Hi Bill, I agree with all you said there about what the alt-engine builder faces.  Which is why I the the Megasquirt may be a viable alternative.  It used to be a thing for hackers only, now it’s almost plug-N-play.  The open source group has polished the code for many engines (I saw the rotary mentioned) and there are several sources for completely packaged controllers.    It’s not just a bag of parts and a PC board nowdays.

 

I have only used it for a Chevy V8 so far but all I had to do is wire it up and it worked. 

 

As always, YMMV

Tracy

 

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

 

From: William Jepson
Sent: Thursday, February 9, 2017 1:48 PM

To: Rotary motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: SDS EFI

 

Tracy,

I have always thought that your efforts were excellent, They got projects in the air. The thing is that you, and Paul as well, need to recognize is that things like the megasquirt and many of Paul's concoctions, while workable, are not projects that the typical builder is capable of taking on. That is not a comment that is intended to be critical either. Lots of the folks doing successful kit building are good mechanics but not electrical engineers. Or engineers at all for that matter. If anything is wrong with a kit, or even a manufactured component electronically they are not equipped to troubleshoot it. I always call this, "building your own light bulbs." Yes I understand the principles. Yes I could do it. But should I take it on? I love the idea of the rotary as an alternate engine. So I am focusing on the items that I believe that I MUST build, and trying to make good selections for others that are proven and reliable. Heck even products that have an excellent record like the Motec EMS have had Paul pulling his hair out. To be able to finish my project I will be perfectly happy to run the rotary using the mechanical aircraft FI and simple electronic ignition Steve Beckham and Everett Hatch used. It works. After that refinement will be the order of the day. I just hope I can last long enough on this project to get it done. For many the task of finishing their kit is daunting, and using something proven in other areas lightens the load. I'm sure that's why 90+% of RV's are flying behind Lycomings. 

Bill Jepson

 

 

On Thu, Feb 9, 2017 at 10:14 AM, rwstracy <flyrotary@lancaironline.net> wrote:

I think there is a much more cost effective solution for the ECU than the M4.  When I first started development of the EC1/2/3, I looked at the Megasquirt controllers but the hardware and especially the software was not at a point where I felt it was good enough.  In the 20+ years since then, MUCH progress has been made and it has developed into a much more sophisticated system. It also has the benefit of being Open Source in both software and hardware so you can customize it to your hearts content.

 

I’m happy with the EC2/3s on my planes but I’m using Megasquirts on new projects (hotrods mostly).  They are dirt cheap and the tuning tools for them are way more developed than even the latest version of the EC3 too.

 

  Bobby’s idea of using two, one each for leading and trailing ignition is a good one.  I’d do that on my planes if I were starting today.

 

Tracy

 

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

 

From: Bobby J. Hughes
Sent: Thursday, February 9, 2017 12:11 PM
To: Rotary motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: SDS EFI

 

Bill,

 

I for one appreciate you (and Neil’s) continuing effort to develop a reliable gearbox. New rotary installs are done without this critical piece of hardware. I like Ross’s systems and dual controller philosophy as well.  Each controller has an separate CAS and each controller actively fires a set of plugs. In our case A controller would fire leading and B controller would fire trailing. Injector can be fired from either controller with a selection switch like Tracy’s. If not for Tracy EC3 I would be bugging him for an alternative. The Motec M4 has the ability to program the location of the CAS. Crip Function I believe. This opens up the possibility for dual M4’s utilizing Ross’s dual controller philosophy and possibly is injector relay box. Each M4 runs about $2000 but I do see some used ones on eBay for less than $1000.  – Ouch!

 

Keep us posted on the P-port and PSRU development.

 

Bobby

 

From: Rotary motors in aircraft [mailto:flyrotary@ lancaironline.net]
Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2017 10:36 AM
To: Rotary motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: SDS EFI

 

Richard,

Ross and I specifically talked about running the rotary. I really like Ross' system and I would like to run it. In the past he had a system dedicated to the 2 rotor. It is very much like a 4 cylinder piston system. If he has stopped making it that would be a shame. I don't like the Halltech units I have seen and the alternative is the Motec which is a good system but over priced compared to the SDS.

Bill

 

On Thu, Feb 9, 2017 at 5:05 AM, Richard Van Camp <flyrotary@lancaironline.net> wrote:

Bill,

Ross's system cannot be used to fueling the rotary.  He recommended the Haltech or, others for that purpose.


Rick

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