GRT MINI stack or suite

[John Meyers]

Jeffk. Could you send photo of your MINI installation ? I may have some more questions about your plan... (similar to my installation plan).

John Meyers
johntmey@aol.com

[jeffk]

Hi John, happy to answer any questions I can.

I cross posted in this thread about using the Mini as a PFD:

http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...d.php?t=134117

Sorry about the marginal photo. I was evaluating different dimming levels with respect to the instrument lights I added and the two flood eyeballs that were already in place. For now, I quite like having the CDI below the PFD.

The most difficult part of the installation for me was cutting the square mounting hole. I had to remove / cover everything on the left side of the panel to avoid getting metal bits into an open EXP Bus below it. Vertically, I'm tight on space. I'll need to move the Mini-AP up slightly and perhaps move the switch panel down. Either way, I'll have to take the left side of the panel apart, possibly fabricate a plate for the six pack to deal with two square mounting holes and hopefully will not need to create a new, lower profile array of switches. Obviously, all problems are unique to my installation.

Next step - wire up magnetometer, ARINC (GNS-430) and TruTrak Vizion interface.





I proposed a Mini-MFD product to GRT with no pitot/static, no GPS, no backup magnetometer and no AHRS to reduce cost. I do not expect them to move forward on this as simply buying a Mini-X with mapping and backup battery (should you wish) provides the functionality I'm looking for. One would also get the added redundancy of an additional PFD (with pitot / static and AI) which is significant.

Now to figure out how to make space for it...

Jeff

[John Meyers]

Thanks for that pic. I'm on a similar track but would double up using MINI APs, and discard all other elements of old six pack. Still not sure how the MINIs might dance together. Doubt that the manufacturer thought we would want to multiply these devices into our panels as direct replacements for old air-driven gyros... or upgrade short of Cinerama big screens.

John Meyers

[Walt]

Something else to consider is a single sceen G3X system, without the engine monitor this system can be had for around $3995.
I use the mini in lots of panels as a back up but if you're looking to replace an entire 6 pack, and have plenty of options for expanding later, I think you'd be hard pressed to beat the Garmin.
http://www.garmin.com/us/products/in...-aviation/g3x/

[Canadian_JOY]

Originally Posted by Walt

Something else to consider is a single sceen G3X system, without the engine monitor this system can be had for around $3995.
I use the mini in lots of panels as a back up but if you're looking to replace an entire 6 pack, and have plenty of options for expanding later, I think you'd be hard pressed to beat the Garmin.
http://www.garmin.com/us/products/in...-aviation/g3x/

What's the cost to upgrade the Garmin to dual AHARS, add dual independent GPS receivers and a backup battery? That's what you could get in a pair of Mini-X's for about that $4K price point, if my math is right. Without doubt, the ability to upgrade/expand the Garmin solution is excellent. Just add dollars and stir!

[jclark]

Originally Posted by John Meyers

Thanks for that pic. I'm on a similar track but would double up using MINI APs, and discard all other elements of old six pack. Still not sure how the MINIs might dance together. Doubt that the manufacturer thought we would want to multiply these devices into our panels as direct replacements for old air-driven gyros... or upgrade short of Cinerama big screens.

John Meyers

They seem to do just fine together.

You get to select what info is shared between the "n" units that you can link together.

One can mix and match different versions of the MINI to save $$$. For example, you could have a mix of the Basic, X and AP depending on your needs. And for about $150 you can add the Engine page to the Basic unit <<the engine hardware module and sensors range from about $1000 to about $1500>>. For $200 you can add Engine plus ADS-B weather and Traffic to the "X" or "AP".


Lot's of options of you choose to go this route.

Feel free to reach me of you have questions as I have worked with several on different planes of friends of mine.

James

[Canadian_JOY]

James - your comment about selecting what info is shared between units prompts me to ask a question, or series of questions, if I may?

