Europa-List Digest Archive

Mon 05/27/13


Total Messages Posted: 3



Today's Message Index:
----------------------
 
     1. 10:36 AM - Re: altimeter encoder problem (David Joyce)
     2. 10:40 AM - Re: Re: altimeter encoder problem (David Joyce)
     3. 02:43 PM - Re: altimeter encoder problem (Bud Yerly)
 
 
 


Message 1


  • INDEX
  • Back to Main INDEX
  • NEXT
  • Skip to NEXT Message
  • LIST
  • Reply to LIST Regarding this Message
  • SENDER
  • Reply to SENDER Regarding this Message
    Time: 10:36:42 AM PST US
    From: "David Joyce" <davidjoyce@doctors.org.uk>
    Subject: Re: altimeter encoder problem
    Bud, Today I have finally got round to removing my panel and tracing the wiring. I found a faulty connection in the middle row of the multiple small pin connector to my Blue Mountain EFIS, corresponding almost certainly to the A" pin, which activates over 6000 ft (as predicted by Mike Gregory). Having resoldered it everything now works precisely up to 10,000 ft Many thanks for your input. Regards, David On Sun, 21 Apr 2013 16:11:50 -0400 "Bud Yerly" <budyerly@msn.com> wrote: > David, > Not that I am an expert on the 328, but we have a number >flying successfully. It is pretty much a plug and play >piece of equipment. > It sounds as if your altitude encoder is separate and >not part of an EFIS. > If it is encoding properly at low altitude or sea level, >but not at altitude, then your wiring is sound, it is the >encoder. You can use your Z component of your GPS to >verify that the rest of your static system is sound in >flight. > > If the altitude encoding is in error as altitude >increases only, then it is in the encoder static pot >itself. However, to be safe, check your pitot tube for >the W34 black static port attached well and secure to the >lower pitot tube also. Any leak in the system >(especially in the wing) will cause errors with speed and >angle of attack. Of course if the W34 is missing, your >static system is hooked to a pitot source which is really >bad. > > Ameriking encoders as well as ACK are quite reliable, >but if they fail, which it sounds as if it has an >internal static leak, you will need a proper pitot static >check by a qualified avionics shop to verify. > > A crude check is to disconnect the static line from the >encoder and run it to a very light suction hand pump to >check pressure vs readout. Of course you will need the >temp and atmospheric tables also to establish the proper >QNH. For the very brave, only connect the altimeter and >encoder together with a static line and use a light duty >vacuum hand pump to increase the altitude and verify the >readout on the 328 display with the altimeter. If you >pull too much suction or leave the airspeed attached, you >will break costly equipment. So as you can see, it is >best to just go to an avionics shop and get a proper >checkout as they have the calibrated equipment to do the >job quickly and correctly... If you built your panel for >easy removal, your avionics shop will appreciate it. > > Note to all, it is prudent to have the pitot static >system verified prior to first flight, and every two >years after that by a qualified avionics shop. > Altimeters, encoders, and EFIS systems do fail. It is >best to have them checked periodically. For years, I >have simply pulled one inch of vacuum on my static system >and checked the altimeter at 1000 feet increase, and the >airspeed increases to 135 KIAS, the Vertical Speed >Indicator is checked for rate of climb and the entire >system checked that it will hold for 60 seconds. > However, at altitude, our absolute indicators may have >small leaks and lie to us. I still do my 1000 foot check >just as a security blanket, but insist on a proper >certified pitot static check prior to first flight. > > > > Best Regards, > Bud Yerly > ----- Original Message ----- > From: David Joyce<mailto:davidjoyce@doctors.org.uk> > To: europa list<mailto:europa-list@matronics.com> > Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 12:47 PM > Subject: Europa-List: altimeter encoder problem > > ><davidjoyce@doctors.org.uk<mailto:davidjoyce@doctors.org.uk>> > > > I would be grateful for any expert avionics view out >there > on the question of the likely fault in my altitude > encoding on a Garmin GTX 328 transponder. This produces > entirely sensible altitude read outs as I climb to FL60 > and then starts to show gently diminishing read outs as >I > go higher, so may be reading something like FL50 when I > get to 10,000ft. There are 10 wires connecting encoder >to > Transponder (or at least they should be connecting!). > Would you experts feel it is most likely that I have a > wiring fault or that I have a defective encoder? It has > done this since fitted new. > Regards, David Joyce G-XSDJ > > http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Europa-List<http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Europa-List> > http://www.matronics.com/contribution<http://www.matronics.com/contribution> > > >


