EI engine monitor (....whine.... moan...)

[Amelia]

I've had nothing but trouble with my EI UBG16 engine monitor. The leads keep breaking; the EI tech support guy says he's positive it's a crappy installation, but I've had five different shops work on it, and each time it  has worked fine for another hour or three, then another broken wire, often the same one. It's not obvious that any are too tight, too loose, or sloppily installed. The mechanics all just complain they've never seen such skinny wire.

So, my questions are these: Has anybody else used an EI engine monitor? Am I throwing good money after bad trying to get it to work? Should I try installing a whole new wiring harness for the darn thing, or is EI's wiring just too flimsy for a Mooney 231, and I should just bite yet another bullet and buy a JPI, and start over?

Advice?  (of course if I had unlimited funds and lots of blank panel space, I'd just buy one of those lovely displays that does everything, including replacing my still-inop fuel flow... neither of those desirable qualities fits my situation.)

Thanks- I do appreciate being able to pick brighter brains than mine.

[fantom]

I think JPI gives you a trade-in allowance for an EI, and their 830 is very sweet.

http://www.jpinstruments.com/edm_730_830.html

[N207LS]

I have the EI UBg 16, Fueld Flow analyzer, and voice annunciator.  I have had all of these for over two years and they have been trouble free.  My regular A&P is both a JPI and EI distributor and suggested the EI combo at the time, as they had factory rebates for buying the package.  I know if several other installs that he did (C182RG & Piper Saratoga) that have the same combo that I have.  To my knowlege all are working perfectly.

Aaron

[mjc]

I also have an EI UBG-16 and have had precisely one problem with it. The wire to the EGT probe on the number 1 cylinder broke at a connector a short time ago. The problem was due entirely to an installation that put stress on the wire at the connector. It pays to be very careful when routing the wires, especially on the engine side, to make sure to avoid situations where the wires may get chafed or pulled.