Measurement System for Vehicle Electric Power using LabVIEW

Faults in electric power system can be a critical problem for vehicles. The system durability is determined mainly by the durability of their components and operating conditions. Monitoring the conditions of the electric power system may be necessary because it is very difficult to predict precisely when it will fail. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a diagnosis system for an electric power system of a vehicle. The alternator voltage, excitation voltage, lamp voltage, battery voltage, and engine rpm from a crank angle sensor are monitored continuously and the system fault can be then detected in real time. NI USB- 9201 DAQ and LabVIEW SW have been used to measure the voltages and analyze the data. Compared to conventional measurements for only each component, an integrated and portable measurement method was developed. In addition to the monitoring the electric power system in real time, the saved data from the measurement also provides valuable information to improve the durability of the components.