TruTrak Digitrak Installation

rickmellor · #1 08-05-2006, 02:22 AM

I'm going to install a digitrak in my 7 but am not sure where to put the head unit for the thing. The problem is that I'm using a sweet panel I got from Laird Owens and the two sub-panels on the right are angled towards the pilot. I'm concerned that the digitrak will not function properly if I install it other than perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Do you guys know if this will work or do I need to install it on a flat portion of the panel?

Currently the layout is something like this:

13brv3 · #2 08-05-2006, 09:59 AM

Hi Rick,

The unit does have a magnetometer for backup heading info when a GPS isn't available, and they have a calibration routine that you fly through to determine the error correction needed. I'm not sure how much correction can be made though. I would measure the amount of angle on the subpanel, and contact Trutrak to find out if that can be corrected.

Good luck,
Rusty

KPmarc · #3 08-05-2006, 10:26 AM

You should ask TruTrak to be sure, but I think the box needs to be aligned with the aircraft centerline. It has internal accelerometers to help it fly well in turbulence, and I believe they'll get "confused" if the box is mounted off axis.

--Marc

Alex D · #4 08-05-2006, 11:02 AM

Hi Rick,
The unit CAN'T be more than 10 degrees off from centerline. I personaly don't install them more than 8 degrees. I had a customer that had the same panel and we were not able to install the DFC200 in the angled portion of the panel.
Any more questions please let me know.
Alex
www.AviationTechProducts.com

rickmellor · #5 08-05-2006, 03:04 PM

Rats! I figured this was the case but wanted to check. I'll move some stuff around so it'll work out ok.

Btw Alex, you've got the cheapest prices for the Digitrak that I've seen. Darn!

Thanks for the info.

SteinAir · #6 08-05-2006, 04:17 PM

Rick,

Don't get too worried just yet. We've done a number of canted panels like yours and there are a few solutions. First, TruTrak might be able to modify the 'guts' of some units to enable it to handle the canted portion (they can't do this on all of their AP's, but are able to on some). Second, you could just create a really small wedge to perhaps install the actuall digitrak control head a few degrees back towards straight (not all the way, just enough to get it within specs), and last you might no have to do anything. Lay your panel down on a bench, take a smart level and reference the canted portion to the flat portion and see how many degrees your panel is canted...you might just be ok. You also might be able to play with the location of things on the panel to see if you can't find a different place for it.

Hope that helps!

Cheers,
Stein.

P.S., Alex's prices on AP's are the same as most of us....we all follow the same MAP pricing policy, so nobody is significantly cheaper

rickmellor · #7 08-06-2006, 01:24 AM

Stein,

Thanks for the tips. Right now I've managed to move some stuff around so that the AP is on the flat portion. When I actually get the AP I'll look into it more closely. However, the thought of sending it back to TruTrak scares me a bit. I ordered it six weeks ago and they can't give me an ETA. It's a bit of a bummer because I want to close my wing. I need to adjust myself to this low volume, long lead time stuff. At my company we build more units in manufacturing qualification builds than these guys do in years.

About the prices ... I should have said what I was really thinking ... that I paid too much!

I bought my DigiTrak from AS for a few $$$ more. C'est la vie, but I'll be sure to check around better next time.

-Rick

Alex D · #8 08-06-2006, 06:06 AM

Rick,
the Digitrak 3 1/8 is available. Regarding the 2 1/4 Digitrak, Trutrak is waiting for parts. You are not the only one waiting for the 2 1/4 if that makes you feel any better.
Regarding closing the wing, I would call your dealer and ask them to ship the servo and bracket a head of time, that way you are not delayed. Trutrak does it all the time.

Cheers
Alex

SteinAir · #9 08-07-2006, 12:10 AM

Rick, Call me tomorrow....I may have one in stock that you can "borrow"...may not be a digitrak, perhaps a pictorial pilot (same hole-same wiring), but I usually have at least one or two of each AP sitting around for various panel builds, demos, or my own plane. Sometimes we can help out if you're in a pinch.

Regarding the low volume high lead time stuff, you are partially correct but in the world of GA and Autopilots...TruTrak produces more in a given week than most of the other guys will in many, many months. You might be surprised to know that TruTrak doesn't built one or two per day, but dozens of units/servos...still not a lot in the world of high volume manufacturing, but in the world where there are only around 600,000 potential customers period, it's not too shabby

I know they are getting better and getting farther caught up, so perhaps by this fall we'll see the lead times dissapear (I hope). Right now it seems every mfgr in this business is WAYYY behind what they'd like to be. It irks me too, because my business in part depends on deliveries (my own included), and exceptionally long lead times hurt cash flow no matter how you slice it.

Hold tight, it'll be worth the wait! I fly behing one and love it in my -6.

Cheers,
Stein.

RV6's Flying,
RV7 Fuse - Finish kit ordered last week

alpinelakespilot2000 · #10 08-07-2006, 10:53 AM

Rick-
Your panel looks fantastic! What program did you use to lay it out (and save it).

FWIW, if you do need to put the digitrak on a flat part of your panel, my vote would be to move the air vents down below the forward canopy deck and use that space you free up on the left side for the small digitrack. That way you could essentially keep your panel as is.

Again, looks great.