Red Cube Install - Take Two

[chaskuss]

OK, first I have to confess that I am a lowly FlowScan transducer owner. After reading this thread and doing some investigation, I believe the purchase of a red cube is warranted.

What is the real name of the red cube?

Who makes it and who sells it for the best price???

Perspiring minds want to know!

Charlie

[Plummit]

Originally Posted by chaskuss

OK, first I have to confess that I am a lowly FlowScan transducer owner. After reading this thread and doing some investigation, I believe the purchase of a red cube is warranted.

What is the real name of the red cube?

Who makes it and who sells it for the best price???

Perspiring minds want to know!

Charlie

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catal...ges/eift60.php

-Marc

[TS Flightlines]

The flow divider install location of the FT60 was my idea. Several years ago, we had clients that wanted to install the transducer between the servo and the flow divider. EVERY one of them was different, 2 hoses of different lengths and configurations. Measuring the short hose was a problem---I have a BUNCH of short firesleeved hoses to prove it.
So after scrapping several hoses, I set out to come up with a generally universal location for the transducer that would work for the majority of clients. Not for everyone, but for most. During that time we tried---unsuccessfully-- to get EI to tell use their location recommendations. So we set out to test this idea. 2 airshow seasons with members of an well known show team with good results in 3 variations.
WE have a bunch of these flying around the world with no issues. The one part that did need some help was making a securing bracket that would work for that application. Dan Horton did a great job of this. Again, not for everyone, but better than it was.

To answer 1 question, Yes we are planning to make the bracket and include it in the install kit. This works IF the flow divider has the inlet port 90* to the case center line. Whether its a Bendix, Precision, Avstar,or AFP divider, it still works. If the divider has the inlet port 45* to the case, then no joy, BUT a short connecting hose can be done and utilize the same bracket. The flow divider bracket in Chris' pics is a Lycoming 75009, the most common one. In research , I found 3, all different. 2 are somewhat expensive.

Rest assured that this is NOT the only solution to the location issue of the FT60. Walt has a valid point about heat and such, but from clients flying with this, it seems this isnt a factor. (Boy I'd love to get a thermocouple in there and measure real world temps.) Texas heat anyone?

Because of the ops install, we asked Dan to come up with a bracket solution. Credit where credit is due---thats Dans bracket as fabricated by Chris. Thanks Dan for the consult and ideas!

Tom

[DanH]

Originally Posted by TS Flightlines

If the divider has the inlet port 45* to the case, then no joy, BUT a short connecting hose can be done and utilize the same bracket.

Replacing the steel elbow and nipple? No you can't; in this example the fittings are structural. To re-route the inlet to the flow divider, you'll need the plate I mentioned, re Mother of Brackets.

Walt has a valid point about heat and such, but from clients flying with this, it seems this isnt a factor. (Boy I'd love to get a thermocouple in there and measure real world temps.)

I have a movable thermistor on a wire in the engine compartment. Right now it's up in the accessory case mag area. Next time I have the cowl off I'll move it to a spot under the purge valve, same location as this red cube.

Prediction: Near the divider will be much cooler than any lower cowl location when in flight, and not worse when parked hot.

That said, I've run mine 875 hours in the lower cowl, on the firewall, at higher air temperatures than the fleet average. Spec sheet says the limit is 125C; none will see air temps that high. The major screwup is an installation which allows radiant heating from an exhaust pipe.

[AlexPeterson]

I moved my Floscan to this location a few years ago. It was previously mounted on the fwd side of the firewall. It has always been between the servo and the flow divider. The lower hose comes from the servo, and the hose going right curves up to the flow divider. This picture was mid-install. There is an adel clamp pair holding it to the intake tube, and there is a firesleeve wrap around the whole thing. It is essentially suspended by the flex hoses. It is not as close to the motor mount as it seems.

[Walt]

Originally Posted by DanH

Spec sheet says the limit is 125C; none will see air temps that high. The major screwup is an installation which allows radiant heating from an exhaust pipe.

Well if we go with a very moderate 300F CHT at shutdown the cube will see 149C. Will it be cooler in flight, certainly.
125C = 250F so I think you'd be pretty safe that temps won't get much higher than that behind the baffling. I'm sure Dan has a number for that?

[TS Flightlines]

Dan---we CERTAINLY would be interested in those temps!!!

Tom

[Bicyclops]

Originally Posted by chaskuss

OK, first I have to confess that I am a lowly FlowScan transducer owner. After reading this thread and doing some investigation, I believe the purchase of a red cube is warranted.

What is the real name of the red cube?

Who makes it and who sells it for the best price???

Perspiring minds want to know!

Charlie

Flowscan works fine and is slightly smaller. To replace with a red cube later shouldn't be too tough. The fitting to fitting length is the same.

Ed Holyoke

[kaweeka]

I've been struggling with placement on my setup. It's an IO320 B1A with an early AFP FM100 (the one with the purge valve that comes directly off the divider and orients downward between cylinders 1 and 3). I originally had a floscan on the firewall between the electric and mechanical pumps that would "react" whenever I turned on the electric pump. During last annual, I had my FM100 inspected and overhauled per manufacturer recommendations and ditched the floscan for the FT60. Everyone I spoke with suggested placement between the servo and divider. I placed it beneath the inter cylinder baffle, oriented near vertical with the wires facing forward. Tom and I have spent waaaaay too much time (thanks Tom, for not charging by the hour) discussing this. I had accuracy issues noting fuel flow would be fine at full power such as in takeoff but, once in cruise and I configure for LOP, I would notice the flow would start off accurate at 6.7gph and 147 kts 30 degrees LOP and, after a few minutes, would drift down to 4.8 gph and stay there. (No changes in any engine parameters, or speed. This was analyzed by the Savvy guys for anything I missed). I would go through the process of richening then leaning again to LOP and, in most instances, it would stay there for the remainder of the flight, reading an accurate 6.7 gph. So, I took off the cube and had EI check it....... perfect was the result. Re-installed and no change. I am open to ideas here. I thought about mounting it to the firewall but that's a long run by hose and subject to heating the fuel unnecessarily. There has to be a reason for the drift lower that I haven't thought of and I'm betting someone here can help. Thanks,
David
Tried pasting my picture but couldn't make it work. https://flic.kr/p/2h9mhF1

[DanH]

David, have you tried some insulation?

Abnormal behavior initially after climb, vs generally normal after some time period in cruise. Kinda suggests something cooled down a bit. The photos don't show proximity to exhaust pipes.