Electroair Electronic Ignition for Lycoming

[Rick]

This was posted on the other this morning - I'm just copying it here for all to see:

This was one of the more exciting prospects for me in the aftermath of Oshkosh 2011. Possibly a forum member who attended was able to speak with these folks. Electoair has been around a while mostly catering to experimental aircraft....now they have taken their electronic ignition system for experimental aircraft and certified it for four-cylinder Lycoming engines in most Cessna models.

If born out, the improvement to our IO-360's could be well worth the upgrade. Mr Kobylik states testing shows a 10- to 15-percent fuel savings in most applications. Engine power may increase 5-7 bhp. In addition to supplying a hotter, longer-duration spark, the system advances the spark timing for more efficient combustion at altitude.

This system replaces the right hand mag so you have redundancy with the remaining left one.

It is relatively affordable at $3400

There is a DA-40 featured in one of the photos on their home page, so they must have us in mind for the approval. Here is the link: http://electroair.net/

I took a look at the web site. It's an interesting concept - basically advancing the timing based on MP and load to provide optimum ignition timing. More fuel gets turned into power, and less into exhaust heat. I don't see any downside, but I'm waiting for you engine gurus to chime in on this one. Oh, and for the STC...

[Joey]

would this STC have any affect on the Supercharger STC?

[BRS]

would this STC have any affect on the Supercharger STC?

Good question Joey. Electronic ignition is on my want list too. But I've been holding out (amongst other things) for E-Mag to get theirs Certified (which they are working on but expect a few years yet to market).

I think the question really needs to go to the makers of the mag. My understanding is that they advance the timing with altitude increase. I would suspect that also assumes the engine will be producing less power with altitude increase. However this is not true with the SuperCharged stc. So I really don't know. I would at least expect that a different timing map would be required.

[Rick]

I think the question really needs to go to the makers of the mag. My understanding is that they advance the timing with altitude increase. I would suspect that also assumes the engine will be producing less power with altitude increase. However this is not true with the SuperCharged stc. So I really don't know. I would at least expect that a different timing map would be required.

I thought I read that Electroair was measuring MP, not altitude directly, so in that case, I would think it might play well with the Supercharger - possibly adding a bit more speed on slightly less gph, with lower EGTs. We can hope, right?

[Graham]

They have the STC for the 4cyl lycoming now. Wondering if anyone has heard of experiences with it yet? It is something I am mulling around as an addition to my DA40.

Thanks

[Lance Murray]

http://www.controller.com/listingsdetai ... ID=1258871

This airplane claims to have the electronic ignition installed. Anyone else have any experience with it?

[Colin]

If the left mag is still in play, but they change the timing of the right "mag" spark, don't the two conflict?

[BlackMammoth]

If the left mag is still in play, but they change the timing of the right "mag" spark, don't the two conflict?

No.

The earlier spark kicks off the ignition. The later spark doesn't do much of anything (unless there was some sort of misfire).

[Jean]

The second spark is not only for redundancy, it clearly improves gas combustion in the cylinder.
When you perform the magneto check, you shut down one magneto at a time, you notice RPM dropping and EGT raising resulting in unfired gas mixture burning in the exhaust (true for both magnetos).
I guess the best efficiency would be two electronically generated sparks but than, you would loose redundancy as electronic ignition requires electrical power unlike magneto ignition which is purely mechanical.

[Antoine]

On the Electroair web site there is a link to series of 3 papers done by the CAFE foundation.

Rather surprising: the electronic ignition delivered better fuel economy in LOP operations but otherwise it was not anywhere as convincing as one would tend to believe based upon the "modern = good" logic.

Could somebody brave and patient read these docs and give us a second opinion?