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Engine Monitor Recommendations

gwav8or

By gwav8or
in Vintage Mooneys (pre-J models)

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gwav8or Community Regular

gwav8or

Posted
Posted

So my bird is currently in the shop getting some new avionics.  Talking with the avionics shop, I'm thinking about going ahead and installing an engine monitor.  If i'm doing an engine monitor, I feel like I might as well go ahead and replace all the primary analog engine instruments with digital.  So, I'm looking for recommendations. 

I prefer having a single instrument, so the CGR-30P is out, unfortunately.  I also want data logging.  Looks like my only real options are the JPI 900/930 or the Garmin GI-275. 

So for those of you that have installed the JPI 900/930 or the GI-275, what was the total cost?  Which do you recommend?

My shop quoted 30-40 hours for the install.  Looks like the JPI/Garmin units will be 5k - 7k.  

201Steve Mentor

201Steve

Posted
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You can get a non primary about $3,500 or less to give you parameters you’re probably missing. EGT, CHT, Fuel Flow. It’s a place to save money if you’re looking for one. If you’re not, rock and roll with the whole shebang. 

  • Like 1
KSMooniac Grand Master

KSMooniac

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Love my EDM 900 and would choose it again over all other options on the market today. It's been solid for 8 years. It is that perfect form factor and size for any Mooney, and has the valuable normalize mode that the other options don't have.

Sent from my motorola edge plus 2023 using Tapatalk

  • Like 2
0TreeLemur Grand Master

0TreeLemur

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Another vote for the JPI.  When we sold our C that had a JPI EDM 900 and bought our J about one year ago, which came with an EI CGR30P (single), I gave it a go.   Didn't take long to really miss the JPI.  Our J now has a JPI, and we removed the MP, tach, and old gauge cluster.  Everything related to engine performance on one screen, all the time.

  • Like 1
Marc_B Mentor

Marc_B

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+1 for the EI MVP-50.  I have to say that it's much more legible than the JPI.  Easy downloads.  Great customer service and support.  I've gone though digital fuel sender install, SureFly install, and MVP display upgrade...all required support from EI and never had an issue.  Also has normalize, digital readings, lean find...

MVP.jpeg

  • Like 1
ArtVandelay Grand Master

ArtVandelay

Posted
Posted
+1 for the EI MVP-50.  I have to say that it's much more legible than the JPI.


Why are the amps zero?
What is hottest label referring to?
Oil pressure seems low, is that normal for your engine?

I don’t agree with it’s more legible, for example not much contrast in size or colors between EGTS and CHTS. And downloads are as easy as plugging in a USB drive and pushing a button, but the uncommon mini USB does require a converter to standard USB.

JPI has more data like mpg, time to empty, fuel used as calculated from fuel flow, fuel required to next waypoint, etc.
  • Like 1
Marc_B Mentor

Marc_B

Posted
Posted
6 hours ago, ArtVandelay said:

Why are the amps zero?
What is hottest label referring to?
Oil pressure seems low, is that normal for your engine?

I don’t agree with it’s more legible, for example not much contrast in size or colors between EGTS and CHTS.

Amps zero as battery is steady and not discharging/charging...I believe it shows battery ammeter discharge rather than total load on system...I see a discharge reading when switch on but prop off, and it shows charge shortly after engine start.

"H" label shown on the bar graph is showing hottest EGT and hottest CHT (values shown below bars (1294/375).  This is one graph choice, but you can choose from Normalize (increased sensitivity all bars equal when normalized and then shows deviations from that over time), also digital operating mode showing each cylinder CHT/EGT numerically, and two lean modes (ROP or LOP) that you can use to show where first/last cylinder peaks and how far ROP or LOP you are.  Typically I'm just in standard or normalized screen.

Oil pressure for me has typically ran in the 48-50 range; from what I understand it just needs to be around there to fully close the wastegate at altitude.  Normal for my engine/historically for me...

