Noel Simmons
Well Known Member
Being a new commer to VAF I posted this on the TEST section, but I think it more fitting here.
Hello everyone,
I have been toiling in the shop on an RV-7 with the Mattituck TMX IOF-360. Some people have asked me to post here on VAF my experiences with the installation of the FADEC. This is part 1 of 2
First impressions: WOW!!!!! The connectors are idiot proof, the wire harness just about fits perfectly as it comes, each and every end is labeled very clearly. And most impressively, It works most impressively!!! But read on there are some ?got yah s ? and I wish I would haves the fist time?s, and some basic *$#%#&#*#(#@) now what?s. Yes my next RV will have the FADEC, and using what I am telling you now it will be much easier.
One major note about Mattituck and Aerosance. These are real professionals that work together with the up most professionalism. I did have a problem on the first flight. Cylinders2 and 4 would drop off line below 54% power. The CHT would climb above my personal feel good limits above 62% power so I felt that I only had an 8% margin between flying and landing. Both Jabe from Aerosance and Mahlon Russell from Mattituck came to my shop and worked until midnight the first day and noon on the second day. Each had traveling orders to not come back until it was fixed. This is why I deal only with exceptional companies like Aerosance and Mattituck!
This is not my first RV, but it still is a very nice example. Here is a general overview of the project. RV-7, TMX IOF-360, three screen GRT EFIS, 430W, SL-30, GTX330, Mountain High Oxygen, Aero Classics leather interior with heated seats, center consol, BSA plenum, Duel electrical system, Light speed wheel pants, Grove BIG brakes.
To stat out: Let me tell you why the FADEC is worth the extra mile during construction. I did not full understand just how great of a system this was until I got well into the flying. Now I fly and let the FADEC do everything else.
? Start is easy!
o Primary FADEC, on
o Right and LEFT ECU (A&B), on
o Fuel pump, AUTO
o Throttle cracked open
o Push start button until start (usually 3 revolutions)
? Engine performance is referred to by % of Power
o RPM / manifold PSI are all factors of % of power
What I am saying that with in reason RPM and/or MAP doesn?t matter just set the RPM to the noise you want and the throttle to the airspeed you want. Enjoy!
o Take off full RPM and full throttle
FADEC takes care of the engine
FADEC leans for best power
FADEC keeps CHT below 450 deg.
? Sounds like a lot YES but that is what it is designed for!! YES the CHT comes down! YES the CHT will never become uncontrolled. The FADEC will manage the engine to peek performance.
o Cruse is done were you set the % of power
70% OK
75% OK
90% OK
94% OK
Get the idea it doesn?t mater, the FADEC manages the engine so you can just enjoy flying.
? At 6500 feet, temp greater than 85 deg I can only pull 72% power. I get a True airspeed of 178 knots at a fuel flow of 12.4 gallons per hour. Not to shabby!
? Decent is a breeze too, the FADEC keeps the CHT up so shock cooling is another thing of the past. Yes I think if you chopped the throttle closed you might, but do try to be a little further ahead of the aircraft than that.
ORDERING
Ordering is done though Mattituck, 1 877-777-1870, talk to Michael Yousik, using this advice you will know what system you want and what parts are coming from Mattituck and what parts you need to order directly from Aerosance.
1. Know exactly how your electrical system will be configured and tell Mattituck and Aerosance.
a. Your basic choices are as follows, good to adequate
i. Duel alternators with duel batteries
1. three switch on the panel A buss, B buss, interconnect
ii. Single alternator with Aerosance back up battery
1. Just a normal Master switch, the back up battery is waiting in the back ground for something to do.
iii. Single alternator with single battery
1. Not a good idea, if for any reason the main power source goes out you will wish you had another.
2. The first choice is the best, there are different blind boxes that go behind the panel. There are also two lights you MUST supply. FADEC warn FADEC caution. This is the cheapest system because you don?t have to buy Aerosance?s battery and box to maintain it.
