GFC 500 ESP enable/disable switch

[PT20J]

Has anyone installed one?

[Ragsf15e]

No, but have taught in cirrus where it was turned off through the mfd.  we turned it off for steep turns, slow flight, stalls, etc.  you can also hold down the disconnect switch.  Personally I didn’t think it was necessary to have a switch. There weren’t that many times to turn it off and the menu/mfd was easy to get to.

[Davidv]

I was watching one of one the Flight Chops videos on YouTube and saw where he’s installing it in his new RV-14 build.  I don’t know how responsive he is on emails but you may try him with any questions.

Rather than add a switch I just changed the parameters in the setup screen (such as changing the bank angle from 45 to 60).  I suppose you could disable there too prior to a flight if you really wanted to and the turn it back on after.

[Warren]

It is really easy to simply disable it on a per flight basis through the software.  Realistically, how often will these limits be an issue -- commercial maneuvers, aerobatic planes,...

However, I am sure your avionics shop would be happy to wire in the switch if you wanted it.  It just seems a risk that it gets left in the off position and on the next flight you no longer have ESP which is a really nice safety feature.

[PT20J]

Garmin support finally got back to me. This option does not exist. The G3X Touch certificated manual appears to have been created from the experimental manual and this isn't the first carryover that I've found that incorrectly describes the certificated product.

Too bad. It would have been nice to flip a switch (as opposed to going through the menus) for flights where steep turns, wingovers and stalls are the objective.

Skip

[V1VRV2]

ESP can be disabled through the menu on a GI275 and possibly a G500/600. 

[PT20J]

14 minutes ago, V1VRV2 said:

ESP can be disabled through the menu on a GI275 and possibly a G500/600. 

In a G3X/G5 setup, it can be disabled via the G3X or G5 menus. I just prefer discrete controls.  

[kortopates]

Personally I just wish they had support for a CWS yoke switch like the BK AP's - a quick change of pitch with the CWS button was extremely useful. 

[PT20J]

20 minutes ago, kortopates said:

Personally I just wish they had support for a CWS yoke switch like the BK AP's - a quick change of pitch with the CWS button was extremely useful. 

I also liked CWS when I had the plane with the KFC 200. One press would activate the flight director and I used CWS with the autopilot engaged all the time to initiate climbs and descents.

I’m pretty sure the reason Garmin eliminated it is that the experimental guys designed it to use the disconnect button. On the experimental version, holding  the red button down disconnects the servos so you can fly manually while you turn the autopilot off should it do something untoward. But if you don’t turn the autopilot off, it will sync to the current attitude when you release the button. 

On the certificated version, I think they probably needed the button to turn off the autopilot when pressed. All the connector pins on GFC 507 and the GSA 28 servos appear to be assigned, so I don’t think they could add a separate CWS button.

Skip

[donkaye]

On 7/16/2021 at 5:19 AM, Davidv said:

I was watching one of one the Flight Chops videos on YouTube and saw where he’s installing it in his new RV-14 build.  I don’t know how responsive he is on emails but you may try him with any questions.

Rather than add a switch I just changed the parameters in the setup screen (such as changing the bank angle from 45 to 60).  I suppose you could disable there too prior to a flight if you really wanted to and the turn it back on after.

You had better hope Garmin isn't monitoring this site.  For a certified system you cannot make changes to the STC.  Before I knew that, Garmin was monitoring this site and I got blasted by them for changing something in the setup to minimize a porpoise I had.  Until you change it back, while I'm not an insurance person, there's is a good chance you don't have insurance on your plane because you are operating it outside of an airworthiness STC (Assuming you did it to you Bravo).

[donkaye]

2 hours ago, V1VRV2 said:

ESP can be disabled through the menu on a GI275 and possibly a G500/600. 

It can't be disabled on the G500/G600.

[PT20J]

1 hour ago, donkaye said:

It can't be disabled on the G500/G600.

It has to be disabled on whatever display has the GFC 500 software: G3X, G5 or GI 275.