Mailing List lml@lancaironline.net Message #48911
From: Gary Edwards <gary21sn@hotmail.com>
Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net>
Subject: Re: Fuel transfer, wing to header tank
Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2008 02:15:46 -0400
To: <lml@lancaironline.net>
Terrence,
 
My PPA setup does not include the high/low header tank warning system, as I already have a triple redundancy header tank high/low warning fuel system when I built the plane.  So I cannot help you on that aspect of your installation.  It is good that the controller is working ok with the wing tank pumps.  The following is a little history with the issues I had with the original PPA fuel controller installation. 
 
As noted in my original post (partially listed below)  I had to replace the original Facet wing tank pumps (1987) that came with the kit, as the PPA fuel controller would not sense the change in the pumps when the tanks were dry and shut off the pumps.  With the new pumps (installed about year 2001) the PPA controller system works fine.  At the time of the pump issue, Dennis at PPA requested my old original pumps, as they wanted to dissect them to determine what the issue was with them.  I gladly sent the pumps to them.  They never responded to my subsequent calls and e-mails asking about the outcome of the pump investigation.
 
Now, fast forward a few years, to the present.  Read the PPA web site and you will see that PPA does not make the same type of fuel controller anymore as Facet changed the inner workings of their pumps on their new units, so the PPA controller now does not work in conjunction with the Facet pumps to shut them off when the tanks are dry.
 
Your wing tank pumps must be middle age and not really old, or too new for the controller to not work properly.  I have not seen or compared the new type Facet pump to determine if there is a visual difference between their new style and the style I have in operation. 
 
Gary Edwards  
I'm testing my PPA fuel transfer setup, and having a problem with the sensors -- they do not shut off the Facets when the header fuel level covers the high sensor.
My sensors are mounted inside an access plate tube that extends up from the bottom of the header tank, so they  point upward, and the high sensor is about 3/4" from the top of the tank. 
Is that enough fuel coverage of the sensor point?  Dennis tested the sensors themselves and said they were ok. PPA can't test the K-controllers any more ....
Also, the controller does shut off the Facets as they run a wing tank dry.
Any comments on the optical sensors?
 
Thanks,
Terrence L235/320 N211AL
>>>It is noted that the original Facet pumps that came with the kit transferred fuel at different rates.  I replaced them when I installed the PPAvionics fuel controller at a later date as the controller would not sense the change in the pumps when the tanks were dry.
 
Gary Edwards
LNC2
Medford, Oregon
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