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Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2001 08:18:51 -0400
To: lancair.list@olsusa.com
From: Marvin Kaye <marvkaye@olsusa.com>
Subject: Re: Pillar Point
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          <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
          <<  Lancair Builders' Mail List  >>
          <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>
Posted for RicArgente@cs.com:

C Keller wrote:

 >>>Rick ---   Back on 7 June you wrote to the LML  <<For those of you
interested on the Pillar Point fuel transfer system or have already
purchased the system, FYI, I've been working with the Pillar Point folks
since I purchased the system a few months ago. Some programing logic had
to be changed/modified to eliminate cetain problems. Just one more thing
to test (after my annual) and I should be ready to report on my
experience with the system.>>
    Surely you have the problems resolved by now. Could you describe
them, their solutions and how the system is treating you now. I am very
interested in what Pillar Point is offering, as I suspect many LML
builders are.
                        Charles Keller<<


<<Surely you have the problems resolved by now.>>

Maybe, still need to do a bit more testing on a new harness.  After months of
testing I have come to the conclusion that the infrared sensors (FSDs) being
sold by PPAv are simply not reliable for our application.  Sometimes the FSDs
will sense fuel when it's supposed to sense air and vice-versa (based on fuel
level readings using my VisionMirco fuel level system).  Alan from PPAv came
to the same conclusion.  You see, at least on my installation, the FSDs were
installed on the AFT wall of the header tank.  Slight pitch changes,
according to Alan, made huge fuel level changes when the sensors are mounted
this way.  The float switches I had originally was more in the center of the
header tank since it protrudes inside the header than more.

In addition to this, I feel that the FSDs are too sensitive to fuel
detection.  It seems to me that even a minute amount of fuel will cause the
FSD to sense it's submerged in fuel.  Probably caused by fuel spary or mist
when fuel is being pumped to the header tank.  Hard to tell what REALLY goes
on inside the header tank for obvious reasons.

To make a long story short, I've asked PPAv to provide me with an electrical
harness to allow me to use my old float switches as a means of sensing fuel
level instead of the FSDs.  Last week, I received the upper float switch
harness.  The lower float switch harness is already installed.  I've been
very busy with business and haven't had the chance to install and test the
new harness.

So as it stands right now, I WOULD NOT recommend the use of FSDs for the
primary fuel sensing device.  It is simply NOT reliable enough for our needs
based on my testing...

Sorry for the delay.  More to follow...

Rick

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
LML website:   http://www.olsusa.com/mkaye/maillist.html
LML Builders' Bookstore:   http://www.buildersbooks.com/lancair

Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>