HDX support for on/off sensors?

[jefish]

I'll be installing a header tank in my experimental, and there's an option to install a fuel sender in the top of the tank. The purpose isn't to show linear level, but rather to state that fuel either is or is not present at the top of the tank. If not, a big red light tells you that the wing tanks are no longer feeding the header, start looking for a place to land.

The manufacturer no longer has a source for the sender, so I'm left to find my own, and came across the UFS-AN:
http://www.pillarpointelectronics.com/sensors.html
http://www.pillarpointelectronics.com/downloads/UFS_Instructions.pdf

I can get these senders in a kit with a panel light, but it might be sexier to have it on the screen.

Does the HDX have the ability to monitor the voltage or resistance coming from this sensor, and display a big red dot near the L and R fuel scales, a third binary tank indicator? Like, "if V>n, then change warning dot from green to flashing red, and speak warning x"?

The PPE UFS line of sensors have three outputs: a 0 to +V "flashing" output that can be used with PPE's IND Alarm Indicator or the POPO indicator, a pull-to-ground output that can be connected to annunciators or other indicating devices, and a "logic-level" output that can be used with logic circuits.

Looking at the install doc, I can't determine whether I'd want to watch for high or low voltage, or maybe high or low ohms, nor on which wire. Any insight there is welcome. But "is this even possible" is the first step. Note that I don't have any avionics yet, still panel planning.

Thanks! (tanks?)

 

[Marc_J._Zeitlin]

I'll be installing a header tank in my experimental, and there's an option to install a fuel sender in the top of the tank. The purpose isn't to show linear level, but rather to state that fuel either is or is not present at the top of the tank. If not, a big red light tells you that the wing tanks are no longer feeding the header, start looking for a place to land.

Why not just install a third fuel level sender, just like in the wing tanks, and measure the level in the header? Then you can set your alarms so that when you get 1/2 gallon below the top of the header tank, it goes red and starts yelling at you, and you ALSO get a full range indication of what's left in the header tank, instead of just "danger Will Robinson, danger!". Way cheaper than the sensors you pointed to as well as more info.

 

[jefish]

The 1gal Skytek header is about 2” wide, 5” deep and 3’ tall. The inlets take up the whole top surface. No space for a levered arm style sender. Plus, a half gallon below the top is half empty, definitely want an alert before then.

 

[RaymondJ]

A little late here, but if you're still wondering:
Yes -- if you're willing to do a little bit of custom config editing, all of the above is possible (threshold on a voltage, a resistance, or most anything you can throw at it), plus a status light. If you want to get into the nitty-gritty, you can look at this wiki page: https://wiki.dynonavionics.com/Making_your_own_sensor_definitions; I also recently did some sensor editing and did a (probably too thorough) explanation in a forum post here: https://forum.flydynon.com/threads/...99s9-and-other-399-series-temp-senders.13256/

If you're not willing to learn the in & outs of a custom sensor config -- then it might be better to figure out how to shoehorn an already-supported device into your tank.

 

[jefish]

A little late here, but if you're still wondering:
Yes -- if you're willing to do a little bit of custom config editing, all of the above is possible (threshold on a voltage, a resistance, or most anything you can throw at it), plus a status light. If you want to get into the nitty-gritty, you can look at this wiki page: https://wiki.dynonavionics.com/Making_your_own_sensor_definitions; I also recently did some sensor editing and did a (probably too thorough) explanation in a forum post here: https://forum.flydynon.com/threads/...99s9-and-other-399-series-temp-senders.13256/

If you're not willing to learn the in & outs of a custom sensor config -- then it might be better to figure out how to shoehorn an already-supported device into your tank.

Yep, got a reply from Dynon as well. A binary "12v is on/off via pin_n" seems like it would be relatively simple. And your link to the wiki page will come in very handy!

 

[jefish]

Works great!