3. Choice number two is good to, this is the choice Mattituck will send you if you don?t specify you have the duel alternators and duel batteries. This system requires a ?FADEC warn enunciator panel? that takes up a little real estate on the panel. Note there is only a horizontal model even though the Aerosance web site has a vertical model.
4. You can run the FADEC with ether a constant speed prop of a fixed pitch prop. If you are using a fixed pitch prop you will have to supply one additional light to place on the panel that illuminates when you are at full throttle.
5. If you are connecting the FADEC to an EFIS you will need the serial buss converter
6. There is a data capture device you will have to mount under the panel too.
Plan on mounting three boxes under the panel, and an additional two boxes, ECU;s on the engine side of the panel. You will have two cannon plugs that need to pass though the fire wall, and TWO sources of power will also have to pass though the fire wall..
First here is a quick reference of terms used though out, and some pictures and details of my latest Simmons RV-7.
? HSA ~health Status Enunciator
o Connects on the panel side of the firewall
o Senses the flow of current from or to the back up battery
o Charges the back up battery
o Illuminates the proper lights on the horizontal light bar
? ECU ~electronic control unit
o Two in the system. Mounts on the fire wall engine side
o These make the spark plugs fire
o Reads the crank position sensor (located were your mag was)
o Activates the coils over the fuel injectors
o Two giant plugs get screwed in to these so mount them so you can get to the plugs easily.
? SBC ~Serial buss converter
o Lets the FADEC system talk to my EIS from Grand Rapids Technology
o Mounts on the panel side of the firewall
? Light bar assembly vertical not available
? Light bar assembly horizontal
o Mounts on the panel
o Connects to the HSA
? Two light HSA ~similar to the above HSA
o less complex because it does not have to keep a second battery maintained,
o Is used only with the duel buss electrical system.
o You have to supply two lights on the panel
FADEC warn
FADEC caution
Noel Simmons
A&P, CFI, builder of fine aircraft
www.blueskyaviation.net
1-406-538-6574
Hello everyone,
I have been toiling in the shop on an RV-7 with the Mattituck TMX IOF-360. Some people have asked me to post here on VAF my experiences with the installation of the FADEC. This is part 1 of 2
First impressions: WOW!!!!! The connectors are idiot proof, the wire harness just about fits perfectly as it comes, each and every end is labeled very clearly. And most impressively, It works most impressively!!! But read on there are some ?got yah s ? and I wish I would haves the fist time?s, and some basic *$#%#&#*#(#@) now what?s. Yes my next RV will have the FADEC, and using what I am telling you now it will be much easier.
One major note about Mattituck and Aerosance. These are real professionals that work together with the up most professionalism. I did have a problem on the first flight. Cylinders2 and 4 would drop off line below 54% power. The CHT would climb above my personal feel good limits above 62% power so I felt that I only had an 8% margin between flying and landing. Both Jabe from Aerosance and Mahlon Russell from Mattituck came to my shop and worked until midnight the first day and noon on the second day. Each had traveling orders to not come back until it was fixed. This is why I deal only with exceptional companies like Aerosance and Mattituck!
This is not my first RV, but it still is a very nice example. Here is a general overview of the project. RV-7, TMX IOF-360, three screen GRT EFIS, 430W, SL-30, GTX330, Mountain High Oxygen, Aero Classics leather interior with heated seats, center consol, BSA plenum, Duel electrical system, Light speed wheel pants, Grove BIG brakes.
To stat out: Let me tell you why the FADEC is worth the extra mile during construction. I did not full understand just how great of a system this was until I got well into the flying. Now I fly and let the FADEC do everything else.
