I'm doing a lot of research for my newly purchased FD. I'd like to go with the Power FC somewhere down the road and i see it gives temp, boost and other read outs. Do i not need a boost gauge if i could get a power fc instead? how about a temp gauge, boost controller? Free fan mod? Anything else it would take the place of? I can see where a pillar mounted boost/water temp gauge would be helpful when racing so you can actively see your numbers or would the commander be easy to read?!??! yes i know a newbie ? but maybe this would help other members. TIA

 

I keep my PFC commander on air temp, water temp, boost, and inj duty. You can read them just fine but I do suggest getting a seperate boost gauge. Mine is mounted on the passenger side of the radio and I don't want to look down there while racing. It does have a boost controller also but I don't reccomend using it as the only way to control boost.

 

It's MUCH easier to watch a needle sweep than to have to read a number. You already know where the numbers are on the boost gauge, so you just have to find out where the little needle is to know what boost level you're at when looking at the gauge.

Looking at the Power FC you'll have to read the numbers, which doesn't take much more time, but it is a pain in the ***. I used my Commander as my tach for quite a while when my tach died, and let me tell you it sucks. Just buy the $60 autometer boost gauge, it works fine.

 

the pfc would probably be fine for the slower moving number sets, like water and oil, which is perfect if you leave it just on those 2 (less things on the screen, the bigger they are of course). but you'l want guages for the faster moving numbers, boost is a necesity to start with. mmmmaybe intake temp and fuel pressure down the road too, but those are more for when you start really working things.

 

Just spring for the guages. Ultimately, you'll end up getting in a wreck if you keep trying to monitor the commander to see all of your parameters. The only reason NOT to get a boost gauge is if you're not doing anything in your car worthwhile of watching boost, like, using it to get groceries, and other such non-performance things. If you plan to do any kind of high performance driving, even if not on a track, a boost guage is a definite must-have for ease of viewing, and also because with a lot of the newer ones, like the Defi, you can record, playback and use the peak functions to keep an eye on things.

 

GET GAUGES. Even though the Power FC reads water temp, it does NOT have a warning light....how are you going to know your overheating if nothing beeps, whisles, moans or flashes you?

 

great input guys keep it coming...i can set my fans to run at any given temp with the PFC right?

 

jspecracer7, where can i get the gauges that moan and flash you? *just thought of anna kournikova playing tennis * lol

 

Only if you also buy the Datalogit (which is highly recommended).

 

skotx, i believe you mean to buy the Commander, which is the handheld screen/buttons that allow you to change settings....however, the datalogit is a very good mod as well

 

You need the datalogit to change when the fans come on. You can't do it with just the commander. It sucks to have to buy the extra **** you need for it all to work. I'm glad I got mine for free from a good friend.

 

damn i thought for sure u could get by with j/ the commander...o well

 

Yea damn Apex-i

 

going to get groceries can be dangrous when its 5 degrees outside. i had a big boost spike a few weeks ago. cold weather definatly makes a tc car faster.

get the boost guage. you will be able to see it much better, have to worry less about boost problems, and it looks cool.

 

bout how much is PFC, commander, datalogit and related expenses (tuning)?

 

We have nice FD folk around here so we don't need to buy datalogit, just borrow it.

If you get a commander holder like mine(bought from Cavell) you don't need a water temp gauge. I keep mine on the 4 setting and can see the slow moving sensors just fine. I keep the boost and inj duty on there also so I can glance over and see the max that I hit, but there's no way I could watch them during a race. I see no point to having 3 water temp gauges.

 

the pfc and commander is about $1250. the datalogit is about $325. as for tuning, that varies w/ the tuner.

 

and don't I need a wideband O2 or wideband air/fuel meter of some sort? how much is that? This **** is not cheap...but is it worth it to have stand alone?

 

The boost controller on the PFC is somewhat, crappy, also the boost readings are assed out as well, get a boost gauge. Autometers are the best for the money ( if you are on a budget)

 

its only dangerous cause you make it that way. you need to learn how to press down on the gas a little lighter why drive your car in 5 degree temps anyways, thats just an accident waiting to happen if you boost. ever hear of black ice?

 

the powerfc is like a jack of all trades master of none