Subject: Thermal couple installations.
From: Rotary Engine
Date: 4/9/2007, 10:46 AM
To: AARotary Engine


    > I think the cylinder heat temperature thermal couple
   will also
    > be a key component. I am very excited about Mark S's
   installation
    > of CHT probes in his 3 rotor. This area is immediately
   adjacent
    > to the spark plug.
    >
    > BTW Mark, I will drop off the 2, four channel data acq
   modules
    > when
    > I'll see you a week from this coming Sunday.
----------------------------------------------------------

    > Paul Lamar
    >
    >
    > Paul, Mark
    >
    > I'm curious about Mark's installation of thermocouples
   as shown
    > in the
    > photos. Will there be trouble with electromagnetic
   interference
    > from
    > the the plug/plug wires? I know the wiring will be
   shielded, but
    > am
    > curious as to what type/class of shielding will he use? Also
    > what type
    > of T/C and range and or part number. Thanks.
    >
    > Allen
    > Houston
----------------------------------------------------------

    > That is something I hadn't heard of. The CHT probes are real
    > close
    > to the plug wires in my O-470 and that does not appear
   to be
    > a problem. On the other hand they and the spark plug
   wires are
    > shielded. I guess it is possible. If we sample the data
   often
    > enough the spark will appear in the data at idle.
    >
    > Have you experienced RF interference with thermocouples?
    >
    > I'll let Mark answer the last questions as I don't know
    > what he used.
    >
    > Paul Lamar ...No rotor no motor.

-------------------------------------------
    > Hi Allen,
    >
    > I used regular unshielded thermocouple wire and quality
    > automotive
    > silicone plug wires. I'm using Tracy's EC-2 and EM-2. So
   far,
    > the CHT
    > readings are rock steady, so I would conclude that
   interference
    > isn't a
    > problem. That could change with the data loggers, but
   I'll have
    > to wait
    > and see.
    >
    > Mark S.
-------------------------------------------------------
    > Mark,
    >
    > Would you mind telling me what kind of T/C's you are
   using? I'm an
    > instrument engineer that works in the oil/gas industry and it's
    > standard
    > that T/C's have shielded wire so they won't pick up any stray
    > voltage.
    > Are your thermocouples milivoltage types, say like a Type J,
   or some
    > other range? Are they grounded tips? I'm just curious as I
   know the
    > plug/plug wires do put out some high voltage (although I'm
   am only a
    > neophyte when it comes to engines and aircraft).
    >
    > Allen
    > Houston

-----------------------------------------------------------

    > Allen,
    > It is either type J or type K, don't recall. It takes one type
   for the
    > cht and the other for the egt. I bought the wire, stripped and
   wrapped
    > the ends, then melted the ends with a tig welder. The TC wire
    > is 2-wire, covered in some medium brown cloth looking insulation. I
    > didn't see any shielding. The exhaust TC's were purchased from ACS.
    > They are the type with the nut that screws onto a welded
   bung. Those
    > have shielding on them, but only for about 12" to whree the ring
    > terminals are located. I just assumed the shielding was there to
    > protect the wire from the hot exhaust pipes.
    >
    > Mark S.

-------------------------------------------------


Mark,

The shielding on millivolt and milliamp wiring is either terminated at
the  device end or the "control" end (reading end) of the circuit but
not both OR neither, and it should be connected to the ground bus or
terminal(s).  The shielding should be "continuous" from probe to your
reading device/control device.  There is a quick treatise on:

http://www.omega.com/prodinfo/Thermocouples.html

What size was the hole you drilled (diameter) for the thermocouple you
inserted?  I think that's pretty cool that you made your own by welding
the bi-metal wiring together.  Never heard of anyone doing that.

Allen


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