Poll: Which Engine Analyzer

[scottfromiowa]

What I found when I contacted EI regarding the FP5L was that to get a primary Fuel pressure (eliminating off of Manifold pressure gauge...if I replaced) I needed to pay about $300 for a "special" primary version.  I wish I had known that BEFORE I bought my gauge.  I was thinking of going to an electric tach/manifold pressure gauge down the road...

[Ron McBride]

Yes, the fuel scan 450 is in the lower left of the panel and the EDM 700 is on the lower right side.

Ron      9154V

[carusoam]

I am partial to the brands that I have had good success with.  Call it brand loyalty.  I would stay with JPI.

What I am looking for in an engine / system analyzer

[1] High resolution.  Lots of data on one screen.

[2] Failures / out of normal range, pointed out by alarms.

[3] Fuel level, fuel flow, time/distance/fuel to airport.  Everything / anything to keep me from running out of fuel.

Since alarms will point out most urgent issues, being on the right side of the panel and not regularly scanned is not so important to me.

However, I have no plan to upgrade in the near future.

[scottfromiowa]

Just received current issue of Plane&Pilot today...Page 9 has small EI add showing what looks like the MVP, but just says Multi Function...on page 11 JPI ad for EDM960 has "functions included" and almost at bottom has L-Tank and R-Tank Fuel Quantity level...it then says: (not available on MVP_50) Just thought I would pass this on...

Not sure about EDM-930 or 830.  EDM-960 by JPI appears to be the winner for Primary functions Included thus far.

[flight2000]

Seems we've touched off a spirited conversation with this one...

I'm going to continue to do some research, but it looks like I'm leaning heavily towards the EMD-930 now.  The EMD-960 is the twin version and I don't want to go there.....yet. Ha!

If JPI can get the EMD-830 TSO'd before the end of the year, I may switch and go with the smaller, more cost effective unit. Either way, I really need to get an engine analyzer in the panel, no matter what the brand.  I need more than what I've got now.

Thanks for all of the input so far.  It's been a fun read first thing in the morning...

Brian

[scottfromiowa]

Hey Brian:  Just throwing this out...others input welcome...What about going with the individual EI fuel indicator?  It is combined like your existing oil pressure/temp?  Then go with a smaller multi-probe that is certified (primary) for Cylinder head temp/Exhaust Temp?  I believe I am going to go this route...and ultimately replace my GEM with the new unit that is plug and play and certified for cylinder temp. (will then have digital/mapping/redundancy) I am going to also get the certified version (return my fuel flow) that has fuel pressure...so I can switch out my Manifold pressure and RPM down the road with EI units...The EDM-960 is like $13AMU's!!!!  AHHHHhhh!  It's awesome, but Dang...

[flight2000]

Quote: scottfromiowa

The EDM-960 is like $13AMU's!!!!  AHHHHhhh!  It's awesome, but Dang...

[scottfromiowa]

Homer Simpson...DOH!!!!

[scottfromiowa]

$5,000 for 930 sounds a LOT BETTER!

[DaV8or]

My concern about the 930 and the EI system like it is, you have all your eggs in one basket. If you loose power to the unit, or the display craps out for some reason, you loose everything. At least with the old factory set up, you can have individual failures, but still have plenty of info to fly with. I'm not saying that having a 930 fail in flight would constitute an emergency, but it would ground your plane and probably result in significant down time. If something other than just a wire falling off occurs, then it probably means yanking the unit from the panel, boxing it up and shipping it back to the manufacturer.

Would good to know what the failure rate and reliablility record on these units are so far.

[KSMooniac]

Dave, that used to be my fear as well, but I think if any of these monitors were regularly failing in the field we would have heard about it, and to my knowledge, they just aren't.  I remember dreaming back in the 90s about kitplanes and I liked the suite of EI individual instruments, and I really disliked the Vision Micro all-in-one thing with the awful-looking LCD screen (IMO) and potential single-point-of-failure.  The market of course has great expanded in the last 15-20 years and I would not hesitate for a second to ditch my OEM gauges in favor of an MVP-50, EDM-930 (or -830 if available), AuRacle, etc.

My EDM-700 has been great, although it had a couple of display segments failing when I bought the plane.  The unit was a few months inside of the 3-yr warranty and they replaced the display for me for free.  It has been flawless for 3+ years for me now.

[GXPD]

I have the MVP-50 installed in my M20e.  Totally happy with it.  EI has provided great service when I needed it.  The fuel level module is not included with the basic primary package but is an option.  Price was less than $100 for the RFLM.  After hookup and calibration I find that my fuel level readings are within a gallon of the fuel flow calculated remaining volumes.  On fill-up the fuel used numbers are bang on so any error is coming from the existing wing probes. The small error is an order of magnitude less than what I would have had on the old Garwins.

All in all, for the accuracy of measurement and the redundancy of having two source for determining fuel remaining, I would take the EI over the unreliable Garwin any day.

As for the EI being primary see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIhLZgk2pJY.  They don't say specifically, but I would assume that any indication on the EI could be considered primary.  When EI says that fuel level is not primary on the their STC worksheet I would guess they mean that it is not one of the transducers included in the base package. A quick phone call to EI should clear up the question. 

[flyby201]

I have an EDM-700 with fuel flow.  I am very happy with it and would also like to have the 930 if cost wasn't a factor (it is).  Once I got the fuel flow calibrated, I rely on it more than the "crappy" stock fuel gages.  On a 3 to 4 hour trip I can top off on departure, top off 3 to 4 hours later and the EDM "fuel used" is within a half a gallon of actual fuel used. 

[danb35]

Quote: GXPD

As for the EI being primary see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIhLZgk2pJY.  They don't say specifically, but I would assume that any indication on the EI could be considered primary.

[scottfromiowa]

Thanks for clarifying that Dan.  The MVP and 930 seem like VERY NICE units!