Investigating future VM1000 replacement

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Rich
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Investigating future VM1000 replacement

Post by Rich »

What with everything working right now it's not urgent, but I thought I'd start looking a bit more seriously into the most straightforward path. First of all, the challenge: If you look at my panel you will see there really isn't any room to be squeezing anything in front of the pilot. This panel is referred to by Diamond as the "small panel" and is used in the 2002-2003 DA40 models. So the best approach is to put any new EIS basically in the current VM1000 location. For JPI products this amounts to either an EDM900 or 930.

The EDM 900 is too small to put where the VM is. The screen area is maybe 1/2 that of the VM1000, with small numbering to match. Very hard to easily read in that location. Curiously, at one time this unit had almost identical mounting cutout/screw placement as the VM1000. But no longer. Even with its current small size it won't fit anywhere but over on the right.

So I did a paper-dolly thing for the 930, taping it over the 1000:
IMG_0663.jpeg
The screen area is essentially identical, though with a different aspect ratio making it about 3/4" wider and maybe 1/2" shorter. This location just fits within the 21" lateral window from the center of the six-pack specified by JPI.

The G1 275 EIS could be stuck in the spot currently occupied by my compass (which could be moved) but doesn't do it for me, as it doesn't continuously display all the parameters I monitor. You have to scroll through several pages to get it all. In addition, from what I see in the installation guide there is no support for any fuel level sensors suitable for the DA 40 wing tanks.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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Steve
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Re: Investigating future VM1000 replacement

Post by Steve »

Rich: I guess I have the "large" panel:
IMG_6305.jpg
I have several places where I could place a 3.25 inch format instrument. I could even move my iPad to access the 2 - 3.25 inch holes behind it if that were a more convenient spot. The problem for me is that an instrument that small would likely be difficult for me to read easily. I agree that the original mounting spot for the VM1000 is best, and that a large format color screen would be best.

I'm not sure that there is room for the 930 in my panel, due to the proximity of the CBs.

Hence, my interest in keeping the VM1000 running...
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Rich
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Re: Investigating future VM1000 replacement

Post by Rich »

If anyone's interested, to make paper dolls I created a MS Word document with full-size faces of the VM1000, the EDM900 in portrait and landscape mode, and the EDM 930 in landscape mode. I don't see a provision for the 930 to be used in portrait mode which might be a handy option to have. One thing all these approaches do is eliminate the separate fuel quantity display gauge as that information is on the screen itself. So that frees up that spot for something else - or nothing.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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Re: Investigating future VM1000 replacement

Post by blsewardjr »

Rich- I am doing the same investigation. The JPI930 seems to be the best bet. JPI has made some changes to the back of the unit which allows it to be mounted flush without cutting the panel. Here is a pic from a DA40 that had it done. Bernie
Attachments
DA40 with JPI930 mounted on panel, not in panel.png
Bernie Seward, IR, AGI
2003 DA40 N377DS
KCHO Charlottesville, VA
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Rich
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Re: Investigating future VM1000 replacement

Post by Rich »

blsewardjr wrote: Thu Mar 02, 2023 2:34 pm Rich- I am doing the same investigation. The JPI930 seems to be the best bet. JPI has made some changes to the back of the unit which allows it to be mounted flush without cutting the panel. Here is a pic from a DA40 that had it done. Bernie
That example is almost precisely my original panel. That change you mentioned is you make a plate of suitable size with a 3-1/8" instrument hole and the 930 mounts onto that. A small cutout above the six-pack for the remote display is the only actual cutting of the existing panel.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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Re: Investigating future VM1000 replacement

Post by jwx96 »

The JPI 930 seems like a good/popular unit. The EI MVP 50P doesn’t seem to be as popular but has some good reviews. Also there are reports that EI customer service is good/better. Has anyone compared the 2 enough to write about it here? Also, how do the monitors work for fuel quantity? I understand that our DA40 tanks use less common capacitance senders vs resistance senders in most planes. I am not an engineer. If I get something I want it work well in my plane and be easy for the installer without a lot of trouble shooting and phone calls. Do either of these 2 monitors fit that preference?
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Re: Investigating future VM1000 replacement

Post by BuzzB »

My 2002 DA40's VM1000 was still working ok, but out of abundance of caution I wanted to replace it while it was still working. My shop recommended the JPI 930 and put in an order Jan 2022 quoting one month delivery. Shop checked with JPI after about a month on status, only to hear JPI had some concerns about compatibility with my plane. And in any case, delivery was pushed out by several more months. So my shop recommended going with the EI MVP 50P. The unit arrived a month or two after order, and installation began at beginning of August. My shop anticipated about two weeks for the installation. The very last step of the installation was calibrating the fuel gauges (the MVP 50P makes use of the existing fuel sensors). This involves draining the tanks, and adding measured increments of fuel until full. The left tank calibration completed, but the right tank's fuel sensor failed completely once the tank was drained! My shop had to order a replacement sensor from Diamond. None in stock, so Diamond had to order one from their supplier. This added another six weeks, but it calibrated ok once received.

The EI MVP 50P fits nicely into the VM1000 space. I've been flying with it now for 4+ months, and very happy with it.
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Rich
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Re: Investigating future VM1000 replacement

Post by Rich »

I will be looking into the EI unit, just haven't gotten too far into it yet. In their favor - they're local to me (10 minute flight).

Both the 930 and the MVP 50P documents do state support for capacitive fuel sensors. The EI installation manual gives a description into how they go about it, while JPI's is silent on the details. We do know that 930's have been successfully installed in DA40's. Both AML's list the DA40.

Calibration (when it's even possible) of any fuel indicators requires incremental filling of the tanks and recording of some reading or other.

Installation of various sensors seems pretty much a wash, though it's an open question whether some of the existing ones could be reused and whether there is any benefit to doing so. (After all, a type K thermocouple is a type K thermocouple.)
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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