VM1000 Sensor Compatibility
Eric,
I am not an expert on the current production engine management systems, but it is my belief that there is a high level of customization available to the owner/operator on the types of sensors that the modern boxes can use. The VMS products use fairly conventional sensors, type K EGTs, type J CHTs, millivolt pressure sensors, thermistors for temperatures, and hall effect or direct pulse (elec ign) sensing for RPM ... I am thinking that units like the JPI EDM 900, Dynon EMS and Skyview, EI MVP 50 series, Advance Flight Systems AFS series, and others can be user programmed to accept most if not all of the original VMS sensor inputs.
Yes the new units have a lot of bells and whistles the trusty old VMS products did not have, but in the 80s and 90s, the VM1000 and EPI-800 was the cutting edge in engine management and a highly innovative use of scaled computer processor technology of the time. User friendliness has certainly evolved exponentially since the first EPI-800 boxes came out in 1986-87 timeframe, I believe many of the modern features can tie their lineage back to the original work of Lance Turk and company with VMS.
All the best,
Reggie