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#1
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Altitude encoder
I need a new encoder. I currently have a Trans-Cal D120-P2-T. I can get an overhauled exchange for $230. Should I do that or just replace it with a new ACK A-30 or Ameri-King AK-350? The Ameri-King is the cheapest at $150. I believe both the ACK and Ameri-King use an oven to compensate for temperature variations, while the Trans-Cal does not. Is it better to have one with an oven or without? Is the Trans-Cal a better encoder making it worth the extra money? |
#2
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I think it was the Ameri-King AK-350 that I replaced for my Trans-Cal
when it went belly-up. You do have to wait for the encoder to out put a signal. I first noticed this when my GPS messaged me that it had an altitude fail. This occured for about 6 minutes. I called the avionics shop and they explained the warmup that is required. Other than that it does work fine. The GPS does require a valid encoder signal for IFR operations. Chad Lemmen wrote: I need a new encoder. I currently have a Trans-Cal D120-P2-T. I can get an overhauled exchange for $230. Should I do that or just replace it with a new ACK A-30 or Ameri-King AK-350? The Ameri-King is the cheapest at $150. I believe both the ACK and Ameri-King use an oven to compensate for temperature variations, while the Trans-Cal does not. Is it better to have one with an oven or without? Is the Trans-Cal a better encoder making it worth the extra money? |
#3
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Ross Richardson wrote:
I think it was the Ameri-King AK-350 that I replaced for my Trans-Cal when it went belly-up. You do have to wait for the encoder to out put a signal. I first noticed this when my GPS messaged me that it had an altitude fail. This occured for about 6 minutes. I called the avionics shop and they explained the warmup that is required. Other than that it does work fine. The GPS does require a valid encoder signal for IFR operations. 6 minutes! Thats a long warmup. Is that during the summer or winter? I live in Michigan so it may take a while to warm up during the winter. Chad Lemmen wrote: I need a new encoder. I currently have a Trans-Cal D120-P2-T. I can get an overhauled exchange for $230. Should I do that or just replace it with a new ACK A-30 or Ameri-King AK-350? The Ameri-King is the cheapest at $150. I believe both the ACK and Ameri-King use an oven to compensate for temperature variations, while the Trans-Cal does not. Is it better to have one with an oven or without? Is the Trans-Cal a better encoder making it worth the extra money? |
#4
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Winter as it is in Texas. By the time I let the engine warm up, taxi
out, and do run up, the Altitude Fail message is gone. Summer, its gone a little faster. Ross 6 minutes! Thats a long warmup. Is that during the summer or winter? I live in Michigan so it may take a while to warm up during the winter. |
#5
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Chad Lemmen wrote
I need a new encoder. I currently have a Trans-Cal D120-P2-T. I can get an overhauled exchange for $230. Should I do that or just replace it with a new ACK A-30 or Ameri-King AK-350? The Ameri-King is the cheapest at $150. I believe both the ACK and Ameri-King use an oven to compensate for temperature variations, while the Trans-Cal does not. Is it better to have one with an oven or without? Is the Trans-Cal a better encoder making it worth the extra money? The Trans-Cal is not like the other encoders. It is built exactly like an altimeter, bellows and all, but instead of a dial and hands it has an optical encoder disk. The electronics are only used to change the optical signals into electronic ones. No tuning, no drift - the adjustments on a Trans-Cal are actually mechanical. What this means, in practice, is that needing adjustment is VERY rare, The ACK and Ameri-King are electronic beasts, they're analog, and they drift. They tend to need adjustment every year or two, even with the oven. You can generally pick up a used Trans-Cal for about $100. Michael |
#6
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I talked with Trans-Cal and they said they would overhaul my D120-P2-T
encoder to like new with all the updates (mine was manufactured in 1974) for $300 or they would exchange mine for the newer SSD-120-30 solid state unit for $165. It seems like the easy decision would be to get the solid state unit, but they did say that those units tend to need re-calibration every two years and may need repair after 5 years or so. The older style encoder will most likely last 30 years and may never need calibration. I chose to get mine overhauled, I think it will save me money in the long run. It sounds like the ACK and Ameri-King units also need calibration often. I looked through my logs and can't find any entries for repairs to my encoder, which means it has lasted 29 years. |
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