My P-Mag Failure

[Bevan]

I've got a roll of fiber optic cable. I might run one from each LED to my instrument panel. Would make all the LED usage easier including setting the timing.

Bevan

[tim2542]

Hi Noah
My recent PMAG issue ( I won't call it a failure, it did not fail in flight) is identicle to yours both in cause and response from Brad. He called me back shortly after I left a mssg on a Saturday afternoon. I don't have it back yet and I believe there was a mixup in shipping which is likely going to ruin my weekend plans. So I wish I could say it has been trouble free but that's not the case. The upside is they are fixing it no charge and it is a known issue that has been corrected in current production. If I can get 100 hrs on this one a second PMAG will probably fill the other hole next year.
Now time for true confessions. Mine did not boot after a fuel stop close to home. I'm in the habit of doing a quick "is it firing?"check before flight and a at-altitude LOP test once in cruise 'ala Mike Busch. Well I did not do the mag check on this stop....evidently. I was distracted in the run up but I would not have believed I missed it except I downloaded the engine data and there was no tach signal from startup. I first noticed it once I turned onto course for home.
So bottom line is it did not fail in flight like I first thought, and I need to do a tune up on my procedures.
Tim

[DanH]

Originally Posted by Noah

The bottom line is that P-Mag owners should be checking their LEDs postflight, looking for a solid yellow LED, PRIOR TO POWER OFF to see if their shaft is out of tolerance.

These LED's are under the cowl or on the panel?

[tim2542]

It is on the PMAG Dan. It's a multi colored led, red green and seen rarely by unlucky fellows like me, yellow. It is normally used only to set/check the timing.
Brad tells me you can tap into the connector and bring data out to a lap top for inflight testing, timing monitoring, internal board temp etc.
Tim

[Bavafa]

Originally Posted by tkatc

I figure I save just over 1 gallon per hour using the P-Mags and also some cash when it comes to plugs. If you set up your engine to realize the savings as mine was by the builder....the break even point is 250 hours if you calculate a gallon at $6. If you can achieve 500 problem free hours then the P-mags were essentially free. Everything beyond that is gravy.

In your case Noah, it seems as though your P-Mag savings acct has just been reset to zero. I'm probably in the same boat since I had to pay $450 for a new board when mine failed.

I don't believe P-Mags are a safety issue but rather a time/expense issue. Despite the trouble reported, I will install dual P-Mags on the -8 when the time comes.

In this math, is there a cost associated for the inconvenience, our wasted time and hassle to deal with this?

[GeneL]

Can we get this info (LED status) from the Commander built for P-mag?

[Brantel]

I don't speak for Bill and the EI Commander but I have done a ton of playing around with the communication protocol that the Pmag spits out and I can tell you that I don't think that information is included in the serial data output by the Pmag.

However, the description of how the Pmag works in the event it goes into this mode on power up does sound like one could use the lack of communications as an indicator that the Pmag is locked out.
Would not help much for an indication that it has entered this mode in flight however.

[videobobk]

A totally different failure mode, but the same company response! We had a starling build a nest in our cowl. How they got the bottom plug out I will never know, but the mess was awful. We pressure washed everything, and immediately had a mag failure. Sent it in and Brad fixed it at no charge. Next time, I will pay more attention to the vent! Bird **** will short out things. E-Mag response went above and beyond all expectations!

Bob

[Toobuilder]

Concur with Bob....

I did some damage to my boards by using some engine degreaser and water on the engine. Apparently some of the fluid(s) got in through the vent on the unit and pooled on the board, causing some corrosion of both the board and some SMD's.

Despite my stupidity and being YEARS out of warranty, Brad took care of me.

As it turns out, my "ignition problems" were due to the use of non resistor plugs, so no fault of the ignition. The boards, though corroded, were still functional.

Emagair service is top notch.

[tim2542]

Originally Posted by Brantel

I don't speak for Bill and the EI Commander but I have done a ton of playing around with the communication protocol that the Pmag spits out and I can tell you that I don't think that information is included in the serial data output by the Pmag.
.

I have not tried it so I cant say, but like I said Brad told me you can do it and I see the instructions and the program to download under "downloads" on the web site.
Tim