PA30 CHT and EGT instruments

[justin hawkins]

Hi all,

I'm considering upgrading the CHT and installing EGT guages in my PA30. My Left CHT just kicked the bucket, probably just a prob or wiring issue, but with annual coming due, I'm looking to upgrade anyway.

Thinking of doing an Electronics International setup, just basic single cylinder EGT and CHT for each engine, as that seems to be the most effective use of my money. I'd also like to completely eliminate the stock CHT, so the replacement would need to be certified Primary.

Any suggestions for what setup would off the most bang for the buck? Of course a fancy engine monitor would be cool, but way to much $$$$ for what seems to be little return.

[Randy Johnson]

Just replaced my egt and engine oil pressure and temp gauges with AI gauges in my twin.

I love the gauges, but have to say the experience with AI was poor. The gauges are built when you order and it took 10 days vs the 2 days promised. When it arrived the gauges were marked incorrectly and then we discovered the harnesses sent were for a single Comanche and one of the sensors was wrong. All of these mistakes ended up costing me more in labor and tied up the floor space for my mechanic for weeks. AI was unwilling to make any kind of amends for their multiple mistakes.

We chose AI because they were the most cost effective upgrade. Cost effective because they include the probes/sensors that go with the gauges. Now that they are installed I really like them.

But what should have cost me $3k for the parts and install ran about an extra grand because of the poor quality of the ordering process and the extra time it took to actually receive the correct parts. To make mistakes is human, to not admit to them and refuse to make some compensation for the costs related to those errors is telling.

I hope this is something they fix because once your invested in the parts you have an interest in them staying in business...and I hope your experience will be better than mine. I love the end result, but doubt I would do it again. But if I did, I would wait to have the right parts in hand before tearing down the instrument panel and opening up the sidewalls and engine compartment to run the harnesses.

Hope this helps.

[Kristin Winter]

I like the full graphic engine monitor ("GEM") experience. I think it adds a margin of safety. A twin has one area of vulnerability to an engine failure that could end badly. That is the short time (5-8s) from rotation to have the gear up and climbing at or above Vyse. I like being able to see that all the cylinders are doing what they are supposed to be doing, as I am running up the power on the runway. I have had my plane give me the "finger" a couple of times on the GEM, signifying a clogged injector. Takeoff aborted and injector cleaned. The GEM can also given you a warning of valve issues while you can still save the valve and before it fractures. I intend to run my engines past TBO and having a GEM makes me much more comfortable doing something like that. If it helps me get an additional 100 hours on the engines, the GEM has paid for itself. YMMV!