REFLECTOR: Grand Rapids EFIS

Thu Sep 8 08:10:57 CDT 2005

My thanks to everyone who replied.  Esp to Dave Dent for the details and
explanations.  I think I'm gun shy after too many years in old beat up
freighters with wandering compass cards and replaced flux valves.  I'm
going w/ Dave's (and other's) suggestion and putting the magnetometer in
the stake.  Perhaps attached to a platform and if I can make the
platform a removable inspection plate w/ counter sunk SS screws then all
the better to ease my worry wortism.  

While I think of it.  At Osh I happened to be around one of the TruTrak
techs who warned me not the mount their autopilot control head on any
angled surface--like the radio stack area that we have.  TruTrak is
coming out with a rectangular control head.  Those in the planning
stages like me:  Be sure not to mount the TT autopilot on the angled
portion of the panel. 

Terry 

-----Original Message-----
From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
Behalf Of Dave Dent
Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2005 1:06 PM
To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Grand Rapids EFIS

Terry I have installed two of these systems now and in both cases I have

installed the magnetometer in the right strake.
The best has been as far out as you can put it. I built a small __----__

platform and leveled it as far fwd as I could in the end of the strake. 
Then put a couple of SS nut plates in it to hold the unit to it.  The
unit 
can be off a couple of degrees and it will align its self during
calibration 
but try you best to align it as straight as you can.  I used a small
laser 
and then aligned it with the arrow on the AHRS that is mounted on the 
canard.
I got the AHRS aligned with a level and eye balled as straight as I
could. 
I leveled the AHRS with the water line of the aircraft.  I just had some

small one inch angles  and glassed them to the top of the canard at the 
right spacing for the holes in the AHRS.
I ran the wires from the magnetometer to the AHRS away from any coax
cables, 
as best I could.  I went down the middle of the keel, on the  Velo. On
the 
other plane (Cozy) I had to run them near the coax cables but separated.
I 
found this best.  Do not tie them together.  The object is to keep the 
magnetometer at least nine inches away from any steel moving parts.  I
have 
put these units right on carbon fiber and they never gave me any
problems. 
Even the early units that came out, back in 1993.  You can buy these
units 
now for less then ten bucks and mount them most anywhere.  They are all
on a 
small chip and a board.

I may have some pictures of how I did this some where and can send them
to 
you if you like.  If you have anymore questions about the GRT units I
will 
be glad to help you.  Mine have been working great with Zero problems.
The 
software updates are as simple as plugging in a USB memory smart stick.
I 
have found a remote cable set up so you can even have the USB remote
from 
the back of the EFIS so you can plug in your memory stick at the face of
you 
panel.  I will be doing this for both my JPI  and the EFIS for recording
and 
updating.  I did this on the Cozy.

On the Velo I mounted the EIS remote on the canard and have it slaved to
the 
EFIS.  I don't like the looks of it.  I have a direct reading oil
pressure 
and tach and fuel press gauges so I don't need the other showing.  But
if 
you do want to have the EIS on the panel I have a source for a real nice

face plate to go on it.  It cost $100 bucks and it dresses it up a lot.
I 
just don't need it.

Dave
N32XL

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Terry Miles" <terrence_miles at hotmail.com>
To: "'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'" <reflector at tvbf.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2005 5:40 AM
Subject: REFLECTOR: Grand Rapids EFIS

>
> Hi Y'all,
>
> I am in the final plans point on installing a Grand Rapids EFIS.  It 
> will be a single AHRS mounted on canard, dual screen in front of the 
> pilot...side by side.  I plan to mount the EIS on the radio stack to
> (hopefully) minimize the times I have to split the PFD or Map displays

> to deal w/ engine or fuel issues.
>
> Here's my question:  Where to mount the magnetometer.  Ya know, it has

> the ususal mounting guidelines:  away from ferrous, moving parts, 
> magnetic energy fields.  I have narrowed it to outboard on the strake,

> (wings have to come off to get it back out again)or in the cabin on 
> the sidewall storage area which is way more accessible but subject to 
> being attacked by a carelessly stowed lap top or what have you.  It 
> must be orientated in the direction of flight.  5.25 long,  2.75 wide,

> 1.125 high.  Maybe the upper aft cabin ceiling?
>
> Anybody w/ experience on this?  Can I bury this baby in the wing and 
> not have to worry about it?
>
> Terry
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