Mark89114

Yes I am going to leave the KEA-130 as the altitude functions for the AP work, it is just the Mode C that is causing issues, apparently this is a known "feature"....

Update on what I learned....hopefully I retransmit this all correctly. An encoding altimeter is still sending pressure altitude of 29.92 back to the transponder. The KEA-130 is expensive to repair. As I understand it is basically 2 separate altimeters, one set by the pilot and the output from that used for preselect and holding altitude, the other function is providing the transponder with an altitude. This is the function going sideways on me. The avionics shop who is local, is questioning why the shop who installed the GTX345 didn't just install a GAE-12, which is an encoding altimeter. They never offered it to me as I didn't know what I didn't know and I guess that would have driven up the price quote as a static test would have had to be done. The cost of the GAE-12 is only $275 plus a few hours for installation and a static test. @Lancecasper the local shop was not impressed with using the "gray code" wire to my GTX345, for what ever reason.

I think my issue with this altimeter (KEA-130 - whatever installed with KFC 225) has finally reached the point where I need to do something. The readout to ATC is now not working at all. My understanding is $1200 to overhaul/repair which seems steep and we all know BK is not interested in economical repairs. My thoughts were to just install a blind encoder for a couple hundred, but my internet research on other forums says this isn't a legal alternative? I can't image why. I am also unclear why if lots of people are buzzing around in airspace reading out an altimeter reading based on 29.92, why would this box transmit the exact altitude? Or is that an incorrect assumption about what this encoding altimeter does? Based on .5" setting that gives a readout difference of 500 feet between a 29.92 and aircraft sending out an encoded altitude of 30.42? ATC doesn't know where the data is coming from and therefore would have traffic/terrain warnings? I have had this problem before ADSB install, so nothing related to that. I had it looked at it years ago and they spend several hundred dollars running altitude up and down and no issues found (of course) and the problem seemed to go away but now is no longer working. Who would you recommend looks at repairing this?

I paid about $600 to have my brand new car ceramic coated. Honestly not sure if worth it. Seemed to be really good first couple of.months, but seems to have worn off quickly. I also recently clay bar'ed, compoundedd and polished wings only on my mooney. Used an off the shelf "ceramic coating " product, looked really good for a while, but i put mikeage on my plane and it gets dirty and dont have the time to polish and clean like a lot of people.

In my defense on the twisted picture.....i didnt see a button to rotate it!!! Thank you for spinning it. The 89114 is the N number of my first plane, a cessna 152 which i owned for 20 years before making an upgrade....... He is a 14 y.o. boy, not sure if he has any interest in aviation.....here he is after getting the box programmed......

Does it have any better service life than a KI-256?

Boeing has lost their leadership, they are now run by wall street types and ivy league MBA's.

I will get the measuring instructions out soon, was looking for real world experience. I would like to move it closer to line of sight and instrument scan.

I am about 100% sure i am going with a Gsrmin G5. I would like to put it where the CDI is and move it down to where standby currently is. But i am wondering about clearance issues with frame of Moritz instruments. Any thoughts?

Any feedback on D10 versus Garmin G5? Thanks for the input.

not that I am that lazy, but I am.... where have you seen them at this price? I debate about how to rationally upgrade.

My standby AI, which I believe is an RC Allen instrument is extremely slow, tumbles around a lot during startup and generally doesn't like getting started, seems to have gotten worse with the cooler weather, meaning 40's, which isn't really cold, but that is another topic. After spooled up, it works fine. I had it overhauled about 1.5 years ago by Rudy's Aircraft instruments, lasted about 3 months, pulled it again and Rudy's blamed my low/incorrect vacuum pressure(which was nonsense) and then they claimed there were metal shavings in the inlet screen, which I find doubtful as no work has been done in the 4 years I have owned the airplane. I am not interested in pulling it a 3rd time and going through the rigmarole of that. I want something new and looking at options and available now, not on some forecast release date, ala KI-300, AV-30, Dynon, etc. Mid Continent Lifesaver - seems to be a good option, but it is $4K+ Garmin G5 - I have a known ice airplane, which I guess is a sticking point, but I need this as a backup to the KI-256 Dynon D5 - any real world experience? I like the digital instruments as they will also provide some backup to the traditional 6 pack. Any other thoughts? I would like to start the transition away from vacuum pumps. Thanks, Mark

One of the manufacturers has a reputation for being a POS, as mine does the same thing occasionally. I think I have the same instrument, the overhaul shop, who will remain unmentioned, also didn’t do it right, twice. I am thinking I will go with an electric one.

What Lance said, i think they have overpriced the unit by several thousand dollars. Maybe they are trying to make up for the lack of volume by charging more?(sarcasm font) not to mention the absolute ridiculousness of taking 5 years to bring to market.

Now if we could only find the microswitch that goes in our FIKi stall warning system. That system makes this look cheap.

Anybody ever heard of this before? Seems odd to me. As long as insurance covers the note I wouldn't think they care that much. Sorry I didn't answer your question, as I have nothing to add about that.

And we just found somebody willing to buy the mooney factory.

Has anybody fooled around with this? Mine is just unreliable. When i pull on the handle you can sometimes get the light to come on, but on TO the light sometimes flickers. The door is working, just not indicating on annunciator panel. I have adjusted the "sensor" wire, you can hear the micro switch click, but no annunciation. I assume it is just the microswitch but i hate to go buy a $200 microswitch (dont get me started on the stall microswitch for TKS birds) or is this an off the shelf part? Thanks in advance.

I have TKS and 3 bladed prop. Your numbers are similar to mine. My personal opinion is TKS cost 8-9 and 3 bladed prop about 2. I posted similar question years ago and my speeds arent out of line. I run 65% LOP. I dont think the additional fuel burn and cylinder heat is worth the extra 5 knots.

My door seal looks like it has ridges on it? Also will be looking at the options soon....tired of the wind noise.

This was the issue I had, canon plug making poor contact. On the Ovation, there are 3 from the CB panel down to the electrical parts in belly. One behind the CB, which would have been a nightmare to get at, the second on the pilots side well and the third in the belly. After hours of troubleshooting, my mechanic isn’t brilliant on electrical (another story), we traced it to the canon plugs in lower sidewall. The power pin, which is always hot was intermittent. It is conceivable that one of the two pins, one for up logic, the other for down have failed.

I dont know if that is cheap or not anymore....

Generally I agree with everything you say!!! However I take exception to "not so expensive".....I think it is running about $1000 for "overhaul", which I think I think is sinfully outrageous for a mechanism that gets used a total of maybe 10 hours in use before recommended OH or outright failure. Rant over. Maybe.

I bought one based on the recommendations I have seen here. I like the unit.....I wish I could remember to turn it off but that is my issue. I leave it on the cupholders, it sorta of stays there. I get readings of zero in cruise flight, and a couple of units in climbout. On the ground with door open it is all over the place and takes some time to settle down. what are people seeing on their numbers?