Avionics Upgrade - GPS In-Panel

[Chris White ex-N205KD]

Thanks, Brandon!

We've got all of this done, except for 5d.

Quote: eaglebkh

Chris,

Here's a basic test plan that I derived from a few that I've seen before. There are some parts that don't pertain to the Aspen because it's an overal test of the A/P, GPS, and Aspen.

Enjoy!

 

Acceptance Test Plan

1. Check agreement between the EFIS and the round gauges

a. Airspeed

b. Altitude

c. Vertical Speed

d. Turn Coordinator

e. Attitude

2. Test the HSI and each of the RMI’s using the GPS and NAV (simultaneously)

a. HSI with GPS and RMI with NAV

b. HSI with NAV and RMI with GPS

3. Verify the display of the basemap and flight-plan on the EFIS

4. Re-peat steps 1-3 using the back-up battery (reversion mode)

5. Have the autopilot track a GPS flight plan

a. Turn anticipation

b. Check identification of source and name/freq on the HSI and each RMI

c. Left or right offset (0.5nm)

d. Test the EFIS GPS by turning off the 300XL before/after IAF and FAF

6. Verify that the GPS is in the “ARM” mode at 30nm from destination and in the “APR” mode within 2nm of FAF.

7. Have the autopilot hold a heading, and alter the heading to ensure smooth

turns without excessive banking.

8. Engage the Altitude Hold and test sensitivity to trim

9. Have the autopilot track a VOR radial, both inbound and outbound

a. Check identification of source and name/freq on the HSI and each RMI

10. Have the autopilot fly a GPS approach

11. Have the autopilot couple to an ILS; test backcourse ability as well

[Seth]

I've got the vintage panel so I have realized that it may be hard to put an Aspen in.  Also, concerning cost measures, I'll probably end up with a 430w or 530w and down the road reconsider avionics when the time is right.  I'm also considering an engine monitor at some point as I have a very simple digital temperature gauge right now for one of the cylinders (frankly, I'm not sure which one). 

I do have the 496 portable - does anyone else have a 496 and 430 or a 496 and 530 where the two Garmin units talk with each other?  What is your experience with these setups.

Also, is the Arc View discussed earlier on the 530 the same as the 496 view?

Last but not least - TCAS - I know that there is a way to have a TCAS function on the 496.  Does anyone have this?  What is involved?

 

[The-sky-captain]

I have a 496 and a 430w but they do not talk to each other. I had the 496 before I bought my Mooney and continue to use it for wx and terrain. I am about halfway through my instrument training and the 430 has really came in handy flying DME's and holding patterns. If you get the 430 make sure you take the time and get to know it front and back (I have the manuel on my nightstand:). There is a ton of useful info that it provides and can make your job as PIC much easier.

[RobertoTohme]

Seth,

Your 496 talks to those Xaon traffic devices, I just don't know what kind of cable you need to get; I've seen a lot of postings on the Diamond Aviators forums about how good that combo works.   On different subject, I've been flying the Aspen unit for almost a year now, and it does great with my GNS500; it'll be a well worth investment in your panel if you decide to go that way.

[podair]

I have a vintage panel M20F with a stone age Bendix HSI (not King!) and a GPS155XL with annunciator. Everything works fine but at some point I am thinking of re doing the panel to a six pack and maybe install the Aspen. I was going to install GPSS and an electric AI but a) that's included in the Aspen don't have any more room c) all academic as I can't afford it right now. According to my avionics engineer the Bendix HSI is older than he is , so I am unlikely to have it fixed it it breaks, but on the other hand looks so robust that it might never need work done to it.

Brandon, how easy is the integration between the 155XL or 300XL you have and the Aspen? I am surprised you needed an annunciator too as I would have thought that would be included in the Aspen display or is it to drive another CDI? Congrats on a fantastic panel.

What kind of specific allowance you need to make for the Aspen when you reposition the pilot side panel?

[KSMooniac]

I have a 530W/430W combo and a 496 for WX.  This year at annual I added the Garmin power/data cable so that the 496 can run on ship power and get flight plan data from the panel mounts.  It was a relatively easy install...power and ground wires connect to the ship (at a circuit breaker and existing ground) and a third wire connects to one of the 430 multi-pin connectors to pickup up one of the RS232 outputs.  It required getting a tiny pin for that wire, and splitting the 430 connector to install that pin & wire, but not impossible.  Now any flight plan data entered on the 530W/430W is pushed downstream to the 496.  You cannot push anything from the 496 upstream to the panel mounts, though.

