Skid ball adjustment.

[Elmer]

My skid ball is off to the left. It's in between the lines but toutching the left line. I think it's caused by the ADAHRS being out of level a little. Is there anyway to manually adjust the ball in the setup Skyview 1000 menu or do I need to level the black box better?
Thanks for any help

 

[Dw1oakes]

Elmer, Have you tried to push on your rudder peddles to center the ball?
If that centers the ball you need a rudder tab.
Just a thought
Dave

 

[Dynon]

If it's not mounted level with respect to the airframe, you'll need to adjust it. But the airplane flying slightly untrue/untrimmed can also have similar effects, as Dave points out.

 

[Elmer]

Thanks for the reply, I haven't had the airplane in the air yet. The DAR will be checking it for Airworthiness certificate today. With the airplane setting on the level, the ball is a little to the left. It would be hard for me to do another level on the black box because it's so far back, that I would have to unhook all the cables. I guess I need to get it in the air to see what the ball looks like.
Thanks again, Elmer

 

[swatson999]

"With the airplane setting on the level, the ball is a little to the left."

Then it's not correct...should be fixed, even if it is a pain.

 

[Edwardoc]

I have the same problem with my D1000. The ADHARs is too hard to get to to readjust so I just accept the new skid ball position (just touching the left line) as the level position after flight testing. Works fine.

 

[Dw1oakes]

Elmer, I am sorry I did not know that you had not flown the airplane.
Dave

 

[Elmer]

I have seen several pictures of Skyview 1000 and most of the balls are off center just a little. They would be to the left. I haven't seen any that are to the right. Have any of you seen the ball to the right, when the airplane is level?
I got my airworthiness certificate yesterday so I'll be seeing how it works. Thanks for all the help.

 

[60av8tor]

I have seen several pictures of Skyview 1000 and most of the balls are off  center just a little. They would be to the left. I haven't seen any that are to the right. Have any of you seen the ball to the right, when the airplane is level?
I got my airworthiness certificate yesterday so I'll be seeing how it works. Thanks for all the help.

Interesting thread. This how mine is straight and level:

My D6 backup is centered. Wish there was a way to adjust.

 

[mmarien]

Depends if the plane (ADAHRS) is level. Here's one showing it off to the right. The next picture is in flight with everything nearly centered.

 

[swatson999]

So which one is correct?

That's why it should be installed level, in a level airplane, on the ground.

 

[jakej]

Elmer
What I do is level the plane on ground using the same reference point at the wingtip - more accurate & less prone to levelling errors if using say the backrest or fuselage IMO

Jake J

 

[mmarien]

So which one is correct? Smiley

That's why it should be installed level, in a level airplane, on the ground.

I agree. The first screen shot was to demonstrate for Elmer that the skid ball can be off to the right contrary to his theory. The skid ball is probably off to the left in the majority of screen shots because the builder is sitting in the left seat when the screen shot is taken.

The second picture definitely shows the ADAHRS is installed correctly and what a person should be looking for in straight and level flight with no crosswind.

 

[Elmer]

Thank you all,
I will check the ball in flight and get back to this Re.

 

[swatson999]

Thank you all,
I will check the ball in flight and get back to this Re.

You're never going to get it right unless it's right *on the ground* before flight.

E.g. of a reason to do it right...heavy wing (typical in Van's aircraft when first flying). Before fixing ay sort of heavy wing problem, the ball has to be centered in straight and level flight (might require a small trim tab affixed to the rudder in some cases).

Awfully hard to diagnose an out-of-alignment problem when your measuring device isn't properly aligned.

 

[keye]

For those of us that have our ADAHRS boxes buried in a barely accessible location (in my case due to magnetic interference issues anywhere else), shimming and adjusting the box for level is a real pain. Any chance Dynon could make a change to allow say +- 3º adjustment in software to the slip-skid ball? I've been flying with mine touching the line rather than centered also, its not worth the trouble of digging back to the unit and adjusting it.

 

[jakej]

My reference to levelling the plane using a point on the wing tips is much more valid here AND getting the ADAHRS level is critical IMO, digital levels can get it within .1 of a degree. If access later is difficult then it's even more important to do it when first installing the unit. Dynon says you should have it ( some parameters) within 1 degree however I've never found any issues using a higher spec.

Any inflight errors seen can then be 'adjusted' by use of a tab, as Steve W said, or a wedge shaped piece can be added instead if you don't want a tab extending past the trailing edge.

Jake J

 

[paul330]

There seems to be certain amount of confusion creeping in here.

If the aircraft is leveled on the ground (whatever datums you wish to use) then any "error" in the slip ball must be caused by the AHARS being out of level and it needs adjusting and/or shimming.

If the slip ball is then out in the air then it is not an "error" - the aircraft is out of trim and needs a tab/wedge to adjust for cruise settings.  Any other phase, then you have to use your feet as taught all those years ago............

 

[dynonsupport]

Also remember that all the skid ball does is act like a bubble level. Thus, if you ever have doubt it is wrong, just put a level (digital or bubble) on top of the AHRS. If they match, it's the install that is off. It also means you can level it with a level during the install, assuming you trust the plane is level.