REFLECTOR: Garmin 250XL Autopilot Interface

Sun May 19 09:20:57 CDT 2013

Thanks Jim...that's the information I needed. It looks like I need to re-wire mine to the RS232 channel 1 output. I'm pretty sure I enabled the channel 2 output per the information in the Garmin pilots guide. I talked to a gentleman at Trio and he said several people have had problems with channel 2. He thinks Garmin must have made a software change at some point because channel 2 works for some people. He looked at this problem before and could not determine the reason. He has not heard of any problems with channel 1. Based on that and the fact that it works for you, I will change mine the next time I remove the canard...I wish I had had the foresight to run a spare wire from channel 1 in case I needed to change it. In the meantime, I will just continue to connect my portable GPS to the autopilot. Luckily I did wire up an external jack and a toggle switch when I installed the autopilot. 

Dennis 

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim & Sharon Beck" <jsbeck618 at gmail.com> 
To: "Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list" <reflector at tvbf.org> 
Sent: Saturday, May 18, 2013 11:32:26 PM 
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Garmin 250XL Autopilot Interface 

Hi Dennis, 
Made the trip to the hangar today, I have recently moved from Fallon NV to Yucca Valley CA and have not been able to find the pro pilot installation drawings I made. I did find my Garmin installation manual and found that I used the pin 24 RS 231 out 1 pin and thepin 34 battery negative for groounding. I use the pin 17 & 19 RS 232 in and out on my EI fuel flow meter. On page 86 of the Garmin Pilots guide & reference there is some information on setup for the channel 2 pin # 19. the garmin installation manual in section 4.2.2 I/O channel 1 only gives setup information for pin 24. 

my garmin install manual is Revision D dated 28 Jan 1998. and the pilots guide is part # 190-00067-60 Revision A. 

Hope this helps, I will look further if you need more info than this, the next time I drive up to Yucca, was short on time today. 

Jim 

On Wed, May 15, 2013 at 5:54 AM, Dennis King < kitfox94 at comcast.net > wrote: 

Thanks Jim...knowing it can work is half the battle for me. When you get your documentation it would be helpful for me to know which pin/channel you connected to the autopilot. I used "RS232 data out 2" (pin 19) because it was labeled as NMEA 0183 data in the Garmin installation manual. There's an ARINC 429 channel available which I did not use because I don't have the GPSS option in my Pro Pilot. 

I will give Trio a call. I am very happy with how the autopilot is working when connected to my portable GPS. The factory default gains seem to work well on both axis on my plane (173 Elite RG). 

Dennis King 

From: "Jim & Sharon Beck" < jsbeck618 at gmail.com > 
To: "Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list" < reflector at tvbf.org > 
Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 10:45:18 PM 
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Garmin 250XL Autopilot Interface 

I have the 250 XL coupled to the Pro Pilot and it has worked flawlessly with no problems. My manuals are at the hangar snf don't remember exactly how I did it but just remember following the wiring diagram in the Garmin handbook. 
Try giving Trio a call, I found them most helpful, even on weekends, with any problems. I will get my books this weekend and see if I can give any help 

Jim 
173 Elite RG 
450 + hours 

On Tue, May 14, 2013 at 12:02 PM, Dennis King < kitfox94 at comcast.net > wrote: 

<blockquote>

Does anybody have experience interfacing a Garmin 250 XL GPS/Com with an autopilot? I have one of the RS232 ports (channel 2) on the GPS connected to a Trio Pro Pilot. The autopilot receives the GPS info when the Garmin unit is in test mode, but not in normal operating mode, even in flight with or without an active course. I have no problem interfacing a portable GPS to the autopilot. It sure seems like I must have a setting wrong in the Garmin unit, but I've been through all the setup menus and tried all the logical settings. Since it works in test mode and with the engine running, it doesn't seem to be a wiring or interference problem (I used shielded cables). Just hoping someone else has interfaced the 250 XL with any brand autopilot and discovered a "trick". 

Dennis King 

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