|
-
POSTING RULES

-
Donate yearly (please).
-
Advertise in here!
-
Today's Posts
|
Insert Pics
|

04-25-2018, 10:21 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: ND
Posts: 452
|
|
Panel dimmer or not? (Garmin)
I am planning to use the G3X Touch in my RV-14. The devices actually visible on the panel will be a 460 (PFD) and a 465 (MFD), a G5, a GMC 507 autopilot control panel, and a GTN 650 navigator. Power will be supplied by a VP-X Pro. I just got the fuselage kit today, so of course I have spent the past month planning out the panel wiring harness.
My understanding is that the screens I will be sitting in front of all have an auto-dimming feature based on ambient light and that wiring up a manual dimmer circuit is optional.
For those who have similar equipment, do you have a panel dimmer? If so, do you feel it was worthwhile? If not, do you wish that you had one?
|

04-25-2018, 11:01 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 3,351
|
|
I am in the same place and my question/research has shown that they are all self dimming and no external dimmer is needed. I hope I have not got the wrong info and would love to hear confirmation on this.
__________________
Mehrdad
N825SM RV7A - IO360M1B - SOLD
N825MS RV14A - IO390 - Flying
Dues paid
|

04-25-2018, 11:35 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Spring, TX
Posts: 449
|
|
I am wiring up the dimmer. My research on Van's seems to show that there are times the sensor my not sense the light properly (such as low sun angle) that may cause more light on the screen but not necessarily the sensor and it might be to dim. Nice to be able to reach over and adjust it where you like it. Just another data point.
Jay
__________________
Jay
RV-9A
Empennage complete.
Wings complete.
Fuselage in progress
Wiring in progress
2020 Donation made!
|

04-25-2018, 11:42 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Dallas/Ft Worth, TX
Posts: 5,687
|
|
I install dimmers for the big screens and GTN units on every panel upgrade I do because that is what I personally prefer, when flying at night I like my panel stuff at minimum brightness levels and going into a menu to do that is not a priority, just easier to twist a knob and adjust to your liking.
__________________
Walt Aronow, DFW, TX (52F)
EXP Aircraft Services LLC
Specializing in RV Condition Inspections, Maintenance, Avionics Upgrades
Dynamic Prop Balancing, Pitot-Static Altmeter/Transponder Certification
FAA Certified Repair Station, AP/IA/FCC GROL, EAA Technical Counselor
Authorized Garmin G3X Dealer/Installer
RV7A built 2004, 1700+ hrs, New Titan IO-370, Bendix Mags
Website: ExpAircraft.com, Email: walt@expaircraft.com, Cell: 972-746-5154
|

04-25-2018, 12:11 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Yorktown, VA
Posts: 139
|
|
I wired the dimmers but still use the auto dimming feature on the 460's, G5 and GTN 650. They all work fine but I do find the G5 reacts slower than the others. It takes several keystrokes in the menus to change over to the manual dimmers. I wired mine through the GAD 27.
__________________
Kent Stitt
[size="1"]RV-7A
TMX-IO-360w/ P-Mags, Hartzell CS Prop, Slider,
Dual Garmin G3X Touch w/ GTN-650
|

04-26-2018, 08:44 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Inver Grove Hgts, MN
Posts: 329
|
|
Virtually all Garmin panel-mount units feature photocell-controlled lighting that can be profiled. In practice, it works very well. One thing to remember, however. The Garmin panel-mounted audio panels need a dimmer input for the backlighting, so if you have one you should install at least one dimmer. You could also provide a fixed voltage input to it and switch a resistor into the circuit with the nav light switch for a dim position.
__________________
Mike Hilger
RV-6 N207AM w/G3X, 1,600 hours +
South St. Paul, MN (KSGS)
A&P, EAA Tech Counselor
We're all here because we're not all there...
|

04-26-2018, 09:48 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: ND
Posts: 452
|
|
Thanks for the tips. A thought I had is that the only time being able to see what's on the panel would become a true safety of flight issue is when the natural horizon is not visible. For me that means IMC or night. (Mountain day VFR could qualify as well but I'm not a mountain pilot...yet.) At night, the photocells will almost certainly figure out it's dark. That leaves IMC.
Has anyone had issues with the photocells while flying in the clouds or other IMC?
Another factor: Do the certified equivalents of these Garmin products require dimmer knobs in a conforming installation?
|

04-26-2018, 09:52 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Dallas/Ft Worth, TX
Posts: 5,687
|
|
Not so for the GMA245:
Photocell dimming circuitry automatically adjusts the brightness of the annunciators.
Backlighting is controlled by the aircraft lighting bus inputs if the lighting bus is connected.
If the lighting bus is not connected, backlighting is controlled by the photocell.
__________________
Walt Aronow, DFW, TX (52F)
EXP Aircraft Services LLC
Specializing in RV Condition Inspections, Maintenance, Avionics Upgrades
Dynamic Prop Balancing, Pitot-Static Altmeter/Transponder Certification
FAA Certified Repair Station, AP/IA/FCC GROL, EAA Technical Counselor
Authorized Garmin G3X Dealer/Installer
RV7A built 2004, 1700+ hrs, New Titan IO-370, Bendix Mags
Website: ExpAircraft.com, Email: walt@expaircraft.com, Cell: 972-746-5154
|

04-26-2018, 10:48 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 278
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Walt
I install dimmers for the big screens and GTN units on every panel upgrade I do
|
Walt, if not too much to ask, can you provide link to the dimmer unit you use?
Can any of the Garmin equipment be configured to be a dimmer "master", i.e. to provide voltage output from the photocell for the other units and non-Garmin equipment?
__________________
Dan V
'91 Zodiac flying since 2013
RV-14A in progress
|

04-26-2018, 10:58 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Dallas/Ft Worth, TX
Posts: 5,687
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aluminum
Walt, if not too much to ask, can you provide link to the dimmer unit you use?
Can any of the Garmin equipment be configured to be a dimmer "master", i.e. to provide voltage output from the photocell for the other units and non-Garmin equipment?
|
I just use 10K pots, simple and reliable, one for the G3X and one for the 650. I believe the GAD27 can be used as a dimmer master to control other stuff.
__________________
Walt Aronow, DFW, TX (52F)
EXP Aircraft Services LLC
Specializing in RV Condition Inspections, Maintenance, Avionics Upgrades
Dynamic Prop Balancing, Pitot-Static Altmeter/Transponder Certification
FAA Certified Repair Station, AP/IA/FCC GROL, EAA Technical Counselor
Authorized Garmin G3X Dealer/Installer
RV7A built 2004, 1700+ hrs, New Titan IO-370, Bendix Mags
Website: ExpAircraft.com, Email: walt@expaircraft.com, Cell: 972-746-5154
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:17 AM.
|