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Trio Avionics EZ Series Operation And Installation Manual

Altitude control systems
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EZ Series
Altitude Control Systems
Operation and Installation Manual
Trio Avionics Corporation
Rev 1.8

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Summary of Contents for Trio Avionics EZ Series

  • Page 1 EZ Series Altitude Control Systems Operation and Installation Manual Trio Avionics Corporation Rev 1.8...

  • Page 2: Notice And Warnings

    Each homebuilt aircraft is individual in its construction, maintenance and flying characteristics. Therefore, while Trio Avionics has tested the product in a variety of aircraft, we do not represent or warrant that it is appropriate or suitable for use in your particular aircraft. Only you can make that determination and ultimately only you are responsible for its safe installation and use.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents Page Notice and Warnings ........................2 Introduction ........................... 4 General Information........................4 Operation............................4 3.1 Startup............................ 5 3.2 “Alt Hold” Mode........................5 3.2.1 Fine Adjustments to Altitude ................6 3.2.2 ADJUST TRIM Annunciator ................6 3.3 Pilot Command Steering (PCS) Mode ..................7 3.4 System Gain, Brightness, Contrast, Servo Deadband &...

  • Page 4: Introduction

    EZ Altitude Control System 1.0 Introduction Congratulations on choosing the EZ Altitude Control System. The EZ-1 System is designed to hold a precise altitude of the aircraft. The EZ-2 system has all the features of the EZ-1 system and adds additional safety features, vertical rate selection and vertical speed or airspeed capture capabilities.

  • Page 5: Startup

    with a green ALT HOLD message on the LCD display. (At this time servo activation should be detected by resistance to manual yoke or stick movement forward or backward) To disconnect the EZ altitude control system servo activation either the REMOTE AUTOPILOT DISCONNECT switch or the LCD SWITCH may be momentarily pressed.

  • Page 6: Fine Adjustments To Altitude

    The system will then immediately release the elevators from servo control and enter the READY mode. Turning off power to the unit will also release the servo. 3.2.1 Fine Adjustments to Altitude - While flying with the ALT HOLD engaged, the ENCODER knob may be used to dial in very fine corrections to the engaged altitude.

  • Page 7: Pilot Command Steering (Pcs) Mode

    If the pilot wishes to re-trim the aircraft without disconnecting the ALT HOLD, trim adjustments should be made in small increments. When each adjustment is made, the pilot should wait for approximately 30 seconds to allow the system to sense the change. If the “Trim” message remains, continue further adjustments until the ALT HOLD message returns.

  • Page 8: Safety Warning Features

    The TRIM SPEED setting is only available if the AUTO TRIM option is installed. The TRIM TRIM SPEED setting allows the pilot to tailor the speed of the trim correction for the particular SPEED airplane and trim drive motor. 4. Press and hold the encoder switch knob for 3 seconds to exit back to READY or ALT HOLD display mode NOTE: Even when the Contrast / Brightness / Gain / or Servo Deadband is selected, the LCD switch or the...

  • Page 9: Servo Clutch Slip

    If an EZ altitude control system control problem is suspected, turn off power to the system and contact Trio Avionics for direction before further use. 3.5.5 Servo Clutch Slip...

  • Page 10: Servo Fault

    If the problem persists, contact Trio Avionics for assistance. System Safety Features The EZ altitude control system incorporates many safety features to ensure the system cannot force the airplane into an un-commanded, unsafe flight regime.

  • Page 11: Servo / Trim Driver Chip Fault Detection

    “heartbeat” signal to the supervisory processor for a period of 65 milliseconds, the supervisory processor will unilaterally cut power to the safety disconnect solenoid and the trim and servo motor drive circuits. The problem will be reported to the pilot with the red SERVO FAULT message being displayed on the LCD switch Servo / Trim Driver Chip Fault Detection .

  • Page 12: Installing The Lcd Switch

    If you have an EZ-2 or EZ-3 altitude hold system, you will also be required to connect the electronics control module to your pitot system. This allows the system to sense airspeed so that it can limit Minimum Airspeed and Maximum Airspeed, allow Climb-on-Airspeed, and enable Pilot Command Steering (PCS) with airspeed control (see section 8).

  • Page 13: Servo Installation Setup

    Servo Installation Setup The servo unit incorporates important safety features: • The internal gears are pulled into the engaged position by an electric solenoid. When the gears are not engaged, the output crank arm rotates freely and the elevator controls can be operated normally without friction. When the servo is engaged, the solenoid pulls the gears into place so the servo has control of the elevators.

  • Page 14: Servo Mounting Hardware

    (elevator stop to elevator stop) without driving the servo crank arm into its limits. Most aircraft get best performance in the outermost hole. In the event the servo rotation is insufficient, the servo mechanical stops may be removed. Contact Trio Avionics if this appears to be necessary.

  • Page 15: Selecting A Site For The Servo

    6.3 Selecting a Site for the Servo For most aircraft, it’s relatively easy to find a suitable site for locating the crank arm servo. The length of the pushrod and, to some extent, the angle it makes with the driven element are user selectable.

  • Page 16: Install The Servo Pushrod

    The control movements are so small that it takes very little slop in the system to make the airplane not track properly. It will simplify installation adjustments if there is enough overhead clearance to allow removal and replacement of the servo lid with the servo remaining in place (for instance, you will possibly want to adjust the slip clutch).

