Kevin, I use all electrical gauges except
for manifold pressure gauge. My primary reason was I wanted no lines with hot
oil or coolant, gasoline, etc in my cockpit to provide a potential source for a
leak. No question if done properly changes for a leak with mechanical gauges
are minimal but they are zero if no such lines in cockpit.
Besides if you loose electrical power, you
probably have more things to do than watching your oil pressure or coolant temp
– believe me {:>).
But, that said, if you want to use
mechanical gauges, they have been around and used for ages – go for it.
Ed
From: Rotary motors in aircraft
[mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net] On
Behalf Of kevin lane
Sent: Friday, January 15, 2010
10:56 PM
To: Rotary
motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] mechanical vs
electrical
I suppose this argument simply goes in
circles, but a mechanical gauge works when there is no electrical source.
that seems like a big factor to me. I still remember my Jeff rose
electronic ignition [on my O-320] dying while flying over crater lake,
OR and that 1920's-era magneto never knew what was happening. I have
a mechanical oil pressure[nylon line] & temp gauge that have
1000+ hrs on them and no problems. same with my van's fuel gauges
[original, electrical non-capacitance resistor style]. but, while I argue
of the benefits of independent, non-electrical gauges, I admit that this rotary
engine will have an electric fuel pump, so, when the juice quits, I guess it
doesn't matter if you don't know why. what about an electric airspeed
indicator? all those messy tubes and ports and such! ☺
kevin [will readily admit I may simply be dumb and happy]
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