Aldo,

Thanks. Yes I should have been more clear - I am thinking
about equipment for a new glider. I have had the triple
probes on 2 previous gliders without too much problems
from the O rings. I have variously used a little PTFE
or silicone dry lubricant on the rings of the probe
itself as it is noticeable that when the probe gets
stiffer to insert you get some rubber marks on it from
the internal rings.

I wonder if there is any better way of preserving the
O rings?

John Galloway




At 00:54 30 January 2004, Cernauta wrote:
John Galloway wrote:

I would be interested to hear if anyone has any knowledge
or experience of the above static/TE double probe as
shown on the esa-systems web site by following the
links to 'multisonden' and then STATEK:

I may not have understood perfectly, but the connector
on the fin is
specifically designed to accept one kind of probe (1,
2 or 3 way).
They are not interchangeable.
I have had the older, usual TE (1 way) fin probe on
a DG400 for many
years with no problems (upgraded to an ILEC probe with
2 small holes
instead of the original 4 slotted).
I now have the Triple way on my 600, and it's already
showing
problems: there are some small O-Rings which have started
deteriorating and are a ... to replace.
The probe itself is available in black carbon fibre,
or in aluminum: I
strongly suggest the latter. The composite ones have
soon cracked
(nearly invisible cracks) near the plug, giving problems
with vario
reading.

If you are choosing within the options for a new glider,
I'd have it
with two separate connectors for TE and Ptot, and would
be happy with
fuselage statics. From a reliability point of view.

Aldo Cernezzi