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Altimeters

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naumuk(at)alltel.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 4:19 pm Post subject: Altimeters

All-

     What's the difference between a  "Sensitive" and a "Non-sensitive" altimeter? Going Dynon for primary,  researching backup steam gauges.

 Bill Naumuk

Townville, Pa.

HDS  Systems/Corvair 95%

   [quote][b]

craig(at)craigandjean.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 4:53 pm Post subject: Altimeters

“Modern aircraft use a "sensitive altimeter" which has a primary needle that makes multiple revolutions, and one or more secondary needles that show the number of revolutions, similar to a clock face. In other words, each needle points to a different digit of the current altitude measurement.”  

   

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altimeter  

   

-- Craig  

       

From: owner-zenith-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-zenith-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Bill Naumuk

 Sent: Monday, July 21, 2008 6:16 PM

 To: zenith list

 Subject: Altimeters  

  

  

     

All-  

    

    What's the difference between a "Sensitive" and a "Non-sensitive" altimeter? Going Dynon for primary, researching backup steam gauges.  

    

Bill Naumuk

 Townville, Pa.

 HDS Systems/Corvair 95%  

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jaybannist(at)cs.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 4:59 pm Post subject: Altimeters

Bill,

 

 I have always heard the term "sensitive" applied to altimeters that have the ability to correct for barometric pressure (the Kollsman window) ; and "non-sensitive" to those that didn't have that ability.

 

 Jay in Dallas

 Do not archive

 

   

 

   

 

 --

bryanmmartin

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1018

Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 5:06 pm Post subject: Altimeters

A non sensitive altimeter generally has only one needle to indicate the altitude. It goes from zero to the instrument's maximum reading in one sweep of the needle. A sensitive altimeter has two or more needles to indicate altitude, usually one for hundreds of feet, one for  thousands of feet and possibly one for tens of thousands of feet. The sensitive altimeter allows a more precise readout of altitude but costs more than a non sensitive type.



If you do much flying around controlled airspace, the sensitive altimeter makes it easier to avoid accidently violating the altitude limits of that airspace.



On Jul 21, 2008, at 8:15 PM, Bill Naumuk wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  All-

    What's the difference between a "Sensitive" and a "Non-sensitive" altimeter? Going Dynon for primary, researching backup steam gauges.

Bill Naumuk

Townville, Pa.

HDS Systems/Corvair 95%



	






 -- 

Bryan Martin

N61BM, CH 601 XL,

RAM Subaru, Stratus redrive.

do not archive.



 



 [quote][b]

_________________
--
Bryan Martin
N61BM, CH 601 XL, Stratus Subaru.
do not archive.

raymondj(at)frontiernet.n
Guest

Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 5:23 pm Post subject: Altimeters

I think the sensitive measures in 1ft increments and the nonsensitive 

measures in 10 ft increments.

Sensitive altimeter

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/inpages/sensitive_altimeter.php

Nonsensitive altimeter

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/inpages/falconlightaltimeter.php



Raymond Julian

Kettle River, MN



"Hope for the best,

but prepare for the worst."



do not archive



---

n801bh(at)netzero.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 4:52 am Post subject: Altimeters

Ben Haas

N801BH

www.haaspowerair.com

 The "non sensitive" one can stand being yelled at when you are not at the proper altitude..

  The "Sensitive" one will pack its bags and move home to her mother.....

  

 do not archive

 



 



--

jmcburney(at)pobox.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 6:11 am Post subject: Altimeters

Hi, Bill,



All said before re: sensitive vs nonsensitive altimeters is right, but the

Kollsman window post is the critical one.  ATC wants you to maintain

altitude ref MSL, which you CANNOT do in the air unless you can set your

altimeter to local barometric pressure.  So if you go X/C or the barometer

changes while you're aloft, you have no reference.  It also helps to know

your height above ground when you approach to land!  Get a sensitive

altimeter -- the others are for J-3 restorations.



Do not archive



Blue skies and tailwinds



Jim

CH-801

DeltaHawk diesel

Augusta GA

90% done, 90% left

Iberplanes

Joined: 10 Dec 2007
Posts: 174
Location: Igualada - Barcelona - Spain

Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 6:34 am Post subject: Altimeters

Hello, 

 

 What about this one? 

 

 http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/inpages/tlaltimeter.php

 

 

 Altimeter TL-3524 is an altimeter with encoder in one. With the Altimeter, not only you can save weight by having two instruments in one but in addition it is also one of the first encoders that transmit the code immediately after the turn-on. In your Altimeter, you can easily set the height that is to be kept - the instrument will then inform you whether you are above or bellow this set height, the MDA, approach. 

        

  The instrument also informs you on reaching the transition altitude, the height with lack of oxygen etc. Using a PC and the program that is a part of the delivery, the Altimeter also enables you any time to go through the history of measured values.Size: 2-1/4" Not FAA approved. For homebuilt/experimental only.

