BTW I forgot. Add MPG if you have a GPS that outputs NEMA 0183 protocol
through an RS232 interface. There will be a connector on the back of
the display for this input.
Great work, thanks! Will it accept TAS from the serial RS232 output of the microEncoder?
I doubt it. What is the protocol? Most aircraft GPS's use the National Electronic
Marine
Association 0183 protocol. Data is sent out in well defined ASCII sentences.
Besides, we would need another serial port or a port switcher because the CPU used
for the display processor only has two serial ports or UARTS. One is used to talk
to the EFI CPU and the other the GPS. Embedded type CPU's with three UARTS are rare
to non-existent. Why would you want TAS when you have ground speed from your
GPS? Does not the microEncoder display it? PL
I think the main parameters should be RPM, MAP, and Fuel Flow and some sort of indication of mixture if possible. Other engine parameters are a bounus. Is the unit going to have programable parameters? audible alerts? Fuel totalizer? Recommended mixture settings for best economy/power/endurance/range (could use gps inputs to calculate this stuff). You obviously could get really fancy but my fear is that this will delay the project and drive the price up. (I already have a fancy digital engine monitor that I built (uMonitor from RMI) so I of course would hate to see the project delayed and expensive). You may find that you can use an existin engine monitor like the uMonitor or the like (I forgot the name of the one Tracy uses) and have the company reprogram a couple of the inputs for us. On the other hand, Tracy talke about the display costing about $80. Wow, if you can really pull this off it would be amazing! Way cheaper than the others!
Best of luck!
Dave Leonard
Yes the EFI CPU is currently programmable. Tracy can provide the details.
A fuel totalizer would be fairly easy. I will add that to the list.
Audible alerts for which displayed parameters? How about just blinking text?
Right now the display with the four line LCD would be way more than $80.
Paul Lamar
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