  • Page 17: Adjustment Of Servo Rotation Direction And Servo Neutral

    The servo Torque Control nut (the adjustment nut inside the servo on the output shaft) sets the override force - the force you will feel at the stick when the servo clutch begins to slip. Engage the servo by pressing the LCD switch. You should hear the solenoid operate inside the servo housing and the servo crank arm should become firmly held in place by the gear train.

  • Page 18: Setting Trim Motor Direction

    Pressing the LCD switch will advance to the TRIM DIRECTION screen if the system has the AUTO TRIM option installed 6.6.2 Setting the Trim Motor Direction – This procedure is only available on models equipped with the auto-trim option. When in this mode, the LCD message will be amber and read “TRIM DIR NORM” or “TRIM DIR REV”.

  • Page 19: Servo Deadband

    degrees. If the altitude sags more than 30 feet after entering the turn the system gain needs to be increased. Perform step d. d. Increase the SYSTEM GAIN by 5 units, then repeat step c. NOTE: This gain setting is for smooth air tracking. If you enter turbulent conditions and the altitude excursions are more than what you will accept, you may increase the gain (clockwise rotation) to limit the altitude excursion.

  • Page 20: Operation

    8.0 The EZ-2 / EZ-3 ALTITUDE CONTROL SYSTEMS with Climb and Descent capability. Section 8 describes the additional features of the EZ-2 systems. The EZ-2 and EZ-3 altitude control system incorporates all of the features of the EZ-1 while adding several additional capabilities and safety features.

  • Page 21: Minimum And Maximum Airspeed Control

    under autopilot control, the pilot may adjust the rate by simply turning the encoder knob. The aircraft will then respond to that vertical command rate. It must be noted that soon after a climb or descent is initiated, the screen will likely flash a warning that the aircraft is out of trim. If the climb or descent will be of significant duration, the pilot must adjust the aircraft trim and throttle settings as required.

  • Page 22: Setting Minimum And Maximum Airspeed

    the aircraft will begin to climb. The pilot will likely advance the engine power to keep the speed up during the climb. Now let’s assume that the pilot rotates the encoder to command a 2,000 fpm climb. Most aircraft will not be able to achieve such a vertical rate and the aircraft will approach a stall.

  • Page 23: Vertical Rate And Airspeed Track Pilot Command Steering (Pcs)

    the encoder to enter a 500 fpm climb and press the LCD switch to engage the servo. Once the aircraft is established in the climb, slowly retard the throttle until the airspeed decays to the minimum airspeed that you have previously set. The LCD display should flash red and indicate “MIN AS LIMIT”.

  • Page 24: The Ez-3 Altitude Control System With Altitude Pre-Select

    pressing the LCD switch) will store this function in nonvolatile memory. The PCS mode will now climb and descend on airspeed rather than vertical speed. Therefore, a pilot may wish to climb at, say, 120 knots for best engine cooling. This may now be done by pressing and holding the remote disconnect switch and placing the aircraft into a climb that indicates an airspeed of 120 knots.

  • Page 25: Operation

    The EZ-3 ALTITUDE CONTROL SYSTEM with Altitude Pre-select Section 9 describes the additional features of the EZ-3 system. The EZ-3 altitude control system incorporates all of the features of the EZ-2 while adding altitude pre-select and other capabilities. • The pilot may pre-select a destination altitude. When engaged, the system will command the aircraft to climb or descend to the selected altitude.

  • Page 26: Menu System

    Once the setting is correct, press the LCD switch to put the system in the READY mode. The system is now calibrated and ready to use. If the system is cycled in flight, it will sense airspeed and the message will read as shown to the right (now indicating altitude instead of BARO elevation).
  • Page 27 From the READY mode, repeatedly pressing the encoder will toggle through the various mode screens as shown below (solid arrows). These screens will appear as amber (waiting) unless the LCD switch is pressed when they will change to green (working). A red screen either disconnects the EZ-3 or, in the case of max airspeed, indicates that significant safety measures have been implemented.

  • Page 28: Enter Vertical Speed (Vs)

    9.1.3 Enter Vertical Speed (VS) To enter a vertical speed, press the encoder switch to advance to the VS MODE screen. It will initially indicate a “0” vertical speed. To initiate a climb or descent, just dial in the climb or descent rate and press the LCD switch. The aircraft will then begin to climb or descend at the vertical speed that was entered.

  • Page 29: Altitude Hold Wiring Diagram

    10.0 Altitude Hold Wiring Diagram Altitude Hold Wiring Diagram Note: the +12VDC input (pins 12 and 22) should be sourced through a circuit breaker with a rating of 3 to 5 amps.

  • Page 30: Automatic Trim

    It is a common complaint that electric trim operation is often “too fast” and difficult to adjust properly. To address this, the EZ series altitude control systems offer a very effective means to adjust the speed at which the trim motor runs. Adjusting the trim speed is covered in paragraph 3.4 on page 8 and 9.

  • Page 32: Glossary Of Terms

    An electro-magnetic actuator that engages the servo gears RS232 Specification for data transfer protocol between systems 13.0 Contact Information AtecAircraft Belgium Sur les thiers, 207 Trio Avionics 1840 Joe Crosson Drive, Ste. A1 B-4040 Herstal El Cajon, California 92020 Belgique www.atecaircraft.be Phone: 619-448-4619 jd@atecaircraft.be...

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