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  #31  
Old 09-09-2008, 08:32 PM
RVadmirer RVadmirer is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Kalifornia
Posts: 466
Default And Walt....

....you must have missed my point, I agreed to pay the "chump change" and got blown off by this guy you are impressed with because I told him I was dissappointed in that program. 10% of the cost of his unit for a connector he should have installed in the first place, 10%! That is just wrong.

Some people just feel differently about service and business. I see people all the time re-electing crooks like Rostenkowski in Illinois after he ripped them blind and buying junk from China when they use and abuse child labor and shoot people that don't like it. I just feel differently. I have purchased several thousand dollars worth of components from people on this forum with no problems. I have had good work done on my plane but when it wasn't good I said something about it. You've been lucky Walt, and that is wonderful. Many have been or they wouldn't be able to sell anything. But those of us, and there are quite a few, that have had bad results, and suffered the insulting conversations with Lightspeed know that the product has had it's problems, many of which are still flying and I'm reporting my experience for the collective information pool. Nothing more - nothing less.

I give everyone I deal with my very best in fairness and honesty. What I got from Lightspeed was snotty arrogance and a bad product. If I save one person the grief I've gone through here my original post was worth it. That was the what I felt important to make available to those that have been so much help to me.

And contrary to your possible insinuation, I take excellent care of my plane too and have flown it across the country twice. Nothing on it is certified and the only times I've been stranded and had to cancel a flight was three Lighspeed Engineering Ignition problems. Wasting money isn't anything I plan to start doing anytime soon. $135 will buy me a lot of fuel when it isn't wasted on replacing something that should NEVER have been sold in the first place to be used in an airplane and under the cowlings. You're welcome to do as you please, and as a moderator I'm sure you will...

But thanks for your opinions, I appreciate your time but not the advertisement for Lightspeed and their poor business practices and lack of support. That amount of money should be a pittance to a company like that and had it been my mistake I would have sent the replacement with an apology, as I have when my product wasn't up to snuff. I hear from others that their competition also does so on a regular basis! I'm taking that "chump change" and putting it in the tanks to go to Reno this morning (IF my ignition works!). See you Monday. Happy flying all!

Last edited by RVadmirer : 09-10-2008 at 06:35 AM.
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  #32  
Old 09-10-2008, 08:42 AM
Kevin Horton's Avatar
Kevin Horton Kevin Horton is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 2,357
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by RVadmirer View Post
....you must have missed my point, I agreed to pay the "chump change" and got blown off by this guy you are impressed with because I told him I was dissappointed in that program. 10% of the cost of his unit for a connector he should have installed in the first place, 10%! That is just wrong.
How much more would you be willing to pay when you purchased the EI system so that the vendor could have money on hand to give free upgrades for existing users? Or, is the vendor supposed to take a loss to cover free upgrades?

There are many, many satisfied Lightspeed EI users, so I doubt there are any major issues with build quality.
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  #33  
Old 09-10-2008, 10:48 AM
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gmcjetpilot gmcjetpilot is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,285
Default I keep saying what?

Quote:
Originally Posted by N941WR View Post
George, you keep talking about their connector problems and in 190+ hours over one year with two P-mags, I haven't had a single problem related to the connector. In talking with Emag Air the trick is to secure the wire tightly in the provided adel clamp so the wires can't move and break. Here is a picture of what I'm talking about.
I don't know why you're picking on me or what you are talking about, did I say something?

I'm aware of a lot more issues/incidence with the E-mag connector than you are apparently. Is it possible I know something you don't?

I understand the adel clamp helps to shore-up and secure the connections for greater reliability, but you're making my point for me, it needs special attention installation to provide a good reliable connection. (Yes, so do other systems including Lightspeed, peace.) That clamp may not totally solve the problem. If you can grab any wire between connector and clamp and move it , trust me it will move when the engine is shaking.

Looking at your picture real careful, a critical eye, look at the jumper, it's sitting up with no strain relief or support. What do you think vibration will do with that. There is also some relative movement between clamp and terminal strip still possible. Again it would not meet a military vibration spec test. Some folks "POT" their connections to provide that strain/vibration support. Apologies for the unsolicited advice, 190 hours may be fine but 1900 hours not so fine.


Many early E-mag installations also didn't use a clamp. Many still don't have them installed. The terminal strip is marginal to unacceptable with out the clamp. Many fly that way. Sorry I meant no offense, just opinion. Clearly you are more than satisfied.

