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Thanks Colyn,
I decided what’s important long ago. Honesty
and quality comes to mind on what’s important.
Expecting buyers to know about reports/data
that doesn’t exist and then attempting to convince these customers their
instrument will prevent a non-event is not a good business practice in my
opinion. “However, if you have read recent
reports, shock cooling can be catastrophic!” I’ve asked many times to see the data. And
the practice of implying something is important when the something doesn’t
exist is foolish because many of us will ask for the data, and they don’t have
it because it doesn’t exist. The interesting part is they sell an instrument
that protects you from an event that will never happen with or without the
instrument. They have a perfect record! It’s kind of like that anti-elephant
whistle. It works in my neighborhood.
So I tend buy instruments made by companies
that are truthful and forthcoming – In their case, the word disingenuous comes
to mind.
Jim
From: Lancair Mailing
List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf
Of Colyn Case
Sent: Tuesday, December 21, 2010
12:25 PM
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Subject: [LML] Re: JPI
Jim, I think you need to decide what is important to you and
decide which vendor can provide it. As far as I can see, JPI is a
marketing company, not an engineering company. That said, they have
collected pretty much all the right features in their edm700 unit, for what it
is, and mine worked great in my cessna for 10 years. So they nailed it
on features and reliability. Other things I need:
- my data please. I got off the train when they stated that I
had to pay them money to get the data collected by the instrument I already
paid for. I guess they changed their mind now but I'm not going back.
- answer the phone courteously and be helpful. oops.
EI is sort of the other end. About engineering things the way
they think they should be. Too bad if it's not what you wanted. I
know because I just bought their edm700 equivalent. I had to buy 3
different boxes to get the job done. But they were SUPER helpful on
pre-sales consultation. That said, the mvp-50, their more modern unit,
is awesome, reliable, they answer the phone, and they don't engage in
shady marketing tactics.
Neither of the two is going to make you an engine management expert,
but I don't think you need that from them.
On Dec 20, 2010, at 5:07 PM, Jim Nordin wrote:
I’ve really hesitated sending this note
afraid my lack of knowledge may be demonstrated. But what the hey … here ‘tis.
Among other things, JPI continues to
espouse a wife’s tale on “shock cooling”. I’ve asked many times for them to
provide empirical data to support their claim. Apparently no empirical data
exists and that translates to rumor or worse. I was going to buy their product
but changed my mind when I learned they sell products by scaring people about
events that don’t happen. From their website:
“An old and common
misconception that other manufacturers of EGT monitors promote is that it is
not necessary to know the exact exhaust gas temperatures of your aircraft's
engine. However, if you have read recent reports, shock cooling can be catastrophic! The EDM alerts the pilot of those
conditions which are most vital to the maintenance of well performing engine.
The value in measuring EGT lies in finding the ideal ratio of fuel to air that
results in complete combustion, and in long-term trend monitoring.”
What reports? What data? Catastrophic? How
is shock cooling associated to EGT? Wouldn’t that be CHT? I understand … not
necessarily.
Their claim is cooling by sudden reduction
in throttle will/could cause a catastrophic event. What is the event? Cracked
head, cylinder? Driving the engine? Sticking valves? Wouldn’t flying into rain
or worse be an event you could expect sudden cooling to cause major damage? Or
how about turning off the ignition? From making plenty heat to making none.
Quick cool down (>100ºF/minute) would be equal to shock cooling. This wife’s
tale continues to be over my head. If I’m not mistaken, GAMI says shock cooling
is a myth. Wouldn’t they know? Pointing to a manufacturer’s prohibited
operating regime (pull the throttle to idle at altitude), legitimate or not, is
no justification to make instruments that prevent you from operating there. Do
the tests before you sell instruments that prevent you from doing something
that doesn’t matter. Well, the idea of “if it’s good enough for Lycoming and
Continental, it’s good enough for me” just doesn’t sell today. CYA is a big
business justification.
So this is perpetuating manufactures’ CYA
on operating under any circumstance that might – MIGHT – cause a warranty
issue. LOP for example!
I’m not saying their instruments are not
quality. I’m satisfied they are good quality. They likely report accurately.
However, measuring something and making unsubstantiated claims as to what the
measurements mean is not a responsible way to sell a product.
JPI? I think they’re reaching and with no
limb to grab (competition is fierce) they may claim things with their
instruments that are useless. You want to measure it and do something about the
measurement? Fine by me. But gee whiz, airplane stuff is already so expensive …
why spend it on things that don’t matter? That’s not a rhetorical question.
Educate me.
From: Lancair Mailing List
[mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of Colyn
Case
Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2010 6:10 PM
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Subject: [LML] Re: VM 1000
technical readers press delete. I just wanted to say I have been so
excited with jpi ever since they decided they owned my data that I used the
edm700 that came with my project to monitor temperatures around the cowling and
bleep if something gets too hot.
the little man in there is not happy. He keeps saying "you
disconnected my probe".
On Dec 16, 2010, at 8:34 PM, Janie & Ed Smith wrote:
In regards to the
question about the VM 1000, in it's day it was a fine piece of equipment.
But it's outdated and hard to get repaired or support. It is also extremely
limited in it's functionality
I would urge you to look at some of the newer engine monitors. In fact most of
the EFIS companies have an engine monitor integral in the unit. A couple to
look at would be Dynon or Advanced flight systems. There is also the MVP -50
which is a stand alone but will display on some EFIS.
Jon
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