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-   -   Putting together a G3X system (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=145957)

Slice 03-26-2017 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SgtZim (Post 1145630)

Thanks again for the tips and comments!

Bruce


Hey Bruce,

Just curious as to why the G5s are on the left vs the right? As a former single seat guy your free hand should be the left one without the A/P on. For that reason it seems to make more sense to have the GTN and GNC on the left. I'm working on upgrading the panel on my -4 and wondering if there's something I haven't thought of before I pull the trigger.

Thanks.

PilotjohnS 03-27-2017 01:46 PM

Thread hi jack
 
So i am also putting a G3x system together. Here are my plans tell me what are better options:
G3x touch dual screen
GMA245R remote audio panel
GTN650 certified GPS/VOR/ILS
GTX45R remote ADBS transponder with weather
GMC307 autopilot control panel
G5 backup flight instruments
Wiskey compass
Archer vor antenna

Does this give me what i want:
ADSB
GPS approaches to mins
Dual com (One with second monitoring)
Autopilot
Intercomm

If i wanted to add a second com how would i do that?
What am I missing?

Slice 03-27-2017 02:18 PM

GTR 20 would give you a remote second com radio. I am opting for GTN 625(on sale currently with G3X purchase for $5500) and a GNC 255A for redundancy purposes. If all you have is the 650 and it goes T.U. you're out of IFR approach options.

Slice 03-27-2017 02:20 PM

Sounds like you have all the items on your wish list to do what you hope to.

PilotjohnS 03-27-2017 02:44 PM

Thanks
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Slice (Post 1161151)
GTR 20 would give you a remote second com radio. I am opting for GTN 625(on sale currently with G3X purchase for $5500) and a GNC 255A for redundancy purposes. If all you have is the 650 and it goes T.U. you're out of IFR approach options.

Thanks. I will make this change.

avionicsr 03-29-2017 09:46 AM

I don't see the CAN connection to the GSU25

Nived17 01-26-2018 07:52 AM

Photo cells vs. Dimmer Pot
 
SgtZim (Bruce),

I am currently installing a G3X with all the bells and whistles into my RV-4. Due to limited panel space in my -4, the only mounted avioncs in the panel will be the GDU460, GTN650, and GMC307. I have planned to use the photo cells in the GTN650 as well as the GDU460 for night-time dimming. It now occurs to me that the lighting on the GMC307 buttons may not follow the brightness settings from the photo cells on the display. Do you have any info from your install that could help here? I would prefer not to have to hook up a pot just for the GMC307 button light brightness if I could avoid it. Thanks! Great looking panel by the way!



Quote:

Originally Posted by SgtZim (Post 1145630)
I'm plugging along, making detailed lists and notes on each LRU and every connecting pin that I will use and where each one connects to. Following Bob Knuckolls' advice to "make your mistakes on paper first".

I had a question for the G3Xpert about how to connect and configure a GTX 45R transponder to the GDU. The wording on how to configure their respective serial ports was worded differently.

Steve responded:

The current G3X Installation Manual is Rev. AA and it includes all the wiring and configuration guidance you need for the GTX 45R on page 24-21. (see below)

The serial port connection from the GSU25 to the transponder is also used to control the transponder.

Let us know if you have further questions.

Thanks,

Steve

(I try to keep current on revisions, but I think this time I was just reading the wrong copy.)


Thanks to Steve and Jonathan at Garmin! They are awesome, and respond quickly to clear things up!

So, I endorse reading, taking notes, checking revisions, reading again, and asking questions.

Now for the Q and request for A section: I'm still unclear about how an external lighting bus is supposed to work. The Garmin manual says there are several commercially available dimmers but does not comment about desired or required parameters. The lighting bus is supposed to "follow" a supplied voltage to control the lights via a lighting bus HI and a LO pin on the connectors. Components that can accept 14 or 28 volt systems have wiring options to use one or the other.

I experimented today with my GMC 307 - wired power to it and tried out the lighting bus inputs - connected to my Van's supplied dimmer unit I will use for cabin area lights. The dimmer puts out between 1.12 and about 10.99 volts as you turn the pot. I wired the variable volt wire from the dimmer to the GMC 307 "lighting bus HI" pin, and grounded the "lighting bus LO" pin per directions. I did not see any response or control of the lights as I turned the pot up or down. Could be an issue using the PWM dimmer, or maybe it has to be configured in the GDU program?

I'm not really worried about it - but I'd still kind of like to get all the lights on the GMA audio panel to work - it has to have external lighting control to get power to light the text labeling. Other than this, all the other boxes seem to do a good job auto dimming from their own photocells.

Thanks again for the tips and comments!

Bruce


FitzRX7 01-30-2018 10:16 PM

Photocells work great on everything, 307 included. Ok, so maybe the G5 could track a little closer to the G3X system out of the box, I?m guessing I could maybe get them closer with some tweaking. But yeah Devin, no need for any lighting controls IMHO, in 300ish hours behind it I?m happy just to let the photocells drive.

Fitz

SgtZim 02-06-2018 03:06 PM

photocells
 
Thanks for your comment Fitz. I was hoping the photocells would be all that's needed. I'm not confident I could have successfully connected all the Garmin boxes to a common lighting bus without buying the GAD27 (don't have the space anyway) Most of the main boxes are "tweakable" for lighting in their software if some are too dim or bright. I've also added a dimmable led strip under the glareshield and led area lights on the sides of front and back cockpit.

FitzRX7 02-27-2018 10:22 PM

So, maybe I?m just a simpleton, or a guy with a -4 that doesn?t have room or weight for extra things, but why do folks install heated pitot on our planes?

I?m just curious, after a couple hundred hours in my plane I was pretty confident operating it sans airspeed in nearly any conditions, and now especially with a really nice ground speed readout and easily accessible surface wind speed data on the G3X. Makes a non-pitot approach even less of a pulse-raiser. Is it just peace of mind for some folks?

-Fitz


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