My thoughts exactly Chris... If I go, I want to go in a blaze of Glory...
having survived Vietnam... I am on borrowed time anyway... but to Dr. Hsu's
question on reliability, here is what I know... Racetech/SDS has been selling
EIs to the aviation market since 1997 The factory claims that One ECU
(computer module) on a test bench ran for over 145,000 hours continuously with
no problems. Unmatched reliability is proven in over 20 million hours and
850,000 flight hours using their units worldwide... I think I made a good
choice for my KR's ignition.
On Thursday, July 7, 2022 at 11:36:58 PM CDT, Chris Pryce via KRnet
<krnet@list.krnet.org> wrote:
I hate to be that guy but I have to ask the question after seeing multiple
negative posts: Do you have a flying KR or even a flying airplane at all? All
I've seen the past couple of days is negative commentary.
I've flown 200 hours in a little over two years with Lowes lawn and garden
parts, no magnetos and no issues. We are here to experiment with our
experimentals. There is always risk. If you don't accept any risk you will
never fly. We all make the decision of what is our personal level of risk and
operate accordingly. Can I crash and die? Yes. Could I die driving on my way to
work? Yes. Personally, I'd rather go in a blaze of glory doing something I
love.
Keep on building, love the process, and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Chris PryceVacaville, CA
On Thu, Jul 7, 2022, 21:12 Dr. Feng Hsu via KRnet <krnet@list.krnet.org> wrote:
hey Victor & Luis,
That's what would happen to us if redundant systems are made of the same
component with identical design! In highly sophisticated engineering system,
one should never say "that's impossible or unlikely to happen". I understand
all the pros for the Electronic ignition system that Luis listed, however I
would not feel confident if the two redundant Electronic ignition modules are
identical component. Yes, two independent power supply with separate batteries
do contribute on risk reduction, but that might be not good enough to offset
the "CCF" (common cause or common mode failures) contribution to risk of losing
the system during flight....
Do you have some test or reliability data on the SDS CP1 module from the
vendor? I will feel better if the failure rate is in the range below 1E-4?!
Best of luck!
Dr. Hsu
On Thu, Jul 7, 2022, 8:08 PM victor taylor via KRnet <krnet@list.krnet.org>
wrote:
Hey Luis,
At Velocity we still keep one magneto on all our aircraft. I had dinner with a
Velocity owner who had dual batteries, dual alternators and dual electronic
ignition. I suggested that he have one magneto and he said absolutely not and
went on to say that there was no way both systems could fail at once. Four
months later he and his wife were coming out of Kissimmee Florida and both
systems failed within a minute of each other. It totaled the aircraft and put
them both in the hospital for over three months each. He is now building
another Velocity that will have one mag and one electronic ignition. Your
system is unlikely to fail but it’s not impossible. Magnetos are definitely old
technology and way less efficient. But time has proven that dual mags are
highly reliable. At the end of the day we are flying home made wooden aircraft
with automotive based engines on many of them. It’s relatively safe but not
quiet as safe as a certified aircraft with that 60 year old technology. How
much “experimental” we want to fly our families in is what it all boils down
to.
Victor Taylor CFII
On Jul 7, 2022, at 19:09, Tony King via KRnet <krnet@list.krnet.org> wrote:
In addition to all the points Luis has made, pretty much every car on the road
today has electronic ignition, with far less redundancy than Luis has outlined,
yet ignition failures are quite rare given the number of units in operation.
Whilst there may be more complexity, the reliability of electronic systems is
in a whole different ball park to mechanical systems. Of course the failure
modes are different too, and regardless of which system(s) one chooses it's
essential to understand and address how they might let you down.
TK
On Fri, 8 Jul 2022 at 09:21, Luis Claudio via KRnet <krnet@list.krnet.org>
wrote:
Dr. HSU, oh ye of little faith... I do suggest you look into the "SDS CP1
electronic ignition systems". It means that I have dual independent power
sources for controlling each independent timing computer with automatic
customization for RPM and load (manifold pressure). The computer monitors my
manifold pressure and smooths out the engine timing to give you the best engine
performance on your climb or cruise. You are always one set of points or
capacitor failure before your engine goes to hades... (you know "Hell")...
Consider this"1. The engine timing with an electronic ignition system does not
drift from the setpoint since there is no mechanical wear and tear2. Each
independent computer controls an independent bank of spark plugs (4 upper and 4
lower)3. You can customize the power curve so as you climb, the computer
compensates by adjusting your engine's timing for the best performance. 4. Two
completely independent batteries, one acting as primary, and the other as
backup.5. No mandatory 500 hr overhaul6. No moving parts in the whole system...
none7. Each computer is capable of advancing or retarding the timing of your
engine for best economy or to prevent detonation based on manifold pressure. 8.
Lean of peak adjustments extracts all possible energy from the fuel, picking up
a few extra knots which are lost running leaner mixtures.9. Low current draw,
long spark duration, 4 cylinder coil pack and controller draw about 1.2 amps at
2500 RPM.
and there you have it...
Luis
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