The 496 can also display traffic info from a GTX-330 xponder, or a Zaon box by using other wires in the Garmin cable.  I have neither, so I cannot tell you how well it works. 

[eaglebkh]

Quote: podair

Brandon, how easy is the integration between the 155XL or 300XL you have and the Aspen? I am surprised you needed an annunciator too as I would have thought that would be included in the Aspen display or is it to drive another CDI? Congrats on a fantastic panel.

What kind of specific allowance you need to make for the Aspen when you reposition the pilot side panel?

[alun]

i have the aspen coupled to a 430w.  the aspen is a brilliant piece of kit and whilst it took a bit of time to get used to - i'd really miss all the features on it now.   i have been doing the IR course only last week and the wind drift on its own is worth its weight for figuring out drifts on holds etc...

[podair]

wow Alun you must have one of the first Aspen installs in Europe then!

can't wait to meet up and have a look at it

I don't think I can afford to upgrade any of the avionics at the moment but if I do next year or so the Aspen is very high on my list. I was toying with the idea of upgrading the panel configuration to a six pack first (I have a vintage scatter panel) but if I am going to do all this work might as well wait until I upgrade some of the instruments or radios and do it all at once.

 

 

 

[eaglebkh]

Here is a shot of a vintage Mooney with the Aspen and it looks like the instrument holes were not moved up like mine - just the basic LASAR layout. It appears like the bottom part of the Aspen is right over the control rod.

I can't find any good shots of my panel opened up (too many wires in the way) so you can see the piece of subpanel that goes right above the control rod. In the installatinon below, I'm pretty sure that some of the subpanel had to be cut out.

I'd also be concerned that the yoke would interfer with the buttons on the Aspen. You would have to be careful before take-off when testing the control surfaces not to ram the yoke into the Aspen (yikes!).

 

[N207LS]

I have a 530 WAAS that interfaces with my 496 (Yoke mount), my GTX330 transponder, and my EI Fuel Flow system.  The interface is great, but like mentioned earlier the flight plan only goes from the 530 to the 496.  My traffic goes from the 330 to the 530 screen and overlays.  Finally the EI fuel flow goes to the fuel screen on the 530.  The 496 offers me XM weather, as well as XM radio and lets me use it in my boat and car.  When I purchased all of this in early 2008 this was the most affordable way to get TIS traffic (available in my local area), and fully take advantage of all of the pages on my 530.  It was also the cheapest way to get XM weather/radio to add to my stormscope.  The bottom line is this package makes for a great IFR platform.  I routinely fly my plane in hard IFR conditions and have been amazed with how much easier this is with the additions that I made.  Understand that I moved up from an Apollo SL-60 GPS, and an Apollo 360 Panel Mount VFR Moving Map GPS.  The difference in technology can only be measured in light years.

Aaron

[alun]

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[alun]

Just been trying to find a pic of my new panel.  This is all I have at the moment....

New Aspen, 430W - Gps/nav/com, SL30 - Nav/Com, 328 - Mode S,  EDM930 - engine monitor are the main additions.

Al.

[mooniac58]

I really like that EDM930!  I have some questions about it:

I want the primary so that I can replace all the current guages all over the place (MP, RPM , CHT, EGT, OilT, FuelL, FuelR, FuelPr).

Were you able to do this?  I notice in your picture that I don't see the standard stack of temp/fuel gauges.  I could have sworn I remember reading something about the EDM930 only being able to be used for fuel tank levels on experimental aircraft.  Were you able to use yours for fuel?  I know you are also in Europe so perhaps that is why?

[alun]

hi craig,

no the old fuel gauges are all out.  it is a certified replacement for all the units on the old stack.   there is a annciliary display that shows warnings and my shop inserted a strip behind the existing panel and it is in there.   its quite good as the annciliary display gives a right in your view rpm and man pressure readout which is a great improvement on the old guages.   

i fly an n-reg aircraft so don't think it is a european thing!   europe is much harded and more expensive to get anything certified so if anything would suspect it wouldn't be allowed here!

al

[PTK]

BEFORE YOU BUY THE OVERPRICED AND UNDERACHIEVING GARMINS READ THIS:

http://philip.greenspun.com/flying/garmin-gps