 

 

 

 Alberto Martin

www.iberplanes.es

Igualada - Barcelona - Spain



----------------------------------------------

Zodiac 601 XL Builder

Serial: 6-7011



Tail Kit: Finished

 Wings: Not Started

Fuselage: Ordered

Engine: Jabiru 3300



 

  [quote][b]

_________________
Alberto Martin
601 XL - Jabiru 3300
http://www.iberplanes.es
Igualada - Barcelona - Spain

goodings(at)yorku.ca
Guest

Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 7:48 am Post subject: Altimeters

The sensitive altimeter is the one with 2 or 3 hands (10', 100', 1000') as 

has already been said.  BUT, an important difference is that an 

insensitive altimeter (typically 1 hand, 1 rotation, 100' increments) can 

use internal cabin pressure for static pressure.  But a sensitive 

altimeter requires a GOOD static pressure port.  This can be hard to 

achieve - the side of the front fuselage (a la Cessna) is a bit hit and 

miss, in my opinion.  (I know people who have installed 3 before they got 

something that read correctly.)  We used a combined pitot tube/static 

pressure port from a crashed Piper mounted 2/3 of the way out from the 

fuselage under the wing.  From the beginning, it gave correct airspeed and 

altimeter readings.  Maybe we were lucky!  (The altimeter, of course, uses 

just the static pressure reading.)



John Goodings, C-FGPJ, CH601HD with R912S, Carp/Ottawa/Toronto.

naumuk(at)alltel.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 3:54 pm Post subject: Altimeters

Bryan-

     This is probably the best  description of the difference posted. I assume (And this is a big assumption)  that the readings within the sweep of the one hand are as accurate as those of  the "Sensitive" alts.

     If my assumption is correct,  since this is intended to be a backup instrument to the D-100 I'll be OK. I'm a  relative flat-lander and have only busted 6-7K feet in a rental in Colorado.  

     Everyone, do your best to  dissuade me- open season. 

     Doesn't matter, I have to work  on the house anyway. Check this out:

     Contracted a guy to put siding  on the front of the house. Gave him an idea of what needed to be done and a  rough estimate of the time it would take. He left, then half hour later came  back and said he couldn't work under a homeowner's time estimate and no quoted.  This is after the materials had already been ordered.

     I estimated the  worst portion of the job would take 2 hrs. After he no-quoted I was so  pissed I went out and did it myself in 22 minutes.

     And people wonder why  it's taken me so long to complete my project!!!!

                                                                         Bill

                                do  not archive 

 [quote]   ---

Gig Giacona

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1416
Location: El Dorado Arkansas USA

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 5:29 am Post subject: Re: Altimeters

The only thing I'll try to talk you out if is buying a Falcon anything. In the long run, heck even the short run, it will cost you more money than a good used altimeter (sensitive or not).



To figure the correct price on any Falcon instrument take the cost and add the cost of the one you will end up replacing it with. You save money by just skipping the first step.

 	  naumuk(at)alltel.net wrote: 	
		  Bryan-

     This is probably the best  description of the difference posted. I assume (And this is a big assumption)  that the readings within the sweep of the one hand are as accurate as those of  the "Sensitive" alts.

     If my assumption is correct,  since this is intended to be a backup instrument to the D-100 I'll be OK. I'm a  relative flat-lander and have only busted 6-7K feet in a rental in Colorado.  

     Everyone, do your best to  dissuade me- open season.

_________________
W.R. "Gig" Giacona
601XL Under Construction
See my progress at www.peoamerica.net/N601WR

goodings(at)yorku.ca
Guest

Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 6:35 am Post subject: Altimeters

My Falcon sensitive altimeter has behaved perfectly from the beginning. 

It has now been in operation for more than 3 years.



John Goodings, C-FGPJ, CH601HD with R912S, Carp/Ottawa/Ottawa.

Gig Giacona

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1416
Location: El Dorado Arkansas USA

Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 7:23 am Post subject: Re: Altimeters

You are truly blessed. I know of 9 different Falcon instruments installed in 5 different planes and all but 1 instrument failed in less than a year. 



 	  goodings(at)yorku.ca wrote: 	
		  My Falcon sensitive altimeter has behaved perfectly from the beginning. 

It has now been in operation for more than 3 years.



John Goodings, C-FGPJ, CH601HD with R912S, Carp/Ottawa/Ottawa.

_________________
W.R. "Gig" Giacona
601XL Under Construction
See my progress at www.peoamerica.net/N601WR

steerr(at)bellsouth.net
Guest

Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:08 am Post subject: Altimeters

Mine's not even off the ground yet, but I've to reset the Kollsman window 

twice on it.  Sometimes it jumps thousands of feet in equivalent altitude 

for a given barometic setting.



Bill



Do not archive



---

Iberplanes

Joined: 10 Dec 2007
Posts: 174
Location: Igualada - Barcelona - Spain

Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:00 pm Post subject: Altimeters

What about RC Allen? Is it considered a reliable brand? 



2008/7/24 John Goodings <goodings(at)yorku.ca (goodings(at)yorku.ca)>:

 	  Quote: 	
		   --> Zenith-List message posted by: John Goodings <goodings(at)yorku.ca (goodings(at)yorku.ca)>

 

 My Falcon sensitive altimeter has behaved perfectly from the beginning. It has now been in operation for more than 3 years.

 

 John Goodings, C-FGPJ, CH601HD with R912S, Carp/Ottawa/Ottawa.

 

 

 

 

 

 	


-- 

Alberto Martin

www.iberplanes.es

Igualada - Barcelona - Spain



----------------------------------------------

Zodiac 601 XL Builder

 Serial: 6-7011



Tail Kit: Finished

Wings: Not Started

Fuselage: Ordered

Engine: Jabiru 3300 

  [quote][b]

_________________
Alberto Martin
601 XL - Jabiru 3300
http://www.iberplanes.es
Igualada - Barcelona - Spain

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