Insight G4 vs JPI 790 - pros and cons?

[mdrob1985]

Sorry LJ, I know you’ve got a nice 275 setup. I was wondering if Kevin’s G4 was using new digital senders. My PFD just went T’ts up and so I’m doing a panel upgrade that I was planning to do much later in 2025. My eyes want all Garmin, my wallet says we are going all Aspen. Unfortunately I’m having some trust issues with Aspen right now as that’s what has failed. I haven’t dug through the logs to see when it was installed but photos from 2015 do not show it. I can further reduce costs down by going with a G4 and new senders. It’s certified and meets my needs without cutting up my panel. I’ll have a bunch of hole plugs in place until I can get a new panel formed in 2026.

[n86121]

Currently I have a stratus 2S (w external power and antennas) mounted behind smoked piglass. Its status LEDs are visible in flight.

Why do I have this, as backup to the unlikely event everything goes kerplunk.
If needed I could still use iPad etc and keep going.

Consideration above throttles -
In my mind, right where engine monitor of any sort could go,
To put anything just above throttles
requires re-locating the stratus 2s ...somewhere.
I can probably find somewhere.
Over to right behind overlay is/was an opening holding an old radio,
so it might mount on back ...perhaps.

Or maybe just drop stratus 2s backup?

Option 1 - Simplest install - right of Shadin
Remove EGT
G4 goes where EGT currently is, to the right of Shadin.
Not a direct line of view, but pretty close, and probably good enough.

Option 2 - G4 above throttles.
Remove EGT
Re locate stratus 2s ...somewhere.
Use same or similar panel w 3.25 cutout
mount G4 right over throttles.
Maybe slightly left, to be clear of RPM which sits higher up

Option 3 - JPI 790 nice big digit display / scanning mode or stop
Remove EGT
Re-locate stratus 2s ...somewhere
Install JPI 90 right over throttles
Remove or leave shadin in?

Option 4 - Upper left of pilot panel
Not sure curing 3.25 into overlay panel would go perfect;ly,
but stuff in that area is no longer used, OM, MM, IN, panel/speaker etc.
Far way from engine gauges, but worth considering

[Learjetter]

You changed my mind with the photos…Since the G4 is STCd as primary EGT, put it to the right of Shadin FF as in option 1 leave everything else alone. Wire in all the sensors you can, and enjoy!

[n86121]

I find the G4 vibration analysis and percent power indications ...interesting.

Even to the right, the vertical temp strips for EGT and CHT will be fine.
I understand they change to yellow or red if anything starts to move out of range.

I have never seen one powered up. Reasonably bright and easy to see at a slight angle?

It appears the latest software also has an EGT leveling display of some sort
so anything that should stand out will, one way or another.

I BELIEVE EGT is not a required gauge on the 337, as it is called an 'economizer' I think.
So while it can't ground the aircraft, but still nice to know.

I partially rationalize this as another somewhat value-adding option as well.
As well as useful in cruise, and diagnostics, adds some value to the airplane,

[kbecker]

I never had fuel flow tranducers with the GEM 1200, so they were installed with the G4. I was finally able to do the GAMI lean test now that I had accurate fuel flow information.

[kbecker]

My G4 is mounted right able the trim wheel.

[n86121]

Hmmm. That would be nice, but I have a slaved stormscope wx 950 there.

SEPARATE STORMSCOPE
Its really nice to have real time t-storm tracking, vs 'dated' adsB
ADS blobology is good enough to widely-avoid t storms,
but I've had enough times where the T scope made a big difference.

Mine also gets real time heading from the autopilot AI circuit (which is always powered).
So strikes out to 200m always show relative to aircraft heading.

Personally, I find the separate real-time gyro-slaved 200mile T storm display ideal.
If it shows nothing, there is nothing.
If it shows something, it is real time,
not just tiny little strikes in an already cluttered map.

SEPARATE TRAFFIC
Similarly, I have the ATX separate display of TAS-fed active traffic.
While TAS and ADSB traffic are all integrated in the Avidyne orgasmic suite 550 map,
Like the stormscope, if nothing is shown on that display, then nothing there
(with any type of transponder, even basic mode C)

The traffic embedded into 550 map is okay, but not as clear (or attention-getting).
I'd say the biggest problem with everything-maps is too much-overlayed clutter.

BUT...
ADS B weather and traffic DO provide pretty good 'blobology.'
"Just say no"

If I had just those, would that be enough?

Hard to give up real-time separate displays though...