I do hope future E-mag models are redesigned with a better connector. In addition to connections there have been some internal E-mag deaths. Again no bashing, just fact. Buyer beware. I'm not saying E-mag is better or worse than any other brand. I just want folks to be aware they're experimental and are installation dependant.

I have some experience with 3 different brands of EI. I like the Light-Speed overall for features and performance, E-mag a close second due to compact form, fit & function, save for the connection strip I don't care for. Again no offense just preference from my experience. This info is free and its worth every penny y'all paid for it ..... (E/P-mag is mighty fine)
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Last edited by gmcjetpilot : 09-10-2008 at 11:03 AM.
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  #34  
Old 09-14-2008, 09:17 AM
RVadmirer RVadmirer is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Kalifornia
Posts: 466
Default P-MAg now...

George,
I know this was a Lightspeed thread and has morphed so I'll note here that the canard world had a great write up this morning on multiple failures of the magnet mounting on and O-360 resulting in another SB this week that continues to be designed by Electrical Engineers instead of a competent Mechanical Engineer (I'm told). Anyone interested in the complete write up write me off forum or visit the Cozy mail list or the Yahoo canard forum. I was close to ordering one but this changed my mind. We are talking MULTIPLE failures of the same component in one trip with several different units. At least they stood behind their product and stepped up to the plate, unlike Lightspeed.....
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  #35  
Old 09-14-2008, 11:35 AM
gasman gasman is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Sonoma County
Posts: 3,821
Default I HAVE THE BEST...........

Quote:
Originally Posted by RVadmirer View Post
George,
I know this was a Lightspeed thread and has morphed so I'll note here that the canard world had a great write up this morning on multiple failures of the magnet mounting on and O-360 resulting in another SB this week that continues to be designed by Electrical Engineers instead of a competent Mechanical Engineer (I'm told). Anyone interested in the complete write up write me off forum or visit the Cozy mail list or the Yahoo canard forum. I was close to ordering one but this changed my mind. We are talking MULTIPLE failures of the same component in one trip with several different units. At least they stood behind their product and stepped up to the plate, unlike Lightspeed.....
If you are looking for the BEST LIGHTSPEED, I have it!!

This unit is a PLASMA I. When I purchased it, the seller said it had 10 hours since new. When I questioned the condition after it arrived, the seller said "It was rebuilt and improved by Boeing mechanical and avionic engineers with over 50 years combined experience." This unit was used in a FIBERGLASS aircraft for only 10 hours before it was removed to install a MAG!!

Everything that was sent to me by this engineer, is still in the box just as UPS delivered it to me.

YOURS FOR ONLY $600.00...............
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  #36  
Old 09-14-2008, 02:35 PM
sjjonesnz sjjonesnz is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Auckland, NZ
Posts: 147
Default

I've got dual LightSpeed Plasma II+ on my machine, haven't had any problems whatsoever (might be because I haven't fired it up yet either ). Naturally this thread got my attention so I flicked Klaus an email for his perspective.

He replied within 24 hours with "Not to worry, there are almost 5000 Light Speed CDI systems out in the field, some over 20 years old! There are no issues currently with the Plasma CDI system when installed per the instructions...If there is an issue, we will have a service bulletin on our website and if the Warranty information was returned to us, we will also contact you directly."

True, it might be sales-speak, but I'm not overly concerned right now....
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Flying RV-7QB/ZK-NVS/Aerosport 0320/Dual AF3500s/PMA8000B/GNS430W/SL30/GTX327/TT ADIP II
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  #37  
Old 09-14-2008, 07:51 PM
longez360 longez360 is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 23
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by gasman View Post
If you are looking for the BEST LIGHTSPEED, I have it!!

This unit is a PLASMA I. When I purchased it, the seller said it had 10 hours since new. When I questioned the condition after it arrived, the seller said "It was rebuilt and improved by Boeing mechanical and avionic engineers with over 50 years combined experience." This unit was used in a FIBERGLASS aircraft for only 10 hours before it was removed to install a MAG!!

Everything that was sent to me by this engineer, is still in the box just as UPS delivered it to me.

YOURS FOR ONLY $600.00...............

Yes, it's an exceptional unit following the ruggedisation modifications AS APPROVED BY LIGHTSPEED ENGINEERING. Please do not hesitate to contact me directly for an explanation of these modifications. I still have the Plasma III in place on the aircraft (it was dual lightspeed) with the same ruggedisation modifications. Two different ignition systems will provide greater redundancy as the failure modes are different. I had dual electrical systems as well, but an electrical failure on a lightspeed cannot necessarily rememdied by a 2nd battery, or any number of batteries for that matter. . .

