Cluster Gauge Replacement: Part II

[Conrad]

So a while back I mentioned that I was ripping out my cluster gauges. The work has now been done, and since I think this panel configuration is unique, I'm sharing. Just kidding, I'm sharing because who can resist sharing pictures of avionics that just put a sizable dent in the bank account.

Anyway, I rationalized the upgrade because clusters are no longer produced, and can't be overhauled. Only a few places (1 or 2?) still do on-condition repairs, and there are a limited stock of spare parts.

HIstory: Originally EI produced and marketed the CGR 30P, with the idea that it would allow an owner to add an engine monitor while consolidating two 3-1/8's instruments -- RPM and MP -- into one. Then in the freed up instrument hole, they made a modified version of the same instrument, the CGR 30C, which would replace other engine instrumentation.

At some point (recentlyish, so I understand), EI added the ability for the 30C to display RPM and MP readings (like the 30P) for those wishing to do the same instrument consolidation maneuver. What became possible at that time was doing a single instrument swap out, which is what I have done. This is not advertised, and I even had to go so far as modifying their configuration worksheets by hand to illustrate what I wanted, after the sales people confirmed with engineering that it was possible. The result is illustrated below, and I'm very happy with it!

To fill out the rest of the panel I plan to fill the empty hole with plexiglas, painted black on the back side, and use the spot for a suction RAM mount for my tablet with sectionals and eventually traffic.

Here's the old and the new:

[Jim Peace]

I want to do this to my C.  I am a bit slow.....to sum up, can I replace all of my engine instruments with just this one unit? or do I have to keep the old manifold and fuel pressure?

 

[Conrad]

You can certainly replace all the engine instruments. I chose to replace the tach because I can keep the tach hours on page 2, since it's they are not needed in flight. I did this to get space for a fuel flow indication. You could, however, configure in fuel pressure and manifold pressure and keep your tachometer if that was what you wanted to do.

[ArtVandelay]

That's the biggest font used for a interior placard I've ever seen on a small GA plane, I'd make it smaller and white font on black so it blends in better.

[kris_adams]

I'm getting the 30P setup in a month or so. I'm glad You like it. 

[rbridges]

1 hour ago, teejayevans said:

That's the biggest font used for a interior placard I've ever seen on a small GA plane, I'd make it smaller and white font on black so it blends in better.

dude, be nice.  have you seen what conrad looks like?

 

 

[Pictreed]

That's cool.  I'll have to replace mine soon. 

They make black plexiglass unless you needed the clear for some reason. 

Tim

[Conrad]

Hmm, I'll look into that, and maybe find a new optometrist. 

[Bryan1016]

The new EI looks great.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Raptor05121]

What does El have that unit marked at for MSRP?

[Conrad]

 

http://www.emapa.aero/Electronics-International-CGR-30C-Primary-p/cgr-30c-primary.htm

The cost is a flat rate which includes all new sensors for the unit to read from. I purchased from EMAPA (no relation to MAPA). If interested I recommend doing it before you absolutely need to. For one, you won't need to pay for expedited configuration (10% of invoice cost). You can also choose a shop that has experience and good rates.

Since my memory will get worse with time, I'm recording here in no particular order some of the mooney-specific quirks that may be useful for other people to know about when considering this install (and trying to figure out its costs). Of course I'm not a mechanic, so don't take my word only for any of this stuff.

The unit definitely cannot go in the top instrument hole. This is because the top left corner on the back side interferes with the copilot side windshield defrost fitting. On my plane there was enough slack in the lines going to the FP/MP gauge that moving it to the top location was trivial.

You can see in my pictures that two of the bolts for mounting the panel plastic had to be left out, which is because the unit is square in cross section whereas the previous FP/MP gauge was round. 

The mounting trays for the radio stack are affixed with nuts/bolts. If the bolts used are too long, they will also interfere with the larger square instrument.

Having the non-201 windshield and associated avionics access panels is going to make a big difference in installation time.

In addition to the instrument, you need to find a place for the EDC unit on the inside of the firewall. It is relatively large, and it may be difficult to find space for it. The instructions indicate that the parallel connectors, which all join on one side of the box, should be facing more or less downwards. My mechanic had to fabricate a mounting bracket, and unless you find something terribly creative to do, I'd assume that this will be part of the installation expenses. There is also a resistive fuel level module that needs to go on the firewall, but it is much smaller and easier to find space for.

I have a JPI EDM700 installed, and this led to a conflict. Actually my research here is yielding a cheaper easier method than was actually used on my plane. The factory ship's CHT probe is in two parts, a quick release adapter (looks like http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/inpages/eia101cht.php?clickkey=1199714), and the probe (looks like http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/inpages/eip101chtprobe.php?clickkey=1199714). The default probe in the package was a single piece probe which was not quick releasable. However my JPI was reading from a modified quick release, so for others that have this setup I think the cheapest option is to get the EI "Military Bayonet Type" probe, which locks into the same quick release: http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/inpages/eip101chtprobe.php?clickkey=1199714. Look first, then discuss with an EI sales rep. What my shop actually did was use a normal single piece threaded JPI probe, and a washer type EI probe under it. I like that all the JPI probes are now the same type now, but it cost an extra $100 to replace a part that wasn't broken. In any case having all the right parts to start with will accelerate installation greatly.

The instrument falls within the required 21" of the pilot's visual centerline, so the caution and warning lights are not required to be installed, though I opted to install them anyways.

The electrical shunt is located on the far right had side of the inside of the firewall. Since we didn't know the value for it that the configuration worksheet requires (number of amps for a 50mv drop), we requested a new shunt. 5A fuses were in the line between the shunt and the old gauge, and these need to be replaced with 1A fuses.

There should be a 5A circuit breaker that was used only by the cluster, and can be repurposed for use by the EDM and EDC units.

I attempted to add a fuel flow indication to the instrument, but to make a long story short this is still not done and is going to be more costly than I foresaw. The transducer is provided free, but the infamous lower cowl needs to come off to install it. An existing fuel line needs to be replaced with two shorter new segments, and new fittings are needed. My fittings needed to be ordered and tried for size before the hoses could be ordered in the correct lengths. All in all, labor intensive.

 

[carusoam]

Nice install challenge description Conrad!

Best regards,

-a-