REFLECTOR: Grand Rapids Engine Monitor

[Ronnie Brown]

I disagree with your assessment of GRT.

They may have started out as being focused on the ultralight crowd, but
their EIS has evolved into a mighty fine engine monitoring instrument.  I
have half a dozen friends flying with the EIS on Lycomings and Rotaxes and I
have one on my Lycoming/Velocity. One even got rid of his Vision (talking
about inflexible!!!) and installed a GRT.  Less room, lower cost and does
the engine monitoring function much better and they are very reliable.

Not everybody has a constant speed prop so they don't need the MAP like you
do.  And very few homebuilts are running turbo charger so why should GRT
include that.  If TIT is that important, you could put a dedicated display
on it and vacuum too.  Or move one of your EGT's.  By the way, what is the
difference between TIT and EGT?

I don't know of anyone running GRT's color graphic display, but if GRT does
their normally fine job, the graphic and EFIS will be excellent additions to
the EIS line.

Some suggestions - forget the AMPS - doesn't tell you anything about the
health of the charging system that the voltmeter won't tell you.  Less than
13.2 and the alternator isn't charging.  More than 14.8 and the regulator
isn't working.  Anything in between is fine.

Re the fuel level, you could wire the two fuel levels into one switch and
feed that to the GRT if you run out of Aux inputs.  There are 4 aux inputs -
two are used for MAP and Fuel Pressure.  That leaves 2. Fuel flow is an
option but doesn't use the aux inputs.

I used the Water temp input to monitor the exhaust air out of the Cowl.  My
Velocity runs about 160 degrees.  I set the alarm at 200.

In closing, I do have a high opinion of Grand Rapids Tech.  They have been
around a long time and they have sold a BUNCH of EIS systems and support is
fantastic.

Ronnie Brown


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott Derrick" <scott at tnstaafl.net>
To: "Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list" <reflector at tvbf.org>;
<reflector at tvbf.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2004 11:05 AM
Subject: REFLECTOR: Grand Rapids Engine Monitor


| I was seriously considering swapping my 4 cylinder Vision for GRT's 6 cyl
| graphical Engine monitor.  I looked over the specs and realized the aux
| inputs were limited and the standard ones were wasted and not changeable
| items like Carb temp and OAT.
|
| I asked their tech support about how I could make it work  with my
| instrumentation needs.  They replied that I would just have to do without
| TIT or some of the other items. Are they serious? They considered them not
| really needed like fuel flow or manifold pressure???  While I haven't
| completely crossed them off my list of possible's I think their product is
| definitely oriented towards the ultralight  and wheenie simple engine
market...
|
| Why would they force me to display Carb heat when most new engines are
| injected? OAT is nice but way down on my list for an engine monitor.
|
| here was my request.
|
|  > I'm in the process of upgrading to a TSIO520 and will need to replace
the
|  > engine monitor I have now.
|  >
|  > I like the 6000 combined with the graphical display.
|  >
|  > However I can't see how I can display everything I need.
|  >
|  > Here's your built in functions
|  > 6  Exhaust Gas Temperatures
|  > 6 Cylinder Head Temperatures
|  > Tachometer
|  > Oil Temperature
|  > Oil Pressure
|  > Outside Air Temperature( I have one of these already, can it be used
for
| something else?)
|  > Voltmeter
|  > Carburetor Temperature  ( I won't need this, can I use it for something
|  > else like TIT?)
|  >
|  >
|  > Heres what I need to add ( 8 items)
|  > Manifold Pressure ( I'm surprised this isn't in the built in functions)
|  > Fuel Pressure(same with this one)
|  > Fuel Flow( and this one two)
|  > 2 Fuel Level  Gages(using capacitive sending units)
|  > Tubine Inlet Temp (TIT)
|  > Ammeter(this should be standard)
|  > Vacuum
|
| "Those who sacrifice freedom to get security, deserve neither."
| - Benjamin Franklin
|
|
| _______________________________________________
| To change your email address, visit
http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector
|
| Visit the gallery!  www.tvbf.org/gallery
| user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose
| Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
| Check old archives: http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html