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From: Europa Aircraft <europa@gate.net>
Subject: Europa-List: EIS panel suggestions
Hi All,
I have been getting a lot of calls at the US office lately requesting guidance
for installing engine instruments.
There are some neat new products available, like the EIS mentioned below. The
EIS is a great way to monitor a large number of engine parameters previously
impossible
to do with analog gages.
The EIS, however, it not as easy to read as an analog instrument. Our engines
are not cheap, and our butts are worth even more, so I strongly recommend that
for the most important engine parameters, easy to read analog gages be installed
in an area easy for the pilot to spot. Examples are the Tachometer, hottest
CHT, Oil Pressure, and Manifold Pressure for constant speed props. It is much
easier to spot a fluxing, or dropping oil pressure needle than to spot, or
page to the number on an EIS. Once the red light comes on there will not be
as much time left to find a place to land.
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John Hurst
Europa Aircraft
Lakeland, FL
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Hi John,
With respect, I would like to express a contrary opinion regarding ease of
reading
and monitoring engine conditions. I have an EIS unit and consider it to be
a key component of my panel. I would suggest that even during normal operation
and particularly when there are other items requiring attention such as joining
or flying in a busy pattern, many pilots will miss a rising temperature or
a dropping pressure on an analog gauge until it may be too late. The red "idiot
light' from any of the EIS alarm settings will get your attention immediately
and you have the ability to set the alarms at whatever levels you choose.
Before flying my plane, I thought I would need at least some key analog gauges
but I have found that I need less than I planned. For example, I put an analog
tacho on my panel. WRONG. I never look at it - the EIS is so accurate and
refreshes
so quickly that the analog unit is redundant.
I consider that ease of reading on the EIS is high with items such as rpm, oil
temp and pressure, CHT, EGT, fuel pressure and fuel flow all on one 'favorite'
page. A few clicks will get you to all the other many items such as volts, OAT,
fuel remaining, endurance, etc. I suppose that part of the success of my EIS
is, of course, the reliabilty of the Rotax 912S. Both work just as advertised
and the alarms do not go off. So far, the only time the red light alarm has
operated was when I let my fuel level get low and it alarmed at my setting of
3 gallons remaining.
Analog gauges definitely have their place. For example, I do find that an analog
manifold pressure gauge is necessary to set engine power with a constant speed
prop. I also have a dual analog voltmeter/ammeter which is a useful indicator.
I have to say that I have no business connection with Grand Rapids/EIS !
Cheers, John
N262WF, mono XS, 912S
Mooresvile, North Carolina
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