    Message 2


  • INDEX
  • Back to Main INDEX
  • PREVIOUS
  • Skip to PREVIOUS Message
  • NEXT
  • Skip to NEXT Message
  • LIST
  • Reply to LIST Regarding this Message
  • SENDER
  • Reply to SENDER Regarding this Message
    Time: 10:40:45 AM PST US
    From: "David Joyce" <davidjoyce@doctors.org.uk>
    Subject: Re: altimeter encoder problem
    Remi, Today I have taken off my panel and traced all the wiring to find a faulty connection on the A2 wire coming out of my EFIS. Now works perfectly up to 10,000ft tested. thanks for your help. David On Mon, 22 Apr 2013 04:43:12 -0700 "Remi Guerner" <air.guerner@orange.fr> wrote: ><air.guerner@orange.fr> > > Hi David, > I propose to share with you my personal experience on >that subject : > My aircraft was originally fitted with a Garmin GTX320 >and a Terra AT3000 encoder. After a few years flying, I >started to experience altitude reporting problems. ATC >was occasionally seeing me at 6000 ft or below ground >level while I was flying at 2000 ft AMSL. I was once >wrongly accused of having busted the class A London TMA >while I was flying well below the max allowed altitude. >Then I reworked the wiring without success, then I had >the encoder tested by an avionic shop and it was found to >be ok. Then I borowed another GTX 320 from a frend for a >few flights and the system was working ok. So the culprit >was clearly the transponder which was intermittently >reporting an altitude different from the one transmitted >by the encoder. > I have since installed a mode S GTX328, keeping the >Terra encoder and it has been working fine for the last >five years. > Conclusion : in most of the cases the culprit is the >altitude encoder but it could also be the transponder >itself. > I hope that helps. > Regards > Remi >F-PGKL > > > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=399096#399096 > > > > > > > >Un/Subscription, >Forums! >Admin. > > >


