UNIT OVERTEMP - your experience? |
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afassas
Groupie Joined: 21 Jun 2017 Location: KRGA Status: Offline Points: 68 |
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Posted: 14 Jun 2018 at 2:16pm |
I am currently dealing with the 2nd occurence of a UNIT OVERTEMP error on my IFD-540. My saga begins with a massive avionics upgrade project for my aircraft. My new avionics stack from top to bottom is:
Additionally, an Aspen PFD1000 and MFD500 with all the unlocks were also installed. The 1st occurrence happened after 6 flights and 4.5 hours of flight time from installation of my new to me, factory refurbished unit. The 1st error was UNIT OVERTEMP (36). The fix for this permanent error is a trip back to Avidyne and a thorough inspection for any damaged or failed components; only with that clean bill of health, then the error flag is reset and the unit returned to the customer (me). After the repaired/returned IFD-540 was reinstalled in my aircraft and and installation configuration settings made and returned to service by the shop, I picked up the aircraft and made a successful 11 minute flight to my home airport. No issues. I went to my airport with the plan to upgrade databases and check and/or restore some personal setups on my IFD-540. All of this was done with ground power and the engine not running on a 76 F degree day, while in the hangar. After 20 minutes of my electric Master On, Avionics Master On, and PMA450a, Lynx NGT-9000+, and IFD-540 ON; my IFD-540 displays a red UNIT OVERTEMP (6) error again. I have a support ticket opened with Avidyne technical support currently and am being instructed that the IFD will again have to be returned to Avidyne. Has anyone else had this issue? Is this a unit or installation issue causing my problem? I just want to fly and have my airplane whole and healthy.
Edited by afassas - 14 Jun 2018 at 2:31pm |
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Alex Fassas
Avidyne IFD-540 Lynx NGT-9000+ Aspen MAX PFD1000, MFD1000 & MFD500 Beech A36 KRGA |
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Gring
Senior Member Joined: 30 Dec 2011 Location: Kingston, NY Status: Offline Points: 720 |
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Did you check to see that both the internal fans are running at the appropriate speed (~10k rpm)
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afassas
Groupie Joined: 21 Jun 2017 Location: KRGA Status: Offline Points: 68 |
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Yes, see my photo of the fan speeds and internal temps. Also, pics of the internal temperatures. I just got off of the telephone with Avidyne Technical Support. After reviewing the units 1st trip back to them and repair actions taken, plus seeing the error, fan speeds, and internal temps, they are thinking that a temperature sensor itself may be bad, and falsely causing the error. They have seen a temperature sensor fail like this, but it is infrequent. This still requires a 2nd trip back to Avidyne to correct the issue and reset the error.
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Alex Fassas
Avidyne IFD-540 Lynx NGT-9000+ Aspen MAX PFD1000, MFD1000 & MFD500 Beech A36 KRGA |
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Gring
Senior Member Joined: 30 Dec 2011 Location: Kingston, NY Status: Offline Points: 720 |
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I believe if the unit goes above 60c it triggers the overtemp notice, and I don't think it resets and requires intervention from the factory.
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luchetto
Senior Member Joined: 10 Dec 2015 Location: Switzerland Status: Offline Points: 119 |
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I had both my 440 and 540 showing this alert on the same flight during the first summer flight after installation. These units are very sensitive to adequate ventilation. I had to lay two ventilation tubes being fed by outside ram air. Since then I have had no other occurences but in my view this has happened more than it should.
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AzAv8r
Senior Member Joined: 06 Dec 2011 Location: Arizona Status: Offline Points: 154 |
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We fly in Arizona. Intense sun, ground ops with air temperatures in excess of 100 deg F (but cruise at altitude to keep the air temps below 80). Have never had any overheat problems with our IFD 540. We do not have a cooling fan, although a small (7/8" SCAT) duct brings outside air to the back of the stack. I'll have to look at the temps the next time I'm doing a warm flight. |
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brou0040
Senior Member Joined: 13 Dec 2012 Location: KIYK Status: Offline Points: 720 |
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I also have a cooling fan, but honestly don't know where it goes. I'm in the CA desert and fly in air temps over 115 and I've never (knock on wood) had a problem.
