I cant find a solution for my needs. I want to test out different props and engine sizes on boats and and connect to a computer for logging. rpm, speed, fuel economy. So I can make a graph of the different setups.
Do someone have some tips on software and usb adapter that will work?
Very appreciated!
I recommend you hunt down some articles written by Nigel Calder this year or last, where he wrote about his challenges to measure the efficiency of various engine system configurations, in search of a good combination of components to create an efficient all electric propulsion system.
I don't remember where it was published. In the end I recall he wasn't entirely successful at the time of him writing the article, but I point you in that direction as I am sure the article that I have in mind will provide you some insight into the identical challenges, as he did something similar with electrically driven boat systems, props, and comparing to diesel engine solutions.
Nigel Calder's articles about Hybrid Marine Power are in Professional Boatbuilder:
http://www.proboat.com/subject-index-c.html
Both Maretron and Chetco, and maybe others, have sensors, gateways and software for collecting NMEA 2000 engine and other data for analysis on a PC. Krill Systems too, come to think of it.
The units fro Actisense work well, i use them for diagnostics when doing new instalations.
http://www.actisense.com/products/nmea-2000/ngt1.html
I had build my own. What engines will you be testing?