REFLECTOR:FADEC info

[Nolan Frederick]

Jim, and all you Velocityites:  Merry Christmas to all and may you all enjoy
2004.  And may none scratch their bird.

Now, I still read the Reflector because I still love Velocities.  I think
they are the most beautiful little airplane around.  Some of you may
remember me, I had that XLRG that Jean Prudhomme and I were finishing up
down in Florida but had to bail out of the project because my money manager
lost $68k of my airplane money and I sold the nearly finished XLRG to Steve
Bryke. I took what was left and bought a second hand GlaStar kit which I
have been working on for the past 13 months.  I still have a lot to do.  I
hope none of you will object if I occasionally add a comment or two on the
Reflector. If you do, just say so and I'll get off. Incidentally, I gave
Brian a bit more than he was asking for last year for my privledge of being
on the Reflector so I don't feel like too much of a free-loader.
    Now, I'd like to add a comment re Jim Sower's apparent dissaffection
with the FADEC for Lycosaurs:  I've gone around and around with people re
the engine for my GlaStar.  The oldtimers all tell me to go with the Lyc's
or Conti's.  The newer users say try a Subaru or a Mazda or even a LOM.
Well, I finally decided to go with a Subaru.  Please allow me to share a few
thoughts re just exactly why:  First, those Subaru boys have done a super
job with their FADEC.  Those things start when it's cold, They start when
it's hot, they run reliably day after day at full throttle, Subaru users
don't have to worry or even wonder about EGT's, MAP's, Carb Icing, Shock
Cooling,  Crankshaft /prop fights breaking their crankshafts or their props.
Modern electronic multi-coil ignition systems are more reliable than mags
and can run on an auxiliary battery for close to half an hour.  The Subaru
FADEC will smooth out the engine timing to compensate for a fouled/failed
spark plug,  They don't need $5/quart oil and I've never heard of anyone
having to strain their Subaru oil to look for engine parts coming out with
their old $5/quart oil.  Now friends, aren't these some things to which we
should at least give a modicum of consideration when we start thinking of
plunking down $30k for our engines?
Love and Kisses to all
nolan frederick N73VF

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Sower" <canarder@frontiernet.net>
To: <reflector@tvbf.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2003 5:31 PM
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR:FADEC info


> <... safe to say that (probably) all of the gotcha scenarios have been
addressed ...>
> That's comforting.  I had hoped that my questions were specific enough to
warrant
> specific answers.  I think it would be interesting to know, if EGTs were
driving fuel
> delivery, how they address failure modes such as gradual deterioration
(inaccurate
> output) of the probes and how one might go about distinguishing between a
> deteriorating EGT probe and a deteriorating something else (like cylinder)
that has a
> similar effect on EGT.
>
> But then again, my questions were somewhat rhetorical.  I am much more
interested in
> auto conversions for a variety of reasons not least of which is that I am
not in a
> position to spend what FADEC costs.  Seems to me that spending all those
thousands of
> $ to put a "modern" face on an anachronistic Lyc is an exercise in trying
to make a
> silk purse out of a sow's ear.
>
> Will it be as reliable and accurate as late model automotive fuel
controls? ... Jim S.
>
> Wayne Lanza wrote:
>
> > Hi Jim,
> >   If you haven't been made aware of the Aerosance web site - here ya
> > go...
> > I worked closely for a week with the designers of the system while
> > installing
> > the Continental FADEC system in Velocity's XL Dash 5 demonstrator
> > aircraft.
> > They have designed many failure mode operations into the system, safe to
> > say that (probably) all of the gotcha scenarios have been addressed.
> >
> > Have a Great Holiday,
> > Wayne Lanza
> > Composite Design
> >
> > goto the Aerosance web page at - http://www.FADEC.com
> > ________________________________________________________________
> >
> > On Thursday, December 18, 2003, at 11:16 PM, Jim Sower wrote:
> >
> > > I need some help with some specifics on how FADEC works.
> > > <... FADEC system meters the fuel-air mixture to ... power ... 100
> > > degrees Rich of
> > > peak ... cruise ... 100 degrees Lean of peak ...>
> > >
> > > Is it safe to assume that this FADEC feature is driven by EGT sensors?
> > >
> > > Is it further safe to assume that FADEC varies fuel delivery from one
> > > cylinder to
> > > another according to individual EGTs (which of course are caused by
> > > uneven air
> > > delivery through the non symmetric intake runners)?
> > >
> > > IIRC, EGT probes tend to fail by degrees, giving increasingly
> > > erroneous readings for a
> > > while until they quit altogether.  How does FADEC [allege?] to deal
> > > with partial
> > > failures of EGT probe?  Total failure?
> > >
> > > Inquiring minds need to know .... Jim S.
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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>
> --
> Jim Sower
> Crossville, TN; Chapter 5
> Long-EZ N83RT, Velocity N4095T
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
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