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DA-40 instrument panel tilt

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 7:06 am
by nolen95
"DAN"-ers...I'm upgrading my mechanical BF Goodrich attitude gyro to a solid state RC Allen unit. They specifically ask what the panel tilt is of the DA-40. Anyone know off-hand? Most common selections on Spruce are zero and eight degrees. Thanks! Also awaiting Diamond tech to get back with me on it, but since ya'll are such brainiacs I figured you'd beat them to the punchline...

- Dax
N333WF
2003 DA-40-180

Re: DA-40 instrument panel tilt

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 1:50 pm
by Rich
I think it's zero. Does the RC Allen not have a pilot-accessible adjustment?

Re: DA-40 instrument panel tilt

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 2:55 pm
by Charles
It is zero and the unit is not adjustable. I've had the RC Allen for some time now and it works a looks great.

Re: DA-40 instrument panel tilt

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 3:18 pm
by Rich
It looks like the new units have a feature for the pilot to quickly resync the horizon to level at any time. This isn't for parallax correction as with older AI's as it's not a factor for digital displays.

Re: DA-40 instrument panel tilt

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 4:50 pm
by Colin
I looked carefully at replacing that trio of instruments with something cool. There are units that replace all the instruments with a single one. Seems like a good idea.

Then I realized that for a fraction of that price I could have a Stratus, Foreflight and iPad mini (with mount), and be covered for the emergency in what I consider a better fashion.

Re: DA-40 instrument panel tilt

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 4:57 pm
by nolen95
Guys, correct, there is an adjustment to do VERY minor pitch adjustments, in-flight, to compensate for CG. It doesn't have the range to compensate for buying an 8 degree tilt vice a zero degree.

My previous ride was a F-33A with an Aspen unit...great product but not worth the install cost due to the IPad/Stratus/foreflight combo meal that isn't locked into the panel.

The RC Allen 2600-3 unit costs NOTHING to install, takes about twenty minutes to drop in, my IA can sign off the TSO, and now have a virtually fail-safe ADI with no moving parts. All for $2500. And the amp draw is a fraction of the spinning mechanical gyros.

Thanks everyone. I'll grab the zero tilt and install.

- Dax

Re: DA-40 instrument panel tilt

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 5:25 pm
by Rich
nolen95 wrote:Guys, correct, there is an adjustment to do VERY minor pitch adjustments, in-flight, to compensate for CG. It doesn't have the range to compensate for buying an 8 degree tilt vice a zero degree.

My previous ride was a F-33A with an Aspen unit...great product but not worth the install cost due to the IPad/Stratus/foreflight combo meal that isn't locked into the panel.

The RC Allen 2600-3 unit costs NOTHING to install, takes about twenty minutes to drop in, my IA can sign off the TSO, and now have a virtually fail-safe ADI with no moving parts. All for $2500. And the amp draw is a fraction of the spinning mechanical gyros.

Thanks everyone. I'll grab the zero tilt and install.

- Dax
When my AI starts to go south, this is also probably the route I'll go.

Re: DA-40 instrument panel tilt

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 5:30 pm
by Rich
Colin wrote:I looked carefully at replacing that trio of instruments with something cool. There are units that replace all the instruments with a single one. Seems like a good idea.

Then I realized that for a fraction of that price I could have a Stratus, Foreflight and iPad mini (with mount), and be covered for the emergency in what I consider a better fashion.
Yeah, this combo is working great for me. I occasionally use the synth vision and the simulated instruments for practice, should I need this as backup some dark and stormy night :shock:

The synth vision is a useful augmentation even for normal flights, too.

Re: DA-40 instrument panel tilt

Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2015 3:29 pm
by Tim H
Can someone confirm the zero tilt is the RC Allen 2600-3 configuration that would fit my 2005 DA-40?

Also, anyone know what it costs to overhaul a mechanical AI?

My AI is going south, I'm pretty much sold on the RC Allen unit but just want to confirm the O/H cost of my old unit and tilt before I go ahead.

Any market for the old mechanical AI?

Thanks,

Tim

Re: DA-40 instrument panel tilt

Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2015 6:03 pm
by nolen95
Tim,

I just finished installing the RC Allen 2600-3 in my 2003. I understand you want to install one in your 2005? I'd call Diamond and get the accurate tilt as its more than likely not the same as my tilt since yours is a backup and mounted in a diifferent location.

Im happy with the ADI. I paid $2800 on Spruce, the install took about two hours. It took a bit of soldering using the old wires with the new cannon plug but it was super simple. FYSA...the panel tilt in pre-G1000 is actually -2, not zero as a few have commented. The old ADI that I pulled out had it clearly printed on the top of the device.

I made the decision to buy the RC Allen 2600-3 since an overhaul was about $1200 anyway at my field. PM me if you need/want any other specifics.