Insight Strikefinder won't slave

[MikeOH]

I have an Insight Strikefinder that has always worked well, but has never slaved to my electric compass.  That is, when I turn the aircraft I have to clear the Strikefinder display and wait for more strikes.  The electric compass also has its own compass card which is working properly.  IOW, both instruments work properly, but there is a problem with compass feeding the Strike finder.

I realize it's a long shot, but I'm posting in the hopes someone has had this same issue and can point me to the problem.

Thanks in advance!

[carusoam]

Hmmmmm…

I have the Strike Finder… but don’t recall where it gets it’s direction info from….

 

Let’s see where the pre-flown avionics guy is… and ask him….  @Alan Fox (Strike Finder heading source question)

Best regards,

-a-

[MikeOH]

1 hour ago, carusoam said:

Hmmmmm…

I have the Strike Finder… but don’t recall where it gets it’s direction info from….

 

Let’s see where the pre-flown avionics guy is… and ask him….  @Alan Fox (Strike Finder heading source question)

Best regards,

-a-

Be aware that the Strikefinder is available with and without 'slaving' ability.  And, Insight now offers a 'high tech' heading source with a 'solid state' gyro.  Mine is ancient and relies on an external magnetometer.

[carusoam]

Just now, MikeOH said:

Be aware that the Strikefinder is available with and without 'slaving' ability.  And, Insight now offers a 'high tech' heading source with a 'solid state' gyro.  Mine is ancient and relies on an external magnetometer.

Mine is slaved probably to the BK magnetometer out in the wing…. Probably connected by a wire going to the HSI a few inches away…

Any chances you have a wiring diagram, and access to back of the Strike Finder?

The back of my panel is the home of a million white wires all numbered perfectly….  For somebody with that skill…. 
 

Best regards,

-a-

[MikeOH]

3 minutes ago, carusoam said:

Mine is slaved probably to the BK magnetometer out in the wing…. Probably connected by a wire going to the HSI a few inches away…

Any chances you have a wiring diagram, and access to back of the Strike Finder?

The back of my panel is the home of a million white wires all numbered perfectly….  For somebody with that skill…. 
 

Best regards,

-a-

Yes, I have a wiring diagram (and, I'm an experienced EE), and my panel is the home to a couple of million white wires...not all labelled perfectly!  I have both the experience to troubleshoot this, AND the experience to know that is the HARD way to fix this.  A much easier way is to hope someone has seen the problem before and knows the solution; hence my post.

[carusoam]

This is why we always remember to invite Alan to the party….

He comes with gobs of experience, and he often shares it on MS…

Best regards,

-a-

[LANCECASPER]

17 hours ago, MikeOH said:

I have an Insight Strikefinder that has always worked well, but has never slaved to my electric compass.  That is, when I turn the aircraft I have to clear the Strikefinder display and wait for more strikes.  The electric compass also has its own compass card which is working properly.  IOW, both instruments work properly, but there is a problem with compass feeding the Strike finder.

I realize it's a long shot, but I'm posting in the hopes someone has had this same issue and can point me to the problem.

Thanks in advance!

If I remember correctly, the only way that a Stormscope could be slaved is if the King HSI had the Bootstrap output option (-07 suffix on the KI-525 indicator). Not sure about Insight Strikefinders, but I see that they now have an internal option for heading stabilization, without the need for another heading source.

[Fly Boomer]

Notes I took long ago.  Not vouching for accuracy:

WX-1000 vs WX-1000+
by L-3, Goodrich, etc.

display and antenna are the same

WX-1000  processor p/n is 78-8060-5790-3
WX-1000+ processor p/n is 78-8051-9160-4

WX-1000 processor has an expansion slot that allows upgrade to a WX-1000+

When provided with an external heading source, such as a King KCS-55/55A system, the WX-1000+ will keep the display oriented to the current aircraft heading during turns.
 

EDIT:  Perhaps a similar technicality with Insight?

 

[philiplane]

Strikefinders can use heading from a KCS55 compass system, or any HSI or compass system 26 VAC 400 hz XYZ synchro output. 

For installations with synchro heading systems, check the 400 Hz excitation level to be 26

Volts RMS, and the X & Y outputs to be in the 0-11.8 Volts (RMS) range (actual value is heading

dependent). In some systems the excitation may be normally lower than 26 Volts AC. The

Strike Finder will work with excitation levels as low as 10 Volts AC. If the excitation level is too

low, the Strike Finder will just ignore the heading source.

[MikeOH]

@philiplane

Thank you for your detailed response!  I have suspected that a low synchro drive may be the issue, but was hoping not to have to dive in with a 'scope under the panel!  But, it's looking like that's what it's going to come to.  UGH!  I don't have any info on the magnetometer/slaved compass system, but the compass is happy with the output as it performs properly.  Maybe it's just a broken harness wire to the Strikefinder... I can hope