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Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2014 07:24:17 -0500
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Subject: G3x installation experience
From: N20087 <n20087@yahoo.com>
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Folks

I thought I might share my experience with my avionics upgrade in my 360.  I=
 decided to remove my Stec 55, sandel HSI and king remote gyro sell it all a=
nd install the g3x system.  I got 5k and change for the TSOed stuff and then=
 tossed in 2k for the g3x with external autopilot control and 2 servos for p=
itch and roll.

I chose the g3x for various reasons including the following=20

I have a good deal of time behind the G1000 a lot and very used to the user i=
nterface
I think the gfc 700 is the best ga autopilot out there and the g3x shares a l=
ot of its technology
I already had 2 GNS 430s in my panel along with a Garmin transponder. I expe=
cted the interfacing to work reliably on the same brand equipment=20
 Garmin documentation is fantastic, complete and accurate=20
I have found Garmin support to be top notch as I am sure the other brands ar=
e but I did not want finger pointing between vendors when dealing with integ=
ration of components; I wanted just one neck to ring


The entire removal and install took 3 weeks from engine shutdown to first fl=
ight.  Since I work full time this was a weekends and evening activity.  A w=
ord to the wise, don't do this kind of thing in a cold hanger in the depths o=
f winter.  Ask me how I know!

Pointers for others thinking of using this product


There is some wiggle room on system pricing with the dealers
Make sure you check lead times on all parts and get a delivery commitment as=
 part of the deal
Make sure you inventory EVERYTHING on receipt.  You may have to ask your dea=
ler to make good on some missing items
The quality of the Garmin connectors/backshells is exceptional but they are e=
xpensive.  Don't accept substitutions.  Garmin backshells are heavy aluminum=
 with a unique grounding bar that makes terminations easier and very effecti=
ve=20
Use a spreadsheet to map out your cable schedule with pin numbers and wire c=
olour for each connector
Buy a quality wire stripper, the kind that grabs the cable and then rips tef=
zel down to the shield and then individual cores=20
I standardized on 22awg all round even though 24awg can be used in many inte=
rconnects=20
22awg strips more reliably and does better with crimps
The connector kits come with quality machined d-sub pins/sockets, you will n=
eed to buy more because you will screw up=20
Invest in a quality pin compression tool
You will use a lot of zip ties for mocking things up - buy lots
Test your cables as you make them and make sure none of the cores are shorte=
d to the shield=20
Map out your panel using a cad tool (autocad has a free 1 month eval) and th=
e dxf files for cutouts that Garmin provide
You can take your aircraft AL sheet and final panel layout dxf file to your l=
ocal laser/water jet cutter to make the replacement sections. Note 2024 alum=
inum needs a larger bending radius than shops are used to doing. =20
You must purchase a gps antenna that connects to the pfd to use the syntheti=
c vision feature

Once you wire up the PFD, ADAHRS and OAT sensor exactly per the manual you c=
an test the bare bones system. =20
You must follow the magnetometer calibration procedure to the letter.
The system uses CAN bus for communications.  This technology requires termin=
ations on each end.  I terminated at the PFD and at the pitch servo
The servo mounting kits are pretty decent and complete but in the end I repu=
rposed what I already had which needed little modification
The magnetometer interference test is very useful in determining the install=
ation position. The sensor is mounted to one side of the hat rack below the f=
loor. My tests passed for all electrical devices except the pitch servo clut=
ch engagement.  It was over by a max of 20%. In speaking to Garmin I might g=
et away with it.  Having flown a few times now and using the ap there have b=
een no ill effects i.e. Bad headings or red Xs.=20
I did not jack the aircraft as suggested by Garmin to verify interference ef=
fects of the hydraulic pump since my pump is mounted on the inside of the fi=
rewall. =20
The capstan servo kit does not include mounting brackets
You will need to make your own pitch servo bridle if you are using a capstan=
 scheme
I did not connect the auto trim system as I figured I would do this later
Even in a 360, there is a need to adjust pitch trim when changing speeds sig=
nificantly with the ap engaged
if you use Garmin transponders make sure the firmware is up to date to ensur=
e the RS232 connection to the ADAHRS works correctly
Make sure the autopilot servos are set to operate in the right direction on t=
he ground otherwise things could get interesting really fast in the air.  In=
 my case I had to reset the direction from the normal out of the box directi=
on, all a function of your mechanical mounting arrangement

So how does it fly?  In a word, excellent!

The PFD screen really is big enough for a 360.  The user interface is more i=
ntuitive than the G1000.=20
Very few integration headaches, just follow the Garmin directions
The highway in the sky feature along with the flight director and flight pat=
h marker is really neat.  But beware it can really dumb down your instrument=
 scan
The screen is plenty bright in sun
Tuning the auto pilot took about 10 minutes of tweaking the gains.  The defa=
ult torque values are pretty close already=20
Flying a coupled LPV approach is just amazing, it behaved flawlessly without=
 much fuss even on a slightly bumpy day with a 12 kt x wind component.  The s=
ystem flew an order of magnitude more smoothly and accurately than the origi=
nal Stec 55.  The integration ith the GNS430W is very well done. I really di=
d not have to change how I did things (buttonology) to fly an approach relat=
ive to the sandel but the presentation on the HSI is far better
Indicated air speed climb is quite usefull but should only be used in relati=
vely smooth conditions as you will find the AP sawing on the controls.  It d=
oes a good job maintaining air speed, better than I ever could but I think i=
t is too hard on the controls.  Sometimes you just have to hand fly!
Vertical speed climb is better damped but you would need to be on top of cha=
nging the desired rate as performance bumps up against the edge of the envel=
ope
The up/down thumb wheel on the AP is really cool and handy
The default setting for sink rate Alarm is not consistent with Lancairs.=20


Things yet to do

Install the Garmin AOA pitot
Install ADSB receiver for WX
Fix bitching Betty
fly more!=20

Tom
Lnc2 312 hrs