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Exciting Skytec electric mag
Skytec has a new electronic mag available in both 4 and 6 cylinders. Similar to Pmags. Very simple to install, no special wiring and crazy easy to time. Most importantly, AVAILABLE.
They are seeking Certification. Pretty exciting deal!! |
Sky-Tec or Surefly? Surefly Aero has a 4 and 6 cylinder mag replacement but is not self powered.
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Similar to pmags in that they generate their own power?
thanks erich |
Anybody got a link?
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Exciting Skytec electric mag
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Exciting Skytec electric mag
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Does not generate it own power, requires about 700ma. 4 cyl is certified, 6 cyl not yet.
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Link isn't working for me at the moment.
Is the curve user configurable or locked down? |
Link worked for me, but this is not the unit Darwin seems to be making reference to.
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I have one on my rv 10 and it is working great. Easy install and unlike a mag, does not generate its own power. Very simple and should last too TBO. In the unlikely event of failure, you have the mag.
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Darwin referred to Sky Tec when he started this thread, how did Surefly get in the mix??? Or, did one of them spin off from the other??? |
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Link works now. Interesting they are RIGHT in P-mag's backyard!
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Saw At Oshkosh
I visited Sure-Fly booth at Oshkosh today. Units look first rate externally. TT on 4-cylinder prototype unit is 200 hrs, only 30 hrs on 6-cylinder. About $1500 for the 6-cylinder version. Zero advance at start, 25 degrees at idle, up to 38 degrees at lower manifold pressures. Timing slightly adjustable by rotating unit as done with mag. Company is shipping now.
I like the concept of all in one unit. Electroair requires three. |
Not much info on the web page, practically none except a coupe of videos of a plane running and flying on one. I was able to glean from the address they are next door to SkyTec, so we might deduce they are at least associated with
them. Too bad they're not next door to B&C. Tim Andres |
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My mix up
They are all next to each other with 3 booths together. I may have gotten the name wrong. I was talking to all of them and I guess I just lumped them together.
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Dan has it correct, the Skytec team has sold the starter and previously sold plane power to Hartzell. Same guys have the new electronic ignition. Expect the same top quality product this team supplied for years with the other two products.
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I spent some time today at the SureFly booth. Very nice product, I am sure there is one coming soon to my 7A.
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surefly
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Nice, they just published the advance curve. Wonder how this compares to Lightspeed's curve.
Interesting that you only get full 38 degree advance at 2700rpm. Lenny |
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This is much more aggressive than Lightspeed. At 2600~2700, a LS won't reach 38 degrees until MP is down to 13". If I read the Surefly illustration correctly, it reaches 38 degrees at 21". The Surefly map is even more aggressive than an Electroair map. At high manifold pressure, 25 to 30 degrees was the ballpark for max HP in the only hot-rodded Lycoming "timing vs HP" study I've seen in print. Might work ok LOP, but it's probably too advanced for ROP operation, in particular near stoich. I suspect it will just raise CHT without going faster. That's the beauty of the dual map switch on the new SDS ignition, or a homebuilt EDIS....two maps, one for ROP, one for LOP. In the company blog, Rich says what they heard a lot at OSH was "I just want to get rid of my mags." If I were the Surefly guys, I'd think hard about doing just that...sell a certified EI mag replacement with fixed timing. Sound crazy? Consider...the average schmoo with a Cherokee or a 172 is carbureted, so he has lousy mixture distribution, and can't run LOP with smoothness. He may not run LOP much even if distribution was great; too many scary stories from the local airport peanut gallery. He doesn't fly high either. Those customers would love the easy starting and automotive plugs, but fixed timing wouldn't have a chance of creating a cooling problem. Most of those span cans have awful baffling. |
Well, it certainly leaves a lot to be desired. I need more info before I can judge this new contender. If it's simply a plug and play alternative with no real spark energy increase or duration than, dare I say, a pmag.... I think the pmag has more versatility not to mention the built in power source. The Skytec has no power source, no data ports, no way to alter timing (other than changing the physical setting). As much as I can't stand pmags this doesn't look like a better alternative. IMHO, if you're gonna install an EI, install a good one that you can tailor to your aircraft and needs. This EI looks like something they are looking to replace magnetos in certified planes. ElectroAir is also producing an electronic magneto for certified planes.
To Dan: The ElectroAir (Jeff Rose) will advance as much as 40 degrees total, less aggressive on the curve but more total advance. In my experience this curve keeps the CHT's more at check and still gives a very good performance increase. Adding to this the high energy and long duration spark. |
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Hey, wait, that's what you mean by "less aggressive on the curve" ;) |
Dan, I was under the impression that the Lightspeed goes to 42 degrees. Had no idea that it's never remotely close to that at 2390 rpm where I cruise LOP.
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That said, forget about maximum advance in absolute terms. The real issue is "What advance at what manifold pressure?. There is a world of difference between 38 at 21" (Surefly), and the 38~40 at 13" or less we see with the others. |
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Agree. That is a BUNCH of advance based upon my testing. Flew a nice long cross country to PHX last night and 22 inches/2300 RPM was my usual 30 degrees (rich). Even as much as 50LOP, 33 is about optimum at that power setting. 38 degrees might work at extremely high altitude or so lean that it would be comical. 38 degrees would be nuts with my stock 540 and a "normal" power setting. |
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