Electronic Ignition=STC

[banjo]

looks like electroair are getting there STC for Mooney Lycoming models next week just got an email from Michael Kobylik from

Electroair.

Should be an interesting mod, electoair claims the real advantage happens at altitude with a significant power and economy

improvement. 

[1964-M20E]

The benefits of electronic ignition are great.  Electroair claims 10 to 15% increase efficiency with their unit installed and the variable timing and longer spark are all very good things we should have in our engines.

 

The question is; is it worth about $2,600 extra plus installation when you change a magneto?  Figuring a remanufactured magneto with new harness will run about $900 plus installation for a LYC 4 cylinder and of course you pay an extra $2,000 over what our experimental aircraft brothers will pay for the same system.  I do think Electroair should be able to recoup their STC investment but that would lead us to another thread about FAA regulations and practices.

 

If you realize a 0.8GPH fuel savings you would need about 600 hours of flying at today’s prices for payback.

[Parker_Woodruff]

But it really makes sense with the loss of production of Bendix mags for the A3B6D variant.

[danb35]

I understand from the LOP gurus that advancing the timing a bit would allow us to reclaim at least some of the power that's lost going LOP (assuming fixed MP/RPM)--will this unit allow for this?  If so, that could be pretty significant...

[1964-M20E]

Quote: Parker_Woodruff

But it really makes sense with the loss of production of Bendix mags for the A3B6D variant.

[Cruiser]

We will have to see which engines are included in the STC.

I went to the CAFE Foundation website and read the reports on ignition dynamics. They tested these electronic ignitions.

The first report has all the details on how our aircraft engines produce power using MBT (maximum brake torque) it is an excellent source for those interested in understanding the science behind LOP operations.

The second report has the actaul test results comparing single electronic, dual electronic and standard magneto ignitions on a Mooney. Dan, their results would indicate that speed recovery is significant at extremely LOP settings somewhere in excess of 15 kts.

These reports are very informative if you are interested in electronic ignitions.

[Jerry 5TJ]

I'd like to see my M20C approved for automobile gas as part of the STC for electronic ignition.   Here in California where there is currently a lawsuit against the sale of 100LL such a conversion is rapidly looking more interesting.  If we compare the cost of such a conversion and STC (let's call it $10K for the O-360-A1D) and if autogas is $2 cheaper than 100LL, it will be a break-even in 500 flight hours.  That's a pretty good return on investment -- especially compared to scrapping the airplane due to no 100LL.  

[jetdriven]

Autogas will never be an aviaton fuel as it is mandated to have 10% ethanol by law, however the FAA says zero ethanol is approved for aircraft.   IF the Electroair gives us 1-2 GPH lower fuel flow or another ten knots for the same fuel flow for 2500$, I will take the first one.

[kris_adams]

I'm in too.  Seems like a no brainer.

 

[aerobat95]

So has anyone gone ahead and done this??  I am seriously looking into it.  Any PIREPS?

[1964-M20E]

No PIREP here, but I'd love to put EFII's complete electonic ignition and fuel injection on mine but FAA regs prevent it at this time.

[jbs007]

Quote: aerobat95

So has anyone gone ahead and done this??  I am seriously looking into it.  Any PIREPS?

[Skybrd]

Quote: Parker_Woodruff

But it really makes sense with the loss of production of Bendix mags for the A3B6D variant.

[Lionudakis]

If we could get them to do a group buy now, like powerflow did !

[sreid]

Quote: jbs007

Word.

[jbs007]

Quote: sreid

Word.

[carusoam]

Include the IO-550 in your conversations with the IO-360...if you can.

 

Best regards,

-a-

[sreid]

Quote: jbs007

Powerpoint.

[jbs007]

Quote: sreid

Powerpoint.

[cujet1]

Quote: banjo

looks like electroair are getting there STC for Mooney Lycoming models next week just got an email from Michael Kobylik from

Electroair.

Should be an interesting mod, electoair claims the real advantage happens at altitude with a significant power and economy

improvement.

[Piloto]

Quote: cujet1

[cujet1]

One important item that is often overlooked. An EI has a completely and totally different mode of failure. So, the addition of an EI is, I feel, a significant safety improvement, when coupled with a conventional mag. You won't find yourself with 2 magnetos, each with 500 hours total time, and each with carbon arcing inside the distributor cap. As strange as it sounds, aviation is full of examples of dual failures. Especially when both failing components have the same time, are the same part number and so on.

Please understand, I am a huge fan of EI. The overall improvement is worthwhile. Faster starts, fewer fouled plugs, more efficient operation under ideal conditions and (the big one) smoother operation.

[bd32322]

The first half of the electroair installation manual seemed to be a good read about some of the features of the system.

http://electroair.net/pdf/EIS-41000%20Installation%20Manual.pdf

[wishboneash]

Quote: jbs007

 Lol.  You Excel at humor compared to me.

[Kwixdraw]

Electro air has not gotten anything approved for the dual mag installation. I am told that it is in the works though. They have done a dual mag replacement on the B6D engine in an experimental using one EI and a modified dual mag with half blocked off and another set up adapting a single mag on the dual drive location.  I'm looking at trying to do a dual Lightspeed III installation on my J using the crank sensor. A similar setup has been EASA certificated in a helicopter using an IO-360 so that might help get an approval here.