    Message 3


  • INDEX
  • Back to Main INDEX
  • PREVIOUS
  • Skip to PREVIOUS Message
  • NEXT
  • Skip to NEXT Message
  • LIST
  • Reply to LIST Regarding this Message
  • SENDER
  • Reply to SENDER Regarding this Message
    Time: 02:43:31 PM PST US
    From: "Bud Yerly" <budyerly@msn.com>
    Subject: Re: altimeter encoder problem
    Way to go David. Nine times out of ten, it is a bad ground or broken pin connection. It just takes time to troubleshoot. Bud ----- Original Message ----- From: David Joyce<mailto:davidjoyce@doctors.org.uk> To: europa-list@matronics.com<mailto:europa-list@matronics.com> Sent: Monday, May 27, 2013 1:35 PM Subject: Re: Europa-List: altimeter encoder problem <davidjoyce@doctors.org.uk<mailto:davidjoyce@doctors.org.uk>> Bud, Today I have finally got round to removing my panel and tracing the wiring. I found a faulty connection in the middle row of the multiple small pin connector to my Blue Mountain EFIS, corresponding almost certainly to the A" pin, which activates over 6000 ft (as predicted by Mike Gregory). Having resoldered it everything now works precisely up to 10,000 ft Many thanks for your input. Regards, David On Sun, 21 Apr 2013 16:11:50 -0400 "Bud Yerly" <budyerly@msn.com<mailto:budyerly@msn.com>> wrote: > David, > Not that I am an expert on the 328, but we have a number >flying successfully. It is pretty much a plug and play >piece of equipment. > It sounds as if your altitude encoder is separate and >not part of an EFIS. > If it is encoding properly at low altitude or sea level, >but not at altitude, then your wiring is sound, it is the >encoder. You can use your Z component of your GPS to >verify that the rest of your static system is sound in >flight. > > If the altitude encoding is in error as altitude >increases only, then it is in the encoder static pot >itself. However, to be safe, check your pitot tube for >the W34 black static port attached well and secure to the >lower pitot tube also. Any leak in the system >(especially in the wing) will cause errors with speed and >angle of attack. Of course if the W34 is missing, your >static system is hooked to a pitot source which is really >bad. > > Ameriking encoders as well as ACK are quite reliable, >but if they fail, which it sounds as if it has an >internal static leak, you will need a proper pitot static >check by a qualified avionics shop to verify. > > A crude check is to disconnect the static line from the >encoder and run it to a very light suction hand pump to >check pressure vs readout. Of course you will need the >temp and atmospheric tables also to establish the proper >QNH. For the very brave, only connect the altimeter and >encoder together with a static line and use a light duty >vacuum hand pump to increase the altitude and verify the >readout on the 328 display with the altimeter. If you >pull too much suction or leave the airspeed attached, you >will break costly equipment. So as you can see, it is >best to just go to an avionics shop and get a proper >checkout as they have the calibrated equipment to do the >job quickly and correctly... If you built your panel for >easy removal, your avionics shop will appreciate it. > > Note to all, it is prudent to have the pitot static >system verified prior to first flight, and every two >years after that by a qualified avionics shop. > Altimeters, encoders, and EFIS systems do fail. It is >best to have them checked periodically. For years, I >have simply pulled one inch of vacuum on my static system >and checked the altimeter at 1000 feet increase, and the >airspeed increases to 135 KIAS, the Vertical Speed >Indicator is checked for rate of climb and the entire >system checked that it will hold for 60 seconds. > However, at altitude, our absolute indicators may have >small leaks and lie to us. I still do my 1000 foot check >just as a security blanket, but insist on a proper >certified pitot static check prior to first flight. > > > > Best Regards, > Bud Yerly > ----- Original Message ----- > From: David Joyce<mailto:davidjoyce@doctors.org.uk<mailto:davidjoyce@doctors.org.uk>> > To: europa list<mailto:europa-list@matronics.com<mailto:europa-list@matronics.com>> > Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 12:47 PM > Subject: Europa-List: altimeter encoder problem > > ><davidjoyce@doctors.org.uk<mailto:davidjoyce@doctors.org.uk<mailto:david joyce@doctors.org.uk%3Cmailto:davidjoyce@doctors.org.uk>>> > > > I would be grateful for any expert avionics view out >there > on the question of the likely fault in my altitude > encoding on a Garmin GTX 328 transponder. This produces > entirely sensible altitude read outs as I climb to FL60 > and then starts to show gently diminishing read outs as >I > go higher, so may be reading something like FL50 when I > get to 10,000ft. There are 10 wires connecting encoder >to > Transponder (or at least they should be connecting!). > Would you experts feel it is most likely that I have a > wiring fault or that I have a defective encoder? It has > done this since fitted new. > Regards, David Joyce G-XSDJ > > http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Europa-List<http://www.matronics.com/N avigator?Europa-List<http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Europa-List<http: //www.matronics.com/Navigator?Europa-List>> > http://www.matronics.com/contribution<http://www.matronics.com/contributi on<http://www.matronics.com/contribution%3Chttp://www.matronics.com/contr ibution>> > > > http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Europa-List<http://www.matronics.com/N avigator?Europa-List> http://www.matronics.com/contribution<http://www.matronics.com/contributi on>




    Other Matronics Email List Services

  • Post A New Message
  •   europa-list@matronics.com
  • UN/SUBSCRIBE
  •   http://www.matronics.com/subscription
  • List FAQ
  •   http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Europa-List.htm
  • Web Forum Interface To Lists
  •   http://forums.matronics.com
  • Matronics List Wiki
  •   http://wiki.matronics.com
  • 7-Day List Browse
  •   http://www.matronics.com/browse/europa-list
  • Browse Europa-List Digests
  •   http://www.matronics.com/digest/europa-list
  • Browse Other Lists
  •   http://www.matronics.com/browse
  • Live Online Chat!
  •   http://www.matronics.com/chat
  • Archive Downloading
  •   http://www.matronics.com/archives
  • Photo Share
  •   http://www.matronics.com/photoshare
  • Other Email Lists
  •   http://www.matronics.com/emaillists
  • Contributions
  •   http://www.matronics.com/contribution

    These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.

    -- Please support this service by making your Contribution today! --