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For my IFR panel, I went the same route as Figs, only because I had the space for Airspeed and Altitude so what the heck, and I am an Idiot, so I need an Idiot light for some things, to include oil pressure. Admittedly, that light does require electricity. So as an IFR panel, I spent a lot of time making sure all things requiring electricity had a graceful degradation to multiple backup sources of ship's power. If I fry all the wiring on the plane, I have an attitude and navigation source driven off a standalone battery, but would lose all engine monitoring, to include oil pressure.
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I have a large red lamp wired to an oil pressure switch but mine is primarily a "Turn Off the Master You Idiot" light...... :(
It also has a loud audio transducer in the circuit (with a kill switch for maintenance chores). |
Something like this makes much more sense to me than a bunch of "steam" gages.
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One of my aircraft has a Dynon panel (VFR mission) while the other has GRT (IFR mission). The Dynon-equipped ship has ASI, ALT, VSI, T&B steam gauges. The GRT ship has no steam gauges. I'm comfortable in either airplane.
As for engine instruments, I'm in the "keep it simple" camp. The engine monitor runs on the main electrical bus. I have an oil pressure switch and red LED annunciator lamp on the panel, powered by the essential bus. In the event of a failure of the main bus, the only engine instrument I have is the oil pressure idiot light. Works a charm for me (and I like seeing the light extinguish within a second or two of the engine firing, while the engine monitor indication takes a few more seconds). |
geez I love this place!
Gents
I am truly enjoying all this discussion, and Walt, I got one a those! so far the panel is from left to right..Garmin G5, GRT sport EX, 3 1/8 pitot airspeed and below it either T&B, or altimeter. So theres triple redundance in flight insturments. Above the radio stack, (King76 and garmin SL40) is the GRT EIS 4000. And the 2 1/4 Vans transducer tach . I will wire my tach function on the EIS to the mags, so theres RPM redundancy. Still have room for a couple more of those original 2 1/4 engine gauges. so oil pressure will probably be one..I like the dual sender unit idea Gasman, hadnt thought of that! , one more 2 1/4 hole avail, not sure which other to put there..but its alot of fun thinking thru the possibilities. Plenty of room on the right for the Ifly 740 or the ipad mini, which i have both and have been flying with trying to decide which is best. After 80 hours on the plane this summer, I like the Ifly 740 because I can read it so much better, and it never overheats and quits like the ipad does..but I do like the Foreflight program alot on the Ipad. |
I started with an AS, altimeter, and slip ball. Then when I replaced my Dynon D100 and D10 with a Skyview I left them out. However, I did put a Pocket Panel in at that time.
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Seems to me the days of those instruments are gone with the rotary phone. Not that long ago many people had a analog backup instruments. They have been replaced with smaller efis units like the G5 or the GRT Mini. Not that analog instruments don't have some utility but they are dated technology that will just devalue your investment. An oil pressure switch and indicator take care of the low oil pressure warning condition if you want an independent check. That is what I'm planning. I'm sure I'll hear about these comments. Each to his own.
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I've got a GRT Sport SX, but put a steam ASI and altimeter alongside the display. I like to cross-check the EFIS with the steam gauges. I'll admit that part of the reason is aesthetics....I like a couple of round dials to break up the rectangular monotony.
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Backup instruments
I bought a very inexpensive MGL 2" Infinity instrument which allows 4 temps and one pressure input. Mine is set up to give me oil pressure and CHT's. I also have analog fuel level and fuel pressure gauges. My EFIS is backed up with a G5.
My sending unit manifold is kind of crowded, and I had to wire in a switch to switch the fuel level senders between the EFIS and gauges, but if my EFIS goes out in the soup, I should be OK. John |
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