At least for me I feel that it's easier to see the information I'm looking for on the MVP vs other friends JPI that I've flown with.  YMMV.  And certainly to each his own...I think that everyone should choose equipment they feel best meets their needs.  Just wanted to throw the MVP-50 out for consideration as I've been happy with mine and have felt the support from EI is good.

  • Like 1
LANCECASPER Grand Master

LANCECASPER

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, gwav8or said:

What is everybody seeing for cost to install the JPI? Is 30-40 hours typical?


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If you can find someone to do it for that, that's a very fair price.

  • Like 2
gwav8or Community Regular

gwav8or

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4 minutes ago, LANCECASPER said:

If you can find someone to do it for that, that's a very fair price.

Yeah, the shop that is currently doing my avionics install verbally quoted 30-40 hours for install.  I'm having them send me an official quote.

I really want/need an engine monitor and have committed to doing the engine monitor next but can save a bit by doing it now along with the other avionics being installed.  

  • Like 1
KSMooniac Grand Master

KSMooniac

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40-50 hours is reasonable for a JPI 900 or 930 IMO. Best to combine with other maintenance/annual since wires need to run to the fuel senders. (Which is also a great time to upgrade those!)

Wildcard is panel integration... In my case I had a 2 1/4" JPI EDM 700 and wanted my 900 to go in the same location, so I had to get a punch to open the hole up to 3 1/8" without removing my panel. Installing a 930 or MVP 50 will require more effort and hours. Removing old instruments and making filler pieces or a completely new panel is something to consider as well.

Sent from my motorola edge plus 2023 using Tapatalk

  • Like 1
Ragsf15e Grand Master

Ragsf15e

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If the rest of your panel is garmin, use a garmin (either -275 or g3x).  I have a jpi 930 and like it a lot, but not everything integrates well with my other garmin stuff in the panel.

-275(s) may require less panel surgery than other options as they can fit an existing instrument hole if you have one available.

gwav8or Community Regular

gwav8or

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Yeah I’m waffling back and forth between the two. My only concern with the 275 is that my old (49) eyes won’t see the info as well on the 275.


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  • Like 1
gwav8or Community Regular

gwav8or

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I just put a 930 in mine,  Haven't flown it yet but, it sure is nice.
PXL_20231027_205504937.jpg.c9505fa44eff9af18029f688404cf8ad.jpg

Yeah that is pretty sweet


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TheAv8r Rising Star

TheAv8r

Posted
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I went with the JPI 930. The 900/275 really comes down to if you don't want to cut a new panel and just put it in an existing hole and/or if you're not concerned with legibility. The 930 is really sweet, I wavered back and forth between the 930 and the 900, but seeing both at SNF a few years back sold me on the 930, I found it WAY more legibile than the super tiny numbers on the 900 (trying to cram too much in there). The 930 has very high legibility, and it's so nice seeing everything cleanly laid out. If you want everything on the left side of the panel, then the 275/900 may be a better option.

Panel pic:

IMG_2617.jpeg.0606b855673efc7b2e45e6820c458f75.jpeg

  • Like 1
0TreeLemur Grand Master

0TreeLemur

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On 10/28/2023 at 2:27 PM, gwav8or said:

my old (49) eyes won’t see the info as well on the 275

First, you're not that old ;).   Second, you'll be wearing different grades of magnifying glasses in the cockpit for the rest of your life.   I have a JPI EDM900 installed to the right of the AI, and I can read it just fine.  As long as I'm wearing +1.25 readers during the day or +1.75 readers at night.

  • Like 1
kortopates Grand Master

kortopates

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First, you're not that old .   Second, you'll be wearing different grades of magnifying glasses in the cockpit for the rest of your life.   I have a JPI EDM900 installed to the right of the AI, and I can read it just fine.  As long as I'm wearing +1.25 readers during the day or +1.75 readers at night.

Agreed and i just have good progressive lenses and see my 900 just fine, just left of the radio stack. But a monitor off to far right would be a last resort since it’s well out of my scan.
Although in a vintage panel options are very limited.


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