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  #41  
Old 09-01-2016, 06:37 PM
WrightsRV7 WrightsRV7 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Hurricane Utah
Posts: 156
Default I love it-microswitch on the throttle

That is a clever way to keep awareness up and alive in the cockpit. I live in a dry heat, but 110 is hot regardless if dry or humid and boy does that big fan up front help... I am planning to have it as red light when open and out when closed and agree with your point about working under stress at takeoff is a real factor we have to deal with when at busier and big airports. I plan to follow your lead on the micro-switch attached to the throttle (and use a bright red light right above the pilot EFIS).
Cheers, Mike
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  #42  
Old 09-01-2016, 06:55 PM
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Plummit Plummit is offline
 
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Location: Covid Country-SoCal
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WrightsRV7 View Post
For those with 100s if not thousands of hours in the RV10, has anyone seen an occurrence where indicator light showed doors closed and in fact they were not latched properly? Just curious as I look at the mechanism used for "sensing" door latchment.
That actually happened to me when I had one of the screens replaced on my G-900X panel and the "canopy open" alert was mis-configured so that it worked in reverse of what it was supposed to do. Probably not the situation you were asking about but the result was the same.

-Marc
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  #43  
Old 09-01-2016, 09:05 PM
WrightsRV7 WrightsRV7 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Hurricane Utah
Posts: 156
Default all examples are a good thing...

Thanks Mark, I think hearing of instances where changes in the panel can create "incorrect" readings is a good thing. It is a bit confusing with the way the magnetic sense switch is set up, seems like a double negative, but it works well when wired up right. And your right, my most pressing/direct question is can the latch be swung to closed position, but the pin is not in the catch, AND a positive light shows latched. Is the magnet close enough to give a latched reading (ever) when not fully engaged in the latch hole.
Cheers, Mike
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  #44  
Old 09-02-2016, 12:04 AM
paul330 paul330 is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Mpumalanga, South Africa
Posts: 1,065
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I have close to the stock set up with the door sensors wired into my Skyview. I have not fitted the centre latch mod. I did, however, fit stainless steel instead of the plastic guides. I find that the magnetic sensors are extremely accurate and only give the signal on the absolute last bit of movement.

But.....on two of my early flights, I did manage to get the rear pin outside the frame but learnt from that and have not had a recurrence. My Before Take-Off Checklist (read from the QRH, not done from memory) includes "Doors Closed and Green" and "Caution and Warning Check" which is how I picked up my errors. I have now also included "Doors Closed and Green" in my Before Start Checklist and do not taxi with the doors open.

I'm with Scott on this one - a properly installed system that is checked closed before take-off cannot come open. There are many things that, if missed before take-off, can kill you. The answer is to be meticulous with your Before TO Checklist which should include ALL critical items and be read from a card.
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  #45  
Old 09-05-2016, 09:33 PM
Strasnuts Strasnuts is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Posts: 554
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rv6rick View Post
Point of this post: a few weeks ago I was watching the owner of the most recent 10 as he was preparing to taxi out for take off. I happened to notice that the door was not properly closed. After flagging him down and looking closer I saw that only the front pin was engaged, no cam engagement and the rear pin was on the outside of the plane. The light was on but he didn't notice. He is an elderly gentleman and a bit wider than average. In his case he did not use the rear pull handle AND when his left hand is on the door handle his forearm and elbow are in contact with the door. So, his forearm is acting as a lever (chicken wing) that keeps the center and aft section of the door OUT as the door is closing. So, at least in this example the front pin DID engage without the center cam engaging.


IMO Vans factory system is fine and if you desire the center cam that is fine. But neither are fool proof.
It sounds like this example is from either a poorly constructed door or a bad installation of the cam or both. There is no way this could happen on my doors. I guess if I had the incredible hulk try to close the door with my leg hanging out it could happen.
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  #46  
Old 09-06-2016, 05:35 AM
Skysailor Skysailor is offline
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 240
Default Some EFIS will help with the install

Quote:
Originally Posted by vic syracuse View Post
With almost 2000 hours now in mine and various other RV's, I have not seen the doors NOT be latched and the warning lights not work. That DOESN'T mean it can't happen. We always call "doors Latched" when rolling on to the runway for departure.

BTW, I concluded that a warning light which was always ON due to the doors being open could possibly be overlooked at a crucial time due to a distraction, such as Tower saying "depart immediately". Since we taxi around in Atlanta most of the time with the doors open due to the heat, I wanted something to get my attention when it is really warranted, so I wired the door warning circuit to a micro-switch on the throttle quadrant. Now the lights stay off for taxi but jump right out at me if I advance the power enough, such as for takeoff.

Vic
The Dynon system has a feature not widely known that uses manifold pressure to act in the same way Vic used a microswitch so the canopy light is not on unless the power is advanced above idle. The feature is built in to all the Skyview units.

***Canopy- Locked*** Nice thing to add to your run up check. You are already safely stopped and have the power up. It is possible the others (Garmin, MGL, GRT etc) may have this now as well but if not, Vic's method will really help save the day.
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  #47  
Old 09-06-2016, 09:03 AM
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rvbuilder2002 rvbuilder2002 is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Hubbard Oregon
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skysailor View Post
The Dynon system has a feature not widely known that uses manifold pressure to act in the same way Vic used a microswitch so the canopy light is not on unless the power is advanced above idle. The feature is built in to all the Skyview units.

***Canopy- Locked*** Nice thing to add to your run up check. You are already safely stopped and have the power up. It is possible the others (Garmin, MGL, GRT etc) may have this now as well but if not, Vic's method will really help save the day.
Advanced Flight Systems has the feature as well, but uses engine RPM instead of MP. The RPM is set just below what you would normally use in a run-up so that during the run-up it checks for correct operation of the system (if you are purposely doing the run-up with the canopy/doors unlatched), or to warn you they are unlatched if you didn't do it on purpose.

All of our demo airplanes that have AFS or Skyview systems in the panels have them connected to sense switches to alert canopy unlatched if take-off power is applied.
Edit: And forgot to mention that our RV-14A demonstrator on the east coast with Mitch also has the capability with the G3X system, so that is at least 3 different systems that can attempt to save a pilot that hasn't discovered the error via check list, etc
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Last edited by rvbuilder2002 : 09-06-2016 at 11:31 AM.
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  #48  
Old 09-06-2016, 09:20 AM
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mikeyj350 mikeyj350 is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Cedar Rapids, IA / USA
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Default

Just as another data point, the G3X touch system has the same feature as well, by configuring a discrete input function as either of the following:

From rev. Z of the install manual, pg 31-125:
1. Canopy Closed - Used with a switch that activates the input when the aircraft canopy is closed and locked. A solid yellow CANOPY OPEN message will appear on the PFD if the Canopy Closed input is not active. If engine power is increased or the aircraft is airborne, the CANOPY OPEN message will flash red and an alert tone will sound.

2. Door Closed - Same as Canopy Closed except alert text is DOOR OPEN.

Not sure what "engine power is increased" exactly means, but sounds like what you'd be looking for.
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