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Date: Tue, 05 Jun 2012 08:26:20 -0400
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Subject: Pillar Point Optical Fuel Sensors
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Personally, I like the Pillar Point optical fuel sensors.  So much so that =
I even had our guys install them on the prototype Javelin Jet.  These are s=
imply economical versions of the technology that is in many bizjets today. =
 However, I cannot speak to their in-service longevity as I am not flying y=
et, and the Javelin only flew six times before we retired it.

I have them in multiple places in my Lancair 360.  They are wired into an a=
nnunciator system.

1)  Header tank low fuel sensor.  I have a capacitance fuel probe in my hea=
der tank that displys fuel quantity and also turns the fuel transfer pumps =
on and off.  However, at a somewhat lower fuel quantity (30 minutes at crui=
se power, estimated at 5 gallons) the optical fuel sensor becomes uncovered=
 and a red LO FUEL warning comes on.  This is the "no kidding, land right n=
ow" warning.  This may happen due to running out of gas, or an unnoticed fa=
ilure in my fuel transfer system, or a dead capacitance fuel probe in the h=
eader tank. =20

2)  Wing tanks empty sensor.  These are actually installed in the transfer =
line from the Facet fuel pump outlet to the header tank, immediately ajacen=
t to the fuel pump outlet.  (...then comes a T-fitting with the sensor, and=
 then comes the flexible fuel line up to the header tank...)  A ran a test =
using the Facet pump to pump water uphill.  When the inlet unported, the Fa=
cet pump definitely blew air thru the line so I know the sensor will become=
 uncovered when the wing is empty.  This goes to an amber LEFT WING EMPTY o=
r RIGHT WING EMPTY light, alerting me to turn off the transfer pump.  Other=
wise the fuel system is fully automatic with manual override.  Just like my=
 Cessna 150 -- turn it on and forget about fuel transfer, except my Cessna =
didn't have a "you're about to run out of gas, you moron!" warning. (...and=
 I remember a couple of times when I almost did...)

Pillar Point used to sell "modified" T-fittings that their optical sensor s=
crewed into.  They did this to deal with reflections internal to the fittin=
g which spoofed the sensor -- at least that's what they told me then.  I do=
 believe that they sell T-fittings now with the sensor integral to it.  Sam=
e concept, but they believe it is a superior implementation.

The reason I did this -- and I followed this logic elsewhere -- is for the =
safety of flight warning sensors (ok, safety of engine operation) to be sep=
arate from the normal instrumentation.  If my engine monitor craps out, I s=
till have the annunciator to tell me that I still have fuel and the oil pre=
ssure is non-zero.

- Rob Wolf

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<font color=3D'black' size=3D'2' face=3D'arial'>
<div>Personally, I like the Pillar Point optical fuel sensors.&nbsp; So muc=
h so that I even had our guys install them on the prototype Javelin Jet.&nb=
sp; These are simply economical versions of the technology that is in many =
bizjets today.&nbsp; However, I cannot speak to their in-service longevity =
as I am not flying yet, and the Javelin only flew six times before we retir=
ed it.</div>


<div>&nbsp;</div>


<div>I have them in multiple places in my Lancair 360.&nbsp; They are wired=
 into an annunciator system.</div>


<div>&nbsp;</div>


<div>1)&nbsp; Header tank low fuel sensor.&nbsp; I have a capacitance fuel =
probe in my header tank that displys fuel quantity and also turns the fuel =
transfer pumps on and off.&nbsp; However, at a somewhat lower fuel quantity=
 (30 minutes at cruise power, estimated at 5 gallons) the optical fuel sens=
or becomes uncovered and a red LO FUEL warning comes on.&nbsp; This is the =
"no kidding, land right now" warning.&nbsp; This may happen due to running =
out of gas, or an unnoticed failure in my fuel transfer system, or a dead c=
apacitance fuel probe in the header tank.&nbsp; </div>


<div>&nbsp;</div>


<div>2)&nbsp; Wing tanks empty sensor.&nbsp; These are actually installed i=
n the transfer line from the Facet fuel pump outlet to the header tank, imm=
ediately ajacent to the fuel pump outlet.&nbsp; (...then comes a T-fitting =
with the sensor, and then comes the flexible fuel line up to the header tan=
k...)&nbsp; A ran a test using the Facet pump to pump water uphill.&nbsp; W=
hen the inlet unported, the Facet pump definitely blew air thru the line so=
 I know the sensor will become uncovered when the wing is empty.&nbsp; This=
 goes to an amber LEFT WING EMPTY&nbsp;or RIGHT WING EMPTY&nbsp;light, aler=
ting me to turn off the transfer pump.&nbsp; Otherwise the fuel system is f=
ully automatic with manual override.&nbsp; Just like my Cessna 150 -- turn =
it on and forget about fuel transfer, except my Cessna didn't have a "you'r=
e about to run out of gas, you moron!" warning. (...and I remember a couple=
 of times when I almost did...)</div>


<div>&nbsp;</div>


<div>Pillar Point used to sell "modified" T-fittings that their optical sen=
sor screwed into.&nbsp; They did this to deal with reflections internal to =
the fitting which spoofed the sensor -- at least that's what they told me t=
hen.&nbsp; I do believe that they sell T-fittings now with the sensor integ=
ral to it.&nbsp; Same concept, but they believe it is a superior implementa=
tion.</div>


<div>&nbsp;</div>


<div>The reason I did this -- and I followed this logic elsewhere -- is for=
 the safety of flight warning sensors&nbsp;(ok, safety of engine operation)=
 to be separate from the normal instrumentation.&nbsp; If my engine monitor=
 craps out, I still have the annunciator to tell me that I still have fuel =
and the oil pressure is non-zero.</div>


<div>&nbsp;</div>


<div>- Rob Wolf</div>
</font>
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