Thread: Know anything about new sensor

Roger L or anyother:

Does anyone know about this new "actively powered" oil pressure sensor? I discovered this under the new Dynon upgrade info:

Added: Support for new actively powered oil pressure sensor that comes preinstalled on newer Rotax 912 motors.

Roger H

Hi Roger H,

Rotax switched oil pressure sensor company's. They used to be VDO and now I believe they are Honeywell. I haven't tried one yet. I wouldn't bother switching unless your sensor goes out.

Heck, I have a collection of bad ones on the wall. Put'em in a zip lock and pin them up. When the current one goes out, I'll be switching!!

LOVE the plane but there are some little headaches!!!

Roger H

I agree with Roger , the sensor if you can believe it is even more expensive than the VDO unit, we just got a couple in a few weeks ago at CPS and I want to say that they are about $400.. they are nice and compact and come with a 10 ft lead already attached on it, it is a solid state digital sensor rather then the analog VDO units which are prone to issues if installed in high vibration areas. The units can be installed with a FlyDat but you need to put a resistor inline with it to get an accurate reading. From what I have heard it is mainly a liability reason for why VDO will longer supply the units. As far as the Dynons go I believe it is just a software update required.

.......but if you have 'steam' gauge,,,you will need a new gauge for the Honeywell sender

http://www.rotax-owner.com/SI_TB_Info/r ... &S_TYPE=TS

I'll just stick with the $39.95 cheap VDO guage as long as thet have them. I can replace that if I have to 10 times before I ever equal a Honeywell. I'll be old and dead by then.

fully agree..a VDO sender (remotely installed) will last very long

and the standard VDO at $40 is as good as the one sold by Rotax at 10 times the price

I personally will probably stay with the Rotax VDO unit myself just because I haven't had any issues as of yet with it, but I'm sure you guys agree that it is very comforting knowing that Rotax is acknowledging that there are issues with the senders and while the faulty senders may not necessarly be the reason for changing suppliers it will be nice having one less problem in the future with these engines. . . Now they need a fuel pump manufacture like Persburg that can actually make a decent pump rather then these leaky AC pumps that most of us have

[quote="beauciel"]fully agree..a VDO sender (remotely installed) will last very long

Your sender may last a very long time "remotely installed", but if you develop an oil leak in the 3rd party line, your engine might not. (and it will not be covered under Rotax warranty) I had installed one of the first remote kits which failed for no apparent reason. Inspection showed installation was picture perfect, but the remote line developed a pin hole leak.
Now my sensor is back on the engine, and will stay that way.

When installing the oil pressure sensor remotely, it is important that a fitting with a restrictor is installed at the engine. The restrictor will buy some time if the hose to the sensor ever fails. Since we are only measuring pressure little flow is required and the restrictor can be very small. Keep in mind that none of the other oil lines are protected from leaks by this restrictor. If the line to the remote oil pressure sensor is installed properly, then there is little chance of a failure, much less in fact than the other oil lines on the engine.

Keep in mind that the fuel pressure sensor is installed in the same manor, on the firewall behind a restrictor at the engine.

It is important that the remote sensor be installed by a qualified shop, and that all oil lines are kept clear of any exhaust pipes. Fire sleeve should also be used as required by ASTM standards.

John