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Post by Cluemeister on Aug 28, 2017 1:44:34 GMT
After attending the Rotax class, I have decided to connect a laptop to the 914 TCU to get engine data. Has anyone done this yet, and if so, was it successful?
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Post by Flocker on Aug 28, 2017 20:36:58 GMT
What do the connectors look like? Also, what kind of data is available for the 914?
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Post by Cluemeister on Aug 28, 2017 22:34:48 GMT
RS232 (old school) to USB. No dongle required. About a $15 cable. Here's a screen shot from rotax-owner.com showing one of the monitoring screens. I believe it will have very limited (but valuable) information.  |
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Post by Cluemeister on Aug 29, 2017 21:32:12 GMT
The cable arrived today. The "UGreen" model. Important detail is the chipset, needs to be FTDI. I'll follow up when I have it all connected.  |
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CharlieT
New Member
2016 Astore
Posts: 16 
Home Airport: KCFE
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Post by CharlieT on Sept 7, 2017 2:03:12 GMT
I have been successful with the TCU software. Its a DOS program and there for difficult to run under W10 but I played with it enough and got it working. Not a whole lot of extra info, but I made some notes of what normal TCU operation is in case I started having problems with the TCU.
Charlie
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Post by mackattack on Sept 7, 2017 16:04:19 GMT
DOS? Damn ... didn't even know you could still find that stuff around ... good thing our aircraft are stuck in the 1980s!
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Post by Ed Midgley on Sept 8, 2017 1:25:20 GMT
I can download all the engine data from my G3X Touch onto an SD card. I only did it once a couple of years ago. When I opened it on my computer it was a massive file with 22 readings per second. I got a message saying the file exceeded the capacity of an Excel File.
I'll try it again tomorrow. I do remember I tried to find a way to to take less readings without success.
Ed
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Post by Ed Midgley on Sept 8, 2017 23:27:47 GMT
To download the data from the G3X you have to open in the configuration mode. Hold the menu key down while powering up to get into this mode.
Select data log.
Make sure data logging is enabled.
You can select how many files to save. I assume these are flights.
Select copy to SD card.
Everything you could possibly want is in there. It's the entire aircraft and engine.
The problem is there is too much data.
You need an Excel program to open it.
Ed
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Post by Cluemeister on Sept 9, 2017 0:24:28 GMT
Thanks Ed. I'm wondering if the G3X gets the information the TCU is sending to the engine, specifically controlling the waste gate?
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Post by Ed Midgley on Sept 9, 2017 1:21:57 GMT
Good question. I brought the card home but forgot I bought a new computer last winter and never installed Excel. I just looked at it for a few minutes in the hangar.
The big problem was how much data there was. If I remember correctly it takes a picture of everything 22 times a second. It seemed like I scrolled forever while the plane was still on the ground. A picture every 30 seconds would be plenty. I did see manifold pressure, voltage, rpm, temps and any other data that is available to the pilot.
Other than manifold pressure I don't know if it will tell us anything about the controller.
Ed
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CharlieT
New Member
2016 Astore
Posts: 16
Home Airport: KCFE
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Post by CharlieT on Sept 9, 2017 13:29:08 GMT
To view the G3X data go to cirrusreports.com, You may have to sign up for the web site. I don't believe the TCU will talk to the G3X (it's not that smart) Charlie |
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Post by Ed Midgley on Sept 9, 2017 22:55:58 GMT
I looked at my download this morning. It's taking readings over thirty times per second. The file ends up huge. I'll call G3X support and find out if that can be changed. Nothing specific to the TCU.
Ed
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Post by Glenn on Sept 10, 2017 18:15:41 GMT
I looked at my download this morning. It's taking readings over thirty times per second. The file ends up huge. I'll call G3X support and find out if that can be changed. Nothing specific to the TCU. Ed OMG 30 times each second?? Just a little overkill I think. LOL That would be a HUGE file. The engine monitor in my Bonanza records every 2 seconds and even that seems to be a lot. Glenn |
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Post by Ed Midgley on Sept 13, 2017 0:13:23 GMT
I talked to John at G3X Support today. The data download from the configuration mode is primarily for them to use when fixing problems. He said to insert an 8gig sd card and all the flight data will automatically load each flight onto the card. He told me what program to use to open it but, I forgot to write it down.
Also my autopilot has been hunting in pitch. Select setup from the menu and then autopilot. My pitch gain was set at 2.5. I lowered it to .7 which is what the roll servo was set at. That just about eliminated altitude hold so I increased it to 2.0 and it seemed to work well. It's easy to do while flying.
Ed
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Post by Cluemeister on Sept 18, 2017 12:58:10 GMT
So I bought an old RS232 cable to connect to the plane, found an older laptop on craigslist with windows xp, and took it down to the airport. Got everything hooked up in the cockpit, and fired up the plane. Then I went to double click on the engine monitoring software. Oh wait, where's the engine monitoring software? Oh crap, it's on the other laptop! Unhooked everything, and shut down the plane. What a doofus!
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