Has anyone tried using one of the Orbit or FADEC AECU's with
a RAM 500. The FADEC unit appears to use a 4 wire connection
for the optical sensor while the ORBIT uses the 3 and looks like
a nice replacement unit.
Anyone have experience with either of these units.

Thanks in advance
W.G.Hunter

I think the orbit uses an optical sensor, while the RAMs use magnetic...

OK, you guys probably don't want to hear this, and maybe Joe Amato or those in the know can clarify. As I understand it, every production turbine certified by the AMA has been certified as a match set, turbine and controller. If you change the controller to that of a different design, it is now not a production engine. Exactly what it would fall under, I don't know. Perhaps it could be certified under the kit or homebuilt regs.

Anybody have a clearer picture? Frankly I also would like to get different controllers for all my RAM's.

Gaspar's FADEC comes in, I think, at least three different flavors. He offers it as a pressure controlled ECU (as in the original RAM ECU), for an optical RPM sensor, and for a magnetic sensor. My TJT 3000s have the latter and it uses a three wire set up. I am not familiar with the other two types. The ones that I have work very well and I do not see why they could not be adapted to other engines. In fact, they have been used on many different types and brands.

Tony is correct - when a turbine is accepted by AMA it is accepted as a package. If you wish to use a different ECU it needs to be approved as a "third party ecu". The manufacturer of the ECU needs to submit the data on the control parameters, functions, etc., and send a unit to AMA for a test-run. As of now the only third party ECU accepted by AMA (and the only one that has applied!) is the Electro Dynamics ECU, specific to the RAM 750 and 1000.

JA

Hi


Any modifications done to a production turbine engine by the hobbyist puts him-her in the home build category witch means an AMA CD and a turbine waiver holder must see your engine run before returning to an AMA site.

Now here is the catch, before AMA will approve an engine under the home build category it must be approved by the GTBA most all are covered, but not the Sophia or jpx.

So when we follow AMA rules to the letter if you have a Sophia or jpx and say you lose a 3mm screw you must have it replaced only by an authorized Sophia or jpx service agent.

The way I look at this is turbines are still new to the hobby and AMA is doing its best to keep up with all that’s going on don’t be surprised if by the time I post this the AMA adjust its pdf.

Yes I am with woketman the FADEC is a turbine friendly unit I am using the pressure control ECU but it also reads rpm from any type rpm sensor system that model turbines may employ.
We even tacked I prop with it in testing.

Johnny

With regard to using an alternative ecu other than what the engine was approved with.
As the distributor for the Fadec line of controllers I have been asked on many an occasion about using this controller as a substitute ecu when an engine is sent to the AMA for approval it is sent together as a complete package IE. Engine, fuel pump, and ECU it is tested and then the approval sent to the AMA safety committee for final approval.
So while it would be a stretch to say when a screw is changed this makes the engine no longer approved when an ecu is changed this does make the engine no longer approved unless the engine goes back through the approval process with the ECU which is now going to be an after market approved ECU for this engine, this would have to be done with each and every engine manufactured and if you are thinking about the home built acceptance of the this configuration this would not fall into this category as the engine is not a home built but a production engine.