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oskrypuch
Senior Member Joined: 09 Nov 2012 Location: CYFD Status: Offline Points: 3058 |
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What was the ambient temp? Also, what kind of aircraft, and are the side edge vents unobstructed? Overheat has not been much reported here, that I recall, and there are a lot flown in areas far hotter than Switzerland. * Orest |
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luchetto
Senior Member Joined: 10 Dec 2015 Location: Switzerland Status: Offline Points: 119 |
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I have a TB21 and the sun was coming from the back. The ground outside temp at that time was about 30 degrees Celsius. Both screens were getting uncomfortably hot to the touch. In the TB centre stack the radios do not stand out but then the side vents are also not physically covered there are about 3mm of space each side. I have an avionics fan but it is not sufficient only the ram air ducts helped to solve the problem. Not all issues are reported on this forum.
Overheating is an issue that has occurred to a number of IFD owners and in my case to both boxes on the same flight at 16000ft. Cabin temperature was comfortable, so it must have been installation related which means they aren‘t as tolerant and flush mounting requires extra ventilation from the back.
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oskrypuch
Senior Member Joined: 09 Nov 2012 Location: CYFD Status: Offline Points: 3058 |
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Yes, the Socata panel does compromise the IFD side vents' air flow, which will run your temps up. You might need to look at an auxiliary fan behind the panel.
* Orest |
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GBSoren71965
Groupie Joined: 25 Feb 2018 Location: MN Status: Offline Points: 52 |
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Now you have me worried. I have an IFD440 in a TB20. I have not had any overheat issues with mine, but this will be my first summer with the IFD.
I did fly it to the Bahamas in March with no issues, and just got back from a flight to Salmon ID. On the return trip to MN we landed in Gillette WY, it was HOT, Ipad overheated but no issues with the IFD. Anything I should do proactively? |
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luchetto
Senior Member Joined: 10 Dec 2015 Location: Switzerland Status: Offline Points: 119 |
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The Socata does have a tube attached to one of the outside Naca vents wich will direct outside air to the centre avionics stack. Check that this tube is correctly attached to the attachment point on the stack. The stub where the tube is attached to is made of plastic and could have warped over time. I had to lay a second tube from the other Naca vent to get enough air to the stack. The fan does work but was not sufficient in my case.
There are other TB owners here that have not experienced my problem. Might be dependent on where in the stack the boxes have been mounted and what other boxes are below or above them. It is clear that flush mounting deteriorates the heat dissipation through the side vents of the bezel.
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GBSoren71965
Groupie Joined: 25 Feb 2018 Location: MN Status: Offline Points: 52 |
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Is it more of an issue with the 540? Or does the 440 suffer from the overheating issue as well?
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oskrypuch
Senior Member Joined: 09 Nov 2012 Location: CYFD Status: Offline Points: 3058 |
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Well, it looks like you are not having a problem. You could just keep an eye on the annunicated temp, directly or by checking the logs - - but you are not even getting a warning. * Orest
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luchetto
Senior Member Joined: 10 Dec 2015 Location: Switzerland Status: Offline Points: 119 |
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Before getting the red overheat warning you will see a yellow one. This does not need a visit of the box in the factory. If you have a second navcomm you should switch the IFD if you should ever get the yellow warning. I have a 540/440 combo and both went red during the same flight within 5 min of each other.
If you want to proactively do something check whether your ram air duct is correctly attached to the left hand naca vent and the plastic stub at the back of the avionics stack.
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luchetto
Senior Member Joined: 10 Dec 2015 Location: Switzerland Status: Offline Points: 119 |
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switch off I meant
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