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Message
Hi Tommy,
Thanks for the order {:>), but
A bit premature for that information, although, I am working hard at
it. I first have to find a suitable LCD the right size that can be seen
inside a brightly lit cockpit with sun light on it or at night. However,
my intention is to make the system affordable. I mean not all of us can
afford to have a couple of the latest gear boxes, a monster prop,
Tig welders, Ultralights, RVs, turbo, etc, like some folks
{:>).
This system is designed to work with the rotary
engine but should work with any electronic fuel injection system that uses the
batch fire method (all injectors fire once per rev) which 99 % of the engines
do. It requires no transducers, no connections to the fuel lines and does
not care whether you have a fuel return or returnless system. It can
be more accurate than any system using a fuel
flow transducer.
.
I also need to design and construct the board, but
that will be a piece of cake compared to the board I designed and built for the
Analog version I now fly with. I would like to have a
completed unit to take to Tracy's October flyin, but with getting my gear
box, prop and plane back together and checked out just so I can make the flyin ,
I'll be pushing to get it completed. But depending I could show up with
just a development board system to demonstrate.
Also I have to slap myself on the wrist to stop
making "improvements" with software {:>). The last one is to
preclude a pilot from "accidentally loading" more fuel into the chip than the
aircraft can carry. For instance an Rv-6 holds approx 37.5 gallons
(although Van advertises 36). I have the input feature set so that
you simply can not add more than 37 gallons. (I can easily change it and may
make it a user selectable feature - you input the type aircraft and it will
automatically know the fuel capacity - If I do that - I would
probably have a "Custom" feature for those who add additional fuel
capacity. But, once set then it be set for that aircraft. Not
impossible to change but not easy either.
In fact, if the system data shows 12
gallons remaining from the last flight and you try to load 36.9 gallons it
will refuse to accept that figure because it "knows" you will actually
have attempted to create a fuel total of 48.9 gallons which in not
allowable. It will show a screen with the error and send you back the fuel
entry screens.
So you either have to reduce the fuel
remaining (a conscious act and not a slip of the finger on the input
button) or the fuel loaded amount..
I have a low level fuel alarm quantity that I have
not yet decided whether to make user adjustable or simple set it at the
equivalent of 30 minutes of fuel to dry tanks. I am inclined to let the
user set this for themselves.
I also have a fuel notification quantity - that
could be used to provide an warning of when to switch fuel tanks. I
had considered making it so that you could actually add the fuel to either a
right or left tank - but since the system would have no way of knowing when the
pilot switched tanks (only if the pilot would indicate when) - I decided to
ditch that feature.
While subject to change these are the screens that
I have operational right now.
Set Up Screens
Select
1. Adjust Fuel Remaining
2. Add fuel
3. Adjust Fuel Alarm quantities
4. Calibration (Automatic self calibration - you
just enter the fuel quantity)
Permits user to change those quantities of fuel and
Automatically checks for allowable fuel loads
Automatically stores fuel remaining in EEPROM upon
shut down.
Operational Screens are:
1. Fuel FLow , Fuel Used
2. Fuel Remaining, Timing Remaining (at current
flow rate)
3.Engine RPM and Power
4. Air/Fuel Ratio Indication
5. Ops panel (which I expect most folks would have
on screen most of the time when flying).
with Fuel Flow , RPM and
Air/Fuel Ratio
I still need to figure a scheme that
permits its to "Know" when the injectors are "staged" or not
although so little time is spent at idle with an aircraft engine and so
little fuel consumed at idle settings this is only causes a minor error - but,
one which I would like to eliminate.
It would then also maintain its accuracy if you
shut down one pair of the injectors. This isn't a hard to do feature,
just one on the back burner while I figured out the "must-have"
features.
I do have the empty instrument cases on hand - so
it hopefully will not be too long.
Ed
Ed Anderson
RV-6A N494BW Rotary Powered
Matthews, NC
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2004 5:29
PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Fuel meter
orders..was Better hurry Ed
Hi Ed, Id like to
order one of the new 2 1/4 fuel meters. Can you advise availability and
price?
Regards!
Tommy<><
Cleaning up my software for the
EFI fuel monitor, finished the self-calibration routine and now need to find
an LCD small enough to fit in a 2 1/4" instrument case and still readable from
across the cockpit.
Ed Anderson
RV-6A N494BW Rotary
Powered
Matthews, NC
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