The GRT documentation is pretty skinny in terms of defining what data is passed across the inter-display link, and that's the source of my questions.

In this particular scenario, there is a GNS480 and an SL30 tied to an HX display (with Arinc 429), per GRT's recommended wiring configuration. The HX is tied to a Mini-X via RS232 inter-display link.

What data gets passed between the Mini-X and HX and vice versa? Of particular interest is the concept of configuring the HX to run split screen PFD and MAP and have the Mini-X operate essentially as an HSI. If this configuration is possible, will the VOR OBS for either the VOR receiver in the GNS480 or the SL30 be settable from the Mini-X, depending on which NAV is selected on the HX?

So far my Mini-X has only flown in a temporary installation so I haven't been able to verify this level of interoperation in the full panel with all the latest software versions loaded. Any light you can shed on the chatter that goes on between Mini-X and HX (and Mini-to-Mini) would be greatly appreciated.

[jclark]

Originally Posted by Canadian_JOY

James - your comment about selecting what info is shared between units prompts me to ask a question, or series of questions, if I may?

The GRT documentation is pretty skinny in terms of defining what data is passed across the inter-display link, and that's the source of my questions.

In this particular scenario, there is a GNS480 and an SL30 tied to an HX display (with Arinc 429), per GRT's recommended wiring configuration. The HX is tied to a Mini-X via RS232 inter-display link.

What data gets passed between the Mini-X and HX and vice versa? Of particular interest is the concept of configuring the HX to run split screen PFD and MAP and have the Mini-X operate essentially as an HSI. If this configuration is possible, will the VOR OBS for either the VOR receiver in the GNS480 or the SL30 be settable from the Mini-X, depending on which NAV is selected on the HX?

So far my Mini-X has only flown in a temporary installation so I haven't been able to verify this level of interoperation in the full panel with all the latest software versions loaded. Any light you can shed on the chatter that goes on between Mini-X and HX (and Mini-to-Mini) would be greatly appreciated.

I just finished helping a friend with a setup VERY similar to what you reference.

If you can contact me around midday, I can try the various options you question.

See image below. It has HXr, GNS480, SL-30, MINI-AP, MINI-AP.
Send email or message.

James


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/aF...w1936-h1089-no

[Walt]

Originally Posted by Canadian_JOY

What's the cost to upgrade the Garmin to dual AHARS, add dual independent GPS receivers and a backup battery? That's what you could get in a pair of Mini-X's for about that $4K price point, if my math is right. Without doubt, the ability to upgrade/expand the Garmin solution is excellent. Just add dollars and stir!

Yes but math aside, I thought the OP was talking about IFR ops here.
The mini install manual states:

"We designed the Mini with two main goals in mind: A small, lightweight, economical VFR EFIS system for LSA and light kitplanes, and an affordable, high-quality backup to larger EFIS systems for IFR operations."

So you guys are talking about using this as your primary instrument in IFR ops which appears to be contrary to the manufacturers recommendation.

[deej]

Originally Posted by Walt

So you guys are talking about using this as your primary instrument in IFR ops which appears to be contrary to the manufacturers recommendation.

The Mini description page on their website and the manual mention using it for IFR in several locations.

Just one example from the web page:
"A Primary and A Backup
The Mini is not a compromised instrument. It is a complete EFIS capable of synthetic vision, with a GPS navigator, and incorporating the same technology that made GRT famous for its high-integrity AHRS. It is completely suitable as the primary instrument in your panel or as a backup.

As A Primary Flight Display
The Mini includes an electronic attitude source (AHRS) that is not dependent on GPS and/or air data. IFR certifiable altitude, vertical speed, and airspeed are boldly shown with tapes and smoothly rotating drum-style digital displays that instinctively convey value and trend."

http://grtavionics.com/mini.html

It is possible that as the product has matured they simply haven't updated that sentence in the manual that you quote. They have certainly added more things to the Mini useful for IFR since it first came out.

-Dj