Hi guys,

I have the possibility of getting a very cheap G1 Insight from a friend that did an upgrade. When I look on their website, they say the G1 is only for carburated and 4 cylinders engine. But when i look at the manual, I know there is a layout for 6 cylinders..and it comes from a 180...So my guess is that they want to push the G2-3or4 for injected engines… I am correct? Is the G1 going to do the job for me with my 185? I dont need cool user friendly features, all I want is EGT-CHT infos for my 6 cylinders, which the G1 can provide me..correct?

PS: I wish I could afford now a nice JPI including everything (egt, cht, batt, FF, fuel qty) but that is going to have to wait a year or 2. Now I have this G1 option for 400-500$ with all 12 probes included.

Thanks for your help and comments!

I'd call Insight and ask them the question. Might work, BUT, you'll still have to get an STC for installation if you want it to be legal, I think. Guess where those will have to come from? In any case, I doubt they have anything to gain or lose in this process. Give them a call.

I've used the Insight egt/cht instruments in a 185, but I can't tell you which "flavor" the instrument was. As you say, it's just a very basic six point instrument with no bells or whistles.


MTV

I have the Insight G1 in my '73 185 that came with the airplane when I bought it. I have the installation manuals and STC paperwork as well. This version is somehow approved for fuel injected engines but it's not very elegant. I have a carb temp field at the top of the display that simply shows an open sensor (since there is no carb).

The unit does it's job, but it is a little flaky. It will get stuck on it's power up screen every once in a while because it thinks one of the two buttons is stuck. Also, it's installed low in the panel and the display is dimmed with a photocell. Because it's low in the panel it thinks it's dark all the time and dims the display making it hard to read in daylight. My advice would be to mount it high on the panel so that photocell can estimate accurate lighting conditions a little better.

As you already know, it's pretty basic but it does show CHT and EGT and provides a basic leaning feature which makes it simple to use. No data logging capability though, even though there is a slot for an SD card.

Thanks for your answers guys!!
So I guess I will asked directly Insight to provide me the STC. Hopefully it is easy?

Why is there an SD card slut if there is no data recording?

Thanks!!

Expect a fee to them for the STC transfer to your plane. SD card slot is probably for firmware update capability.

400888 indicates he is in Laval, I assume Quebec. Transport Canada has different rules regarding STC. If the original paperwork is with the G1, that may be sufficient. Doesn’t always require new STC paperwork. Talk to Insight though. Good Canadian Company. No cross border difficulties for you in Quebec.

A1Skinner, can you comment on STC transfers in Canada?

Slippery Wing wrote:I have the Insight G1 in my '73 185 that came with the airplane when I bought it. I have the installation manuals and STC paperwork as well. This version is somehow approved for fuel injected engines but it's not very elegant. I have a carb temp field at the top of the display that simply shows an open sensor (since there is no carb).

The unit does it's job, but it is a little flaky. It will get stuck on it's power up screen every once in a while because it thinks one of the two buttons is stuck. Also, it's installed low in the panel and the display is dimmed with a photocell. Because it's low in the panel it thinks it's dark all the time and dims the display making it hard to read in daylight. My advice would be to mount it high on the panel so that photocell can estimate accurate lighting conditions a little better.

As you already know, it's pretty basic but it does show CHT and EGT and provides a basic leaning feature which makes it simple to use. No data logging capability though, even though there is a slot for an SD card.

I have one in my 180 and have had the exact same experience as slippery wing.

It works, but the graphics occasionally hang up boot up. On a cool damp morning it may require multiple restarts before it sorts things out.

The numbers are too small to read in some scenarios.

I do trust the data when it's running properly though.

Pinecone wrote:400888 indicates he is in Laval, I assume Quebec. Transport Canada has different rules regarding STC. If the original paperwork is with the G1, that may be sufficient. Doesn’t always require new STC paperwork. Talk to Insight though. Good Canadian Company. No cross border difficulties for you in Quebec.

A1Skinner, can you comment on STC transfers in Canada?

yes, that is where I am located on a River near CYUL. I just sent an email to Jim at Insight regarding the requierement of an STC and also to get his comments regarding my possible installation into my 185. I'll keep you guys updated!

Scolopax wrote:

Slippery Wing wrote:

I have one in my 180 and have had the exact same experience as slippery wing.

It works, but the graphics occasionally hang up boot up. On a cool damp morning it may require multiple restarts before it sorts things out.

The numbers are too small to read in some scenarios.

I do trust the data when it's running properly though.

Yes, I understand it is not the best, but I if I can only get my 6 cylinders EGT CHT's in permanence that's a huge + for me. It's too bad that there is no manual Dim and that it is having troubles in cold weather though.
I'll see what kind of answers Jim at Insight will give me before taking a decision.
Thanks for your help and comments guys!

I had the very first G1 sold in the US, before the FAA STC had been approved--Transport Canada had already approved it. Shortly after the Denver office approved the 337, the FAA STC came through. After about a year, Insight updated the software, but although I followed the instructions and had the proper SD card (that's how updates are done, online and then transferred to the SD card, then to the instrument), it wouldn't update. But Insight sent me a new one, all updated, and only asked that I send them the faulty one after the new one was installed. Since then, there has been an additional update, which updated easily. Mine has worked perfectly ever since then.

The carb temperature is an option, cheap at about $100 as I recall--which any carbureted engine should have. Not only do I use it in flight, but during every run-up, I can check to make sure that the carb heat is working.

Very nice people to deal with. Since mine was so new, there were some installation questions as well as some operational questions, and they readily responded to all of my questions and my IA's questions. Then when I had the update problems described above, they were very helpful, first trying to solve the issue but finally deciding to replace it.

If I had to do it again, I might consider getting an "upper" model, because when I've had engine issues, I have had to make notes on what the temps are in different circumstances. If I had a different model, I could just pull the SD card and give it to my IA to review on his computer. But overall, I've been very satisfied with my G1.

Cary

Wow, I am still running a GEM610. That G1 would be a nice little upgrade. Let me know if you decide to go another route and the unit is still available.