John,
I have been running the dual Plasma III system for several years with
the computers located aft of the firewall. I have a non-recommended Canon
plug arrangement for the timing signal data to pass thru the
firewall. I had some badly crimped pins on the engine compartment
side and after a certain amount of heat built up (about an hour of flight),
the timing would get screwed up because of missed signals. Very lumpy
engine performance resulted and the bad side required shut down but the engine
kept running. This crimp condition was easily fixed with no
problems since. 'Tis better to run continuous signal wire from the timing
sensors to the computers. (Do as I say, not as I do.)
One physical connection between the two boxes is two wires
used to pass coordination information so that if one system is shut
down or fails, the other continues with slightly altered timing. See the
Lightspeed Manual.
If all the directions and suggestions were followed, the dual system
has only one single point for catastrophic failure - the crank mounted
timing sensors could be destroyed if some sort of misalignment occurs with the
resultant loss of all timing.
I have one ignition wired to the main bus and one to the essential bus
(direct to main battery if selected). If some sort of complete collapse of
the electrical system and the main battery fail, a dedicated backup battery can
be switched to one ignition. The units are set up pretty independently if
installed as called out in the instructions.
Scott Krueger
AKA Grayhawk
Lancair N92EX IO320 SB 89/96
Aurora, IL (KARR)
Pilot
not TSO'd, Certificated score only > 70%.
In a message dated 4/27/2008 3:33:30 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
2thman@cablespeed.com writes:
Does
anyone have data or anecdotal information on problems with Plasma III
EI
system? A recent accident in California involving off airport landing
of
a IVP has brought up concerns in my mind. I have a Performance
Engines TSIO
550 with the Plasma III ignition (not flying yet) and so did
the referenced
aircraft. I am told that the cause of the accident was
sudden engine
stoppage and evidence points to failure of one of the
redundant EI systems,
the failure of which may have brought on the failure
of the second.
I'd like to know if anyone has data on the Plasma
III. I'm also interested
in anecdotal accounts positive or negative
that might help allay concerns or
lead to solutions of problems with the
system.
Has anyone used a single Plasma III and a magneto backup
with a TSIO 550