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Flap position indicator in an RV12
Confession... More than once I've been guilty of leaving my flaps down on takeoff while accelerating past 82 kts. I'd like to install a simple indicator on my Skyview display that would light up when flaps are down (similar to the canopy or spar pin indicators). I'd probably locate it near the RPM readout, as I check this several times on takeoff to confirm the engine is developing full power. Has anyone done this or something similar? Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
Barry N12BB RV12 flying (~40 hours) Mequon, WI |
This is one reason I quit using flaps for takeoff. :) D180 here, sorry I can't help with the Skyview. A microswitch to tell you when the flaps are fully up would be pretty easy, but I don't know how to get that to display.
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Barry-
I don't think adding a flap indicator will be all that hard. Section 7 of the Dynon SkyView System Instillation manual (version 14) shows how to do it ... in particular, page 7-72 shows an example of creating a contact sensor input. You will want to be creating a contact sensor .... much the same as the stall warning or canopy latch. If you look at the wiring diagrams the stall warning is wired to Pin 11 of the EMS module and the canopy latch is on Pin 12. Pin 10 is vacant so that would be a good choice for adding your flap deployed warning indicator. Wiring would be done like the canopy micro switch where when the flap handle is moved, a ground is passed through the micro switch to pin 10 of the 37 pin WH-00020-1 ES-00057 female connector that plugs into the EMS module. By performing the steps in section 7 of the SkyView Instillation manual to program pin 10, you will end up creating a configuration that can be saved as a .DFG file from the SkyView so you won't lose your settings moving forward. Below is a sample of that file that shows a NON-PROGRAMED Pin 10 along with the programmed Pins 11 and 12 (stall warning and canopy warning respectfully) for comparison. Although I have not personally added any sensors to my RV-12 yet, this should help getting you moving in the right direction. c37_p10={ valid=0 name= id= alarm_type=OFF range={ max_display=30 min_display=0 range1_valid=1 range1_top=30 range1_bot=25 range1_name=R1 range1_color=RED range2_valid=1 range2_top=25 range2_bot=20 range2_name=R2 range2_color=YELLOW range3_valid=1 range3_top=20 range3_bot=10 range3_name=R3 range3_color=GREEN range4_valid=1 range4_top=10 range4_bot=5 range4_name=R4 range4_color=YELLOW range5_valid=1 range5_top=5 range5_bot=0 range5_name=R5 range5_color=RED } show_units=1 } c37_p11={ valid=1 name=STALL id=CONTACT alarm_type=OFF range={ max_display=30 min_display=0 range1_valid=0 range1_top=2 range1_bot=0 range1_name=PUSH range1_color=RED range2_valid=0 range2_top=5 range2_bot=2 range2_name= range2_color=GREEN range3_valid=0 range3_top=20 range3_bot=10 range3_name=R3 range3_color=BLACK range4_valid=1 range4_top=5 range4_bot=2 range4_name= range4_color=BLACK range5_valid=1 range5_top=2 range5_bot=0 range5_name=PUSH range5_color=RED } show_units=1 } c37_p12={ valid=1 name=CANOPY id=CONTACT alarm_type=OFF range={ max_display=5 min_display=0 range1_valid=1 range1_top=5 range1_bot=2.5 range1_name=OPEN range1_color=RED range2_valid=1 range2_top=2.5 range2_bot=0 range2_name=CLSD range2_color=GREEN range3_valid=0 range3_top=20 range3_bot=10 range3_name=R3 range3_color=GREEN range4_valid=0 range4_top=10 range4_bot=5 range4_name=R4 range4_color=YELLOW range5_valid=0 range5_top=5 range5_bot=0 range5_name=R5 range5_color=RED } show_units=1 } |
Do you have a switch installed to monitor the flap position? I installed one on my D-180 equipped RV-12. See picture HERE.
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It would be nice if the D-180 was smart enough to see added flap switch and marry it to >80 knots airspeed to give both visual and audible warnings. Oh well, save money for eventual SkyView upgrade...
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I also added a micro switch like Joe to the flaperon mixer arm and wired it to C37, pin 9. I added a flap "widget" and get "FLAPS OVERSPEED" now when I exceed 81 knots with the flaps not up. (Skyview Touch)
c37_p9={ valid=1 name=FLAPS id=POSITION alarm_type=OFF range={ max_display=5 min_display=0 range1_valid=1 range1_top=5 range1_bot=2.5 range1_name=OFF range1_color=YELLOW range2_valid=1 range2_top=2.5 range2_bot=0 range2_name=ON range2_color=BLACK range3_valid=0 range3_top=20 range3_bot=10 range3_name=R3 range3_color=GREEN range4_valid=0 range4_top=10 range4_bot=5 range4_name=R4 range4_color=YELLOW Mitch |
Quote:
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I have been flying with an RV12 Flap overspeed alarm for over a year now, and still occasionally forget to raise the flaps.
I am away In China now, and cannot attach a photo, but I will post details of my setup when I get home. Note that you do not have to add a "FLAPS" widget, but for setup, it is useful to add one to the 100% EMS screen only. The audio message "Flaps Overspeed" is already available in the RV12 Skyview software. |
Thanks everyone, exactly what I was looking for!
Barry |
RV-12 Flap Over-speed Alarm
As promised before, here is some more info about my RV-12 installation
The Dynon SkyView gives an audible alarm (“Flaps Over-speed”) when the flaps are not fully up and the airspeed is over 82 knots. A micro-switch is activated by the Flap Lever arm on the Aileron control bell-crank, which is below the pilots seat. The micro-switch grounds EMS input “GP5” (in the manual as “Serial 5”). This is connected to Pin 9 of the 37 pin connector on the EMS. The operation of the switch can be checked by means of a “Flaps Widget” on the 100% size EMS screen. Software changes from the standard SkyView version: 1. Setup Menu > EMS Setup > Sensor Input Mapping > Sensor Setup EMS c37_p9 set to: POSITION POSITION FLAPS 2. Check that there is a line in the User Config dfg file: “audio_sound_flaps_overspeed=SOUND_MODE_VOICE ” 3. Change Widget from “WIDGET_CONTACT” to “WIDGET_FLAPS”. 4. Setup Menu > HW Calibration > EMS Calibration> FLAPS Calibration You can choose two calibration positions: Say 0 and 20 degrees ![]() ![]() |
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