X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com X-SpamCatcher-Score: 30 [X] Return-Path: Received: from [67.8.181.30] (account marv@lancaironline.net) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro WEBUSER 5.1.8) with HTTP id 2052546 for flyrotary@lancaironline.net; Fri, 18 May 2007 22:10:51 -0400 From: marv@lancair.net Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] Re: Frustration To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" X-Mailer: CommuniGate Pro WebUser v5.1.8 Date: Fri, 18 May 2007 22:10:51 -0400 Message-ID: In-Reply-To: References: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html;charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
Since we're on the subject of EC2's, I just thought I'd share a little tidbit with the group.  As you might remember, I was working for a long time on getting that Eagle 540 V8 running in a Lancair IVP.  We had a number of problems with the engine as it was delivered, coolant leaks, stuff like that, so had the engine completely rebuilt and blueprinted.  When we got it back we managed to blow up one of its computers which caused the entire paired ECU to stop functioning.  We have all the data for the computers, ignition maps, EFI maps, etc, etc, as well as the schematics, component requirements, and Gerber files to actually build the computers.  The owner has been trying to find someone for the past 2+ years to do that job and it's been like beating his head on the taxiway.  No joy at all.  The biggest concern that I had was that even if we manage to get the computers rebuilt and working, there is no support for them anywhere.  We can't find the guy that designed them, so we don't really know how the software works (it's all in there in machine code) and we haven't been able to get our laptops to talk with them, so even if we understood how they worked we'd be at a loss to import new maps, etc.

Long story short, I spoke with Tracy earlier in the week about using the EC2 in this airplane and he was, once again, his very informative self and we feel confident that it will most certainly do the job.  I then managed to sell the idea to the owner so my new project is to integrate an EC2 into that Lancair.  We've already got all the sensors and wiring installed, and I'm hoping that the existing sensor array will be compatible with the EC2's requirements.  Rather than rip out all the existing wiring, which is quite extensive, we've decided to build a short conversion harness that will connect to the existing computer plugs and cross us over to the EC2 plugs.  I know, that's not a great idea, as every connection makes a new failure point, but the owner doesn't want to lose the ability to go back to the original computers, as they are a true TADEC (total automatic digital etc) system (when they work)... he hasn't totally given up on them.  But convincing him to go with the EC2 actually turned out to be pretty easy, once he realized that the guy that builds it actually uses it in his own airplanes, and that there's a pretty large number of them in service already, and that service and support is a phone call away, etc, etc....  And then there's you guys as well.... what could be better? <G>

Anyway, given all that, I'm sure I'll be jumping in here with more than my fair share of questions once this project gets back underway.  I've started some of the prep work and am getting ready to be back to almost living at the airport once again... should be a fun and interesting project.

   <Marv>


"Mark Steitle" <msteitle@gmail.com> wrote:

Buly,
Have you checked to see that the EC-2 is grounded? A quick check might be
to run a jumper from the ground stud on the EC-2 to a good battery ground.
Other than that, it sounds like the EC-2 might be the problem. But I'll let
Tracy make that call.

...snip....