REFLECTOR: Grand Rapids EFIS

Thu Sep 8 11:42:51 CDT 2005

Trutrack has a built in magnetometer in their unit.  So you want it as 
straight as  you can mount in  the panel.  I just put the digatrack in the 
Cozy.  It interfaces to the GRT EFIS great.  There is a number of parameters 
that have to be set up when you first put it in and in the first flight. 
But after that it works great.  I know it works better then my Stec 30 
related to interfacing.  Being it is digital verses analog.
Dave
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Terry Miles" <terrence_miles at hotmail.com>
To: "'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'" <reflector at tvbf.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2005 6:10 AM
Subject: RE: REFLECTOR: Grand Rapids EFIS


> 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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>
>
>
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