New Wideband FAILSAFE Gauge from AEM Performance Electronics

Your high-performance engine has won you lots of races on the track and impressed people on the streets but is still susceptible to major damage if you don’t get your air/fuel ratios just right. Now you don’t have to worry about it with the new Wideband FAILSAFE Gauge from AEM Performance Electronics. Not only will this tool help you tune your air/fuel ratios accurately, it will also monitor your engine with a protection strategy to save your car from major damage.

Official Release:

AEM Releases Wideband FAILSAFE Gauge!

Actively Monitors Air/Fuel Ratios and Manifold Pressure and can Prevent Catastrophic Engine Damage

Hawthorne, CA—AEM is proud to introduce its Wideband FAILSAFE Gauge! (Part #30-4900). This device provides the ability to accurately tune AFR, while actively protecting your engine by constantly monitoring AFR curves and activating a user-defined failsafe strategy if it runs lean.

The Wideband FAILSAFE Gauge is a Universal Exhaust Gas Oxygen (UEGO—“you-way-go”) controller with an internal boost sensor, an internal data logger and a full color Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display.

It includes technology to activate a failsafe strategy in the event AFR falls outside of a user-defined operating window. If the AFR falls outside of the set operating window, the Wideband FAILSAFE Gauge triggers a user defined output function t hat can save an engine from catastrophic damage.

This product is a must have for all tuned performance engines, either forced induction or naturally aspirated, fuel injected or carbureted. Any high performance vehicle owners who want a highly accurate AFR tuning tool with logging and a protection strategy that can save an engine from catastrophic failure will want this FAILSAFE device.

WHAT IT INCLUDES

The 52mm (2-1/16”) Wideband FAILSAFE Gauge includes a Bosch 4.2LSU AFR wideband sensor for monitoring and feedback of AFR and an on-board boost sensor to read vacuum or boost pressures up to 30 PSIG. Both boost and AFR can be displayed in real time on the gauge’s face using the full color OLED screen and 24 three-color sweeping LEDs. The gauge includes a low side output for triggering a failsafe strategy in the event AFR falls outside of the operating window (see example strategies, below), and an RPM input to log RPM for tuning purposes.

WHAT IT DOES

After the engine is tuned and a safe operating window of AFR is established, the Wideband FAILSAFE Gauge continually monitors AFR and boost or vacuum to make sure that AFR does not fall out of the defined operating window at a given boost or vacuum level. If the Wideband Failsafe detects an out of range AFR reading, the gauge triggers a low side output (ground signal with a 1.5 amp draw max) that can save your engine from catastrophic damage (see example strategies, below).

Use the gauge’s intuitive software to configure the low side output, create a user-adjustable time delay strategy to prevent false alarms, and customize the gauge lighting to flash and alert the driver if an alarm is triggered.

The system contains an on-board data logger for logging over three hours of data recording (20 Hz per parameter) of AFR, RPM, boost, alarm, and others. Data logs can be downloaded for vie wing in the new AEMdata software.

Additionally, the Wideband FAILSAFE Gauge is an ideal engine tuning tool. The highly accurate Bosch AFR wideband sensor is maintenance free and never requires free-air calibration, enabling you to fine tune AFR from an AEM programmable engine management system, any other programmable EMS or piggyback programmer. For carbureted applications, it can tell you when it’s time to swap carb(s), change jets or simply modify fuel pressure.

EXAMPLE ENGINE PROTECTION STRATEGIES

NATURALLY ASPIRATED, TURBOCHARGED OR SUPERCHARGED WITH STAND ALONE EMS OR PIGGYBACK CONTROLLER: Can use the low side output to cut revs, retard timing, trigger a separate fuel or ignition map and activate an ancillary warning light. Users with turbos can also trigger the device to cut boost (may require separate solenoid). The aforementioned strategies are provided as an example. Available failsafe strategies will ultimately be dependent on the capability of the EMS or piggyback engine controller.

EASY TO SET UP!

Once installed, users connect to the gauge via a USB port and use the supplied software to log an engine’s safe AFR operating range, set minimum and maximum AFR ranges, alarm mode, time delay strategy, failsafe strategy and gauge display configuration.

Users with an AEMnet-equipped (CAN bus) device can daisy chain the Wideband FAILSAFE gauge using the AEMnet connection (adapter sold separately). Non AEMnet devices can communicate with the device using the CAN 2.0B spec protocol. An analog output for O2 feedback is provided for users without AEMnet or CAN-equipped devices to hard wire the gauge for O2 feedback or logging in a stand-alone logger.

WHY USE A WIDEBAND AIR/FUEL CONTROLLER?

Accurate AFR data is critical when tuning an engine. Running rich (very low air/fuel ratio, excessive fuel) can cause a loss in power and fuel economy, while running too lean (very high air/fuel ratio, not enough fuel) may result in serious engine damage. Using a wideband air/fuel controller during the tuning process allows you to monitor AFR and adjust tuning parameters to optimize them for maximum power and efficiency.

WIDEBAND FAILSAFE GAUGE TECHNICAL FEATURES:

  • Displays both boost or vacuum and AFR or Lambda simultaneously on the same gauge
  • No free air calibration required – ever
  • Internal boost sensor
  • Bosch Wideband UEGO sensor and weld-in bung included
  • On-Board 3+ hour Datalogging capability at 20hz per parameter
  • Full color Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) Display in center, user selectable feature (boost/vacuum or AFR)
  • 24 three-color sweeping LEDs, user selectable feature (boost/vacuum or AFR)
  • Intuitive set up software
  • Dimmer input included
  • Interchangeable faceplates and bezels (see options, below)
  • Data analysis using AEMdata software

WIDEBAND FAILSAFE GAUGE INSTALLATION FEATURES:

  • AEMnet compatible (CAN 2.0)
  • Differential AFR analog output
  • Differential boost analog output
  • Configurable RPM input for logging
  • One low-side driver output (Ground with 1.5 amp max draw)
  • Positive-lock connectors
  • Tunable PC-based software with USB connectivity
  • Time based reset for outputs

WIDEBAND FAILSAFE GAUGE FACEPLATE STYLES:

  • Kit comes with 6 different faceplates and black and silver bezels.
  • Black Vacuum only in sweeping LEDs
  • Black and White AFR in sweeping LEDs
  • Black and White Vacuum/Boost in sweeping LEDs
  • Black Lambda in sweeping LEDs

MORE INFO: Please visit www.aemelectronics.com or call (310) 484-2322 for more information or to find an Authorized AEM Electronics dealer or Factory-Trained tuner.

AEM’s Wideband FAILSAFE Gauge is legal in California only for racing vehicles which may never be used upon a highway.

WARNING! Use the Wideband FAILSAFE Gauge with EXTREME caution! Misuse of this product can lead to major engine/vehicle damage. If you are not well versed in engine dynamics, automotive engine tuning or automotive wiring installation please do not attempt installation of this product as you may damage your vehicle. For technical assistance, please visit our forum or visit our dealer locator for a Factory Trained tuner near you. AEM holds no responsibility for any engine damag e that results from the misuse of this product!

About the author

Lindsey Fisher

Lindsey is a freelance writer and lover of anything with a rumble. Hot rods, muscle cars, motorcycles - she's owned and driven it all. When she's not busy writing about them, she's out in her garage wrenching away. Who doesn't love a tech-savy gal that knows her way around a garage?
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