At 06:18 PM 3/29/2000 -0800, you wrote:

It started out as a display board for Tracy's EFI system. Since then we

have thought

up a bunch of uses. Auto pilot. Full blown EFIS. Turbo compound

controller. Ect.

I am focussing on making it easier and cheaper to program.
The computer board, less the programing part, will be about four by five

inches.

Double that for the full blown  programming version. Four by about nine

inches.

"J.C. Hassall" wrote:

Paul, if the production version will be so large, may I suggest an
alternative?  Make two boards, same size (e.g., 4x4) and piggy back them
(mount one on top of the other, using dual inline headers for
signals/power, and standoffs, either threaded or plastic snap together, for
support).  That would cut down on footprint, make the whole assembly easier
to assemble and reduce vibration problems (a 4x9 PC could well shake it's
little brains out in the wrong kind of airplane (i.e., non-rotary :-) ).

Just my $0.02 worth.  I've done this before with success.  At any rate, I'm
eagerly awaiting your end result.

Jim

J.C. Hassall
mailto:jhassall@blacksburg.net
RV-6 Builder Wannabe
Blacksburg VA
"The essence of character is doing what's right,
  even when nobody's looking." -- J.C. Watts

Normally one would not use the software development half of the board in an
airplane. It is strictly designed to help write the program. There should
be no need of programming the display computer in the air. If limits need to
be set or the order of the parameters being displayed changed that would be an 
entirely different user interface and programming method. A lap top or desk top
computer would not be necessary as it would be for initial programming.  
That in-flight user interface would be included on the flight hardware 
half of the board. This will become more clear as I get a chance to finish 
the board design and upload a graphic of same.

Probably after Sun & Fun  next week.

Paul Lamar
 
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