I believe this unit has had the Hall Effect Module adjusted. A NOTE ABOUT HALL EFFECT MODULES: I also have a note from Klaus that the Hall Effect module was adjusted to a gap of 0.030" on 24/06/2004. That's 15 days after the first flight of my aircraft when the Lightspeed unit was brand new... It had a couple of hours on it when the transistor legs first failed PRIOR to the ruggedisation. Picture available on request (taken by Lightspeed). Both my Plasma I and III had this failure. It's not about where it can or cannot be mounted, it should be able to be mounted ANYWHERE on an aircraft where fluids and temperatures are within spec allowables.

I fly with many of Klaus Savier's modifications on my Long EZ. I also use his wheelpants, propeller and spinner. He is a wonderful engineer and I have benefited greatly from his flight testing! The only complaint I have about Lighspeed ignitions (ONLY the Plasma I and III, NOT the II) is the packaging. That's an avionics term for the way the unit is (or was, as I haen't seen a 2008 version) mechanically encapsulated and fastened. Paul Lipps and Klaus may have corrected this now, which would result in a wonderful unit. Why put a screw hole in a PCB and not put a fastener through it into the enclosure?! It's nuts!

Last edited by longez360 : 09-14-2008 at 08:28 PM.
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  #38  
Old 09-14-2008, 07:59 PM
638RS's Avatar
638RS 638RS is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 270
Default My experince with Lightspeed

I have ~200 hrs on a Plasma II Lightspeed on a RV-7A with a Mag on the left. I am using a Hall effect for pick up and even though I haven't had any problems I became concerned when reading the comments re: oil leaks, So I emailed Klaus and expressed my concerns and asked about upgrading to the crank sensor. Here is his reply:

"There are over 1300 Hall effect Modules in service, beginning in !998. I am replacing 2 or 3 seals a year. That is quite good! Since the oldest ones are having the least problems, I suspect that crank case pressure has some influence. Since it is never more than a nuisance leak and because the function is not effected by oil, should there ever be a problem, I would leave it alone."

My Lightspeed box is installed in the cockpit behind the panel and wired with two toggle switches for the LS and Mag. No key switch,
I am going to leave it as is and stick with the hall effect. I have always had good response to my questions from Lightspeed, so I would expect the turnaround time if a repair is needed, would be quick.

I am pleased with the performance of the ignition system.

YMMV
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  #39  
Old 09-17-2008, 12:30 PM
elippse elippse is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Arroyo Grande, CA
Posts: 938
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by allbee View Post
Installation is very important, you can take a unit with the very best connectors ever made and have them fail if you don't install correctly. When you have a connector that goes directly from the engine to a nonmoving part or firewall in this case. You will have problems with the connector. You must secure the wire from the connector at the engine first, that way there will be NO vibration issue at the connector, than have a nice loop in the wire to the firewall to absorb the movement. You need also to put dielectric grease on the connector to keep out moisture and prevent arcing.
I have both a crank trigger and a plug-in module. The plug-in module was first used on my friend's plane when I was part owner, and it had about 500 hours on it when it was removed for installation on my plane. I have since put close to another 400 hours on it. I made the circuit board for the crank trigger and I used a 9 pin sub-D connector on it; it also has about 400 hours. I've never had a connector problem with either of these, and they are the older connectors with less plating. I'm starting to wonder if there is a different issue at work here. When you have gold contacts, there should never be the necessity for cleaning; gold is used since it doesn't corrode in a normal atmosphere, and provides a low-resistance contact and is very good for millivolt-level signals. Could it be that something else is causing this connector problem? I'm wondering about charging vapors from a vented battery on the firewall, or oil mist, or something along that line. I like your idea of the grease around the connector; that seems to be de rigueur on cars anymore! 'Anyone have any further speculation, hypothesis, or conjecture?
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  #40  
Old 09-17-2008, 01:31 PM
RVadmirer RVadmirer is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Kalifornia
Posts: 466
Default Taken Apart

I have the whole thing off the plane now and had an electrical guru look it over. Seems to be a really cheap connector. Doesn't seem to have any coatings on it. Will replace it before selling the whole system to some other "believer" that wants to fool with it.
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