. If you want to save workshop costs, only the times when the fault has actually occurred can be saved and the rest can be erased.

Your own behaviour, and/or that of others who also use the car, can be monitored as well. Which parameters are obvious when the fuel consumption is higher? Has the car been driven in such a way that exaggerated wear and tear is the result? Should perhaps something be changed? In view of it's price, surely a useful device, indeed, only if it is actually used.

Of course, all this only makes sense because of the reasonable price of the data-logger. Should you be a test-engineer and interested in the data to be evaluated during the test-driving, then a gateway can be had, which constantly feeds the data to you or to your computer, accordingly of course, this is more expensive. The additional advantage is however, that you can alter the testing conditions even during the test. 05/14