Electroair ignition

[Steve Ebbers]

I have installed the system that replaces the dual magneto and am having problems with the system on my M20J. I would like to know if anyone has experience with this system and could help me.   Thanks Steve Ebbers  5766Y

[Thedude]

I have not done this to my J, but I've been curious, what issues are you having?

There are a number of posts on this topic already as well btw, Google search may be better than the forums search, one example 

 

[toto]

Also watching closely and interested to know more. 

[KSMooniac]

What are your issues? Did you do it yourself, or a shop? First time installation?

Sent from my motorola edge plus 2023 using Tapatalk

[DC_Brasil]

9 hours ago, toto said:

Also watching closely and interested to know more. 

+1 here. 

I would love the improved fuel consumption and cleaner burn (higher spark voltage) of the EIS. 

However, Electroair's website is kind of unclear about the single-drive dual Bendix magneto replacement. Although their engine AML says that Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D is an approved model, it lists the EIS 41000 as the installation model. However, their website shows the EIS-42000DM as the "correct" model ("The EIS-42000D Electronic Ignition Kit is a fully STC'd kit to replace the Bendix single drive, dual magneto with a complete, DUAL ELECTRONIC ignition.")

Other things that caught my attention: all 41000 models have links to AML, installation instructions, AFM Supplement, etc. The 42000 does not. Their STC page does not show the 42000 anywhere. I contacted their distribution partner in Brazil and they said that their STC for the Bendix dual mag is not yet validated by ANAC (Brazilian civil aviation authority), but I am thinking that their FAA STC hasn't yet gone through for that specific model... or am I missing something here?

 

[KSMooniac]

Their solution for the -A3B6D is a bit muddy, but fully approved and complete.  The STC package is essentially TWO EIS-41000 kits, plus the backup battery kit from TCW with a wiring schematic to integrate everything together.  Each EIS-41000 kit is installed separately since they are truly independent/redundant.  They do not have a separate installation manual for the -42000 kit.

[Slick Nick]

What’s the benefit to that system? Is there much of a performance gain to be had with some sort of adjustable timing?

[Justin Schmidt]

3 minutes ago, Slick Nick said:

What’s the benefit to that system? Is there much of a performance gain to be had with some sort of adjustable timing?

I got significant performance.  2ish gph fuel savings for same power output. No overhauls not life limited. Better at altitude 

[Thedude]

1 hour ago, Slick Nick said:

What’s the benefit to that system? Is there much of a performance gain to be had with some sort of adjustable timing?

What I'm most interested in is that at my first and most recent annual the shop said the bottom bracket for my dual mag was missing and the top one wasn't on that well either -- they said it likely wasn't torqued right. On the day I took off to take it to the shop it was 500ft overcast, which is lower than I normally take off with, idk what it would have been like if I lost my engine. I want more redundancy.

[65MooneyPilot]

I just helped do an annual on a J model that has the system and it is a disaster. The engine starts and runs but in cruise there is something horribly wrong. It was supposed to have been professionally installed but it requires 14.1 gallons an hour of fuel flow to keep the cylinder head temp below 475. The spark plugs get completely loaded up with lead. If your engine is running good with the magneto do not try to fix it. Checking the timing is a challenge. My neighbor had to check it on his airplane with a strobe light while the engine was running. On my neighbors plane the spark trigger that plugs in where the mag was had a manufacturing defect that they failed to detect during the three times he sent it in. It would be nice to hear Justin’s story to see how he got a good installation. They also want you to send in your mag or pay 1k. Why would an electronic ignition manufacturer need your old Mag? Obviously I am not a big fan. Good luck If you decide to install it. 

[Pinecone]

@jetdriven might be able to help

[jetdriven]

It needs to be installed properly, I have an electro air on my plane and I have a BX 1200 magneto, but it’s very marginally better than the 1200 Bendix magneto. It does run warmer, it doesn’t start or any faster nor idle any better.

I don’t really get the dual installation. It’s probably $9000 by the time it’s completely installed with all the labor, and then you have to have a separate battery pack, and I see the small benefit with one of these, but two of them there’s nothing additional. And you’re replacing a pretty robust and reliable, dual magneto for something that’s way more complex and although it doesn’t have any single failure points, like the Bendix  dual magneto does, it can still leave you stranded a lot easier and probably more likely.    I’m not sure how long that backup battery lasts, but when that goes dead, the engine stops running. I kinda like the idea of something that makes its own electricity. 

[Mufflerbearing]

I installed a surefly system and it was simple installation and runs exactly as it should. It now has the stc for dual installation if the plane has 2 separate batteries.  I originally looked at the electroair and decided against it as it was a very complicated system. 

[skykrawler]

On 11/21/2025 at 11:39 PM, Thedude said:

What I'm most interested in is that at my first and most recent annual the shop said the bottom bracket for my dual mag was missing and the top one wasn't on that well either -- they said it likely wasn't torqued right. On the day I took off to take it to the shop it was 500ft overcast, which is lower than I normally take off with, idk what it would have been like if I lost my engine. I want more redundancy.

You need a redundant mechanic.

[Thedude]

18 minutes ago, skykrawler said:

You need a redundant mechanic.

Ya it hadn't been in a shop since the pre buy/annual the year before, and that was a different shop. I did my own oil change with a friend midyear and I now know what else to check while doing that.

[Fly Boomer]

15 hours ago, jetdriven said:

marginally better than the 1200 Bendix magneto

Bendix 1200s are about as close to bulletproof as anything can be that goes round and round.

[jetdriven]

We had two Bendix’s 1200 magneto‘s for years. With the electro air, when you switch off the Bendix, it slows down about 1 mph, and when you switch off the electroair, it slows down about 2 1/2 to 3 mph. That’s about the only change I can tell. 

[skykrawler]

It's too bad there isn't an STC option to install the Electro air system with the crankshaft pulse wheel on a D3000 mag installation.

I can see keeping one half the D3000 grounded  and stowing the extra wires or replacing them with rubber plugs.

[Butch]

To replace the dual mag you have one "pulse wheel" installed in the original magneto drive location and a crankshaft sensor located on the crankshaft near the prop flange.  There are two separate controllers. You will need either a backup battery or second alternator. If the voltage gets low and reverts to the backup battery, one system will drop out.

[jetdriven]

9 hours ago, skykrawler said:

It's too bad there isn't an STC option to install the Electro air system with the crankshaft pulse wheel on a D3000 mag installation.

I can see keeping one half the D3000 grounded  and stowing the extra wires or replacing them with rubber plugs.

If you were gonna do that, you should just put a Bendix 1200 in the same hole and run that. But no STC is gonna specify some other manufacturers hardware.