? Start is easy!
o Primary FADEC, on
o Right and LEFT ECU (A&B), on
o Fuel pump, AUTO
o Throttle cracked open
o Push start button until start (usually 3 revolutions)
? Engine performance is referred to by % of Power
o RPM / manifold PSI are all factors of % of power
What I am saying that with in reason RPM and/or MAP doesn?t matter just set the RPM to the noise you want and the throttle to the airspeed you want. Enjoy!
o Take off full RPM and full throttle
FADEC takes care of the engine
FADEC leans for best power
FADEC keeps CHT below 450 deg.
? Sounds like a lot YES but that is what it is designed for!! YES the CHT comes down! YES the CHT will never become uncontrolled. The FADEC will manage the engine to peek performance.
o Cruse is done were you set the % of power
70% OK
75% OK
90% OK
94% OK
Get the idea it doesn?t mater, the FADEC manages the engine so you can just enjoy flying.
? At 6500 feet, temp greater than 85 deg I can only pull 72% power. I get a True airspeed of 178 knots at a fuel flow of 12.4 gallons per hour. Not to shabby!
? Decent is a breeze too, the FADEC keeps the CHT up so shock cooling is another thing of the past. Yes I think if you chopped the throttle closed you might, but do try to be a little further ahead of the aircraft than that.
ORDERING
Ordering is done though Mattituck, 1 877-777-1870, talk to Michael Yousik, using this advice you will know what system you want and what parts are coming from Mattituck and what parts you need to order directly from Aerosance.
1. Know exactly how your electrical system will be configured and tell Mattituck and Aerosance.
a. Your basic choices are as follows, good to adequate
i. Duel alternators with duel batteries
1. three switch on the panel A buss, B buss, interconnect
ii. Single alternator with Aerosance back up battery
1. Just a normal Master switch, the back up battery is waiting in the back ground for something to do.
iii. Single alternator with single battery
1. Not a good idea, if for any reason the main power source goes out you will wish you had another.
2. The first choice is the best, there are different blind boxes that go behind the panel. There are also two lights you MUST supply. FADEC warn FADEC caution. This is the cheapest system because you don?t have to buy Aerosance?s battery and box to maintain it.
3. Choice number two is good to, this is the choice Mattituck will send you if you don?t specify you have the duel alternators and duel batteries. This system requires a ?FADEC warn enunciator panel? that takes up a little real estate on the panel. Note there is only a horizontal model even though the Aerosance web site has a vertical model.
4. You can run the FADEC with ether a constant speed prop of a fixed pitch prop. If you are using a fixed pitch prop you will have to supply one additional light to place on the panel that illuminates when you are at full throttle.
5. If you are connecting the FADEC to an EFIS you will need the serial buss converter
6. There is a data capture device you will have to mount under the panel too.
Plan on mounting three boxes under the panel, and an additional two boxes, ECU;s on the engine side of the panel. You will have two cannon plugs that need to pass though the fire wall, and TWO sources of power will also have to pass though the fire wall..
First here is a quick reference of terms used though out, and some pictures and details of my latest Simmons RV-7.
? HSA ~health Status Enunciator
o Connects on the panel side of the firewall
o Senses the flow of current from or to the back up battery
o Charges the back up battery
o Illuminates the proper lights on the horizontal light bar
? ECU ~electronic control unit
o Two in the system. Mounts on the fire wall engine side
o These make the spark plugs fire
o Reads the crank position sensor (located were your mag was)
o Activates the coils over the fuel injectors
o Two giant plugs get screwed in to these so mount them so you can get to the plugs easily.
? SBC ~Serial buss converter
o Lets the FADEC system talk to my EIS from Grand Rapids Technology
o Mounts on the panel side of the firewall
? Light bar assembly vertical not available
? Light bar assembly horizontal
o Mounts on the panel
o Connects to the HSA
? Two light HSA ~similar to the above HSA
o less complex because it does not have to keep a second battery maintained,
o Is used only with the duel buss electrical system.
o You have to supply two lights on the panel
FADEC warn
FADEC caution
Noel Simmons
A&P, CFI, builder of fine aircraft
www.blueskyaviation.net
1-406-538-6574
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