Kitfox Aircraft Stick and Rudder Stein Air Grove Aircraft TCW Technologies Dynon Avionics AeroLED MGL Avionics Leading Edge Airfoils Desser EarthX Batteries Garmin G3X Touch
Results 1 to 10 of 22

Thread: MGL EMS-2 Blaze Engine monitor install

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    wales,ny
    Posts
    710

    Default MGL EMS-2 Blaze Engine monitor install

    Had a few guys ask me to review my MGL EMS-2 Blaze Engine monitor installation that I completed yesterday. Here are a few pics and if you are one of those guys and are interested drop me a PM and I'll give you the details. Its a novel not a short story so via phone conversation will be best . Bruce N199CL

  2. #2
    Super Moderator desertdave's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Location
    Scottsdale AZ
    Posts
    304

    Default Re: MGL EMS-2 Blaze Engine monitor install

    Nice job!
    Care to share a parts list?
    I'm assuming it went on a Rotax 912
    Dave
    KitFox 6 Taildragger
    912 ULS
    Whirlwind 70” Prop
    Garmin G3x
    All around nice guy

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    wales,ny
    Posts
    710

    Default Re: MGL EMS-2 Blaze Engine monitor install

    Actually the install was on my Continental IO-240 powered Series 5. Parts from MGL- EMS-2 Blaze instrument, RDAC XG (a firewall mounted remote data aquisition computer), 4 of each EGT and CHT thermocouples with splice kit and extension wire and a VDO oil press. sensor (My current Oil temp sensor was compatible with the MGL setup). A quick look on the Aircraft Spruce website will make tears come to your eyes with the price of most engine monitors so 3 things jumped out at me when I saw this MGL at OSH this summer. 1) it was a drop in replacement for my Westach quad engine gauge and fit in the 3 1/8"hole without redoing my panel. 2) functionality and screen display - I believe an engine monitor to be one of the most important instruments in the panel and a great safety feature when it comes to engine operation & diagnosis, so instead of monitoring one cylinder with the old Westach , I can now see all 4. Some of the competitions units have what I would call awkward displays , and when on Takeoff roll I don't want to read bar graphs, when a quick glance is all the time you have , with the MGL green is good . I also installed a HI-LO limit warning light that is triggered by the EMS-2. 3) Price-
    The price on some of these stand alone engine monitors will bring you to your knees , while the MGL only made me start to buckle - call it $1050 spent on the above units. Bruce N199CL

  4. #4
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Chisholm Mn
    Posts
    1,562

    Default Re: MGL EMS-2 Blaze Engine monitor install

    I ordered an MGL engine monitor from this guy is the UK and had a good experience with the deal. Would do it again. Was almost 25% cheaper then if I had bought from the USA. You don't pay VAT when they ship out of the country. JImChuk
    https://www.parts4aircraft.com/mgl-avionics-blaze-ems-2-c2x27370932

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Smithers BC
    Posts
    32

    Default Re: MGL EMS-2 Blaze Engine monitor install

    Airlina have you had a chance to fly using the MGL yet and what is your opinion of it now?
    THANKS

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    wales,ny
    Posts
    710

    Default Re: MGL EMS-2 Blaze Engine monitor install

    I have flown about 10 hours with the MGL installed and really like it. The display is very readable and everything is user programmable , I especially like the ability to set warnings and caution parameters that activate a user supplied warning light .For example -I have CHT cautions and warnings based on Continentals limits. Also can set this light at minimum parameters, and I have it set to keep the light on after engine start to stay on until my oil temp reaches 75 degrees, which is the min that full power can be used-no runup until this light goes out. Very helpful to immediately get the pilots attention quickly. The unit has way more capability than I will use and the display I use the most is the one you see in the picture. As a matter of fact if you start adding too much info that cannot be displayed on the page , the unit has to switch to a second display page and does this at 2 sec intervals which I found very distracting . I do however manually select other pages in flight -for instance there is a leaning page that shows EGT's only in big numbers for more accurate leaning. So for the money I am pleased with the instrument -be aware though that the install is not a plug and play. I replaced a westach quad gauge that only monitored 1 cylinder, and to monitor all 4 you will be running a bunch of new wiring. As I recall new 23 wires to route and terminate. Bruce N199CL

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Nov 2019
    Location
    Tucson, AZ
    Posts
    39

    Default Re: MGL EMS-2 Blaze Engine monitor install

    I installed the MGL on my model V with Lycoming o-290. Mounted the RDAC on the engine side of the firewall as per the documentation and found that it over heats and CHT went up to 600 deg. Contacted MGL in South Africa and they told me that the RDAC has a max temp of 70 deg C which is about 158 deg F. Here in Arizona it could reach 158 without the engine running in the sun! So to fix the problem I added a cooling duct from the engine baffling to the RDAC to keep it cool and works fine in flight but still get erroneous indications if over 90 deg OAT during taxi. Im going to relocate it to the cockpit side of firewall with spacers to keep it cooler on the next conditional insp.
    Kenz
    Kitfox V Safari
    GRT Sport 10.1
    Lycoming O-320 -160 hp

  8. #8
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    wales,ny
    Posts
    710

    Default Re: MGL EMS-2 Blaze Engine monitor install

    Good to know Ken, thanks for the update, haven't experienced any issues yet with mine , but thats because I live near Buffalo where its still snowing. Bruce N199CL

  9. #9

    Join Date
    Nov 2020
    Location
    Alabama
    Posts
    1

    Default Re: MGL EMS-2 Blaze Engine monitor install

    Quote Originally Posted by airlina View Post
    Had a few guys ask me to review my MGL EMS-2 Blaze Engine monitor installation that I completed yesterday. Here are a few pics and if you are one of those guys and are interested drop me a PM and I'll give you the details. Its a novel not a short story so via phone conversation will be best . Bruce N199CL
    It's been a while since you've installed this - you still happy with it?

  10. #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    wales,ny
    Posts
    710

    Default Re: MGL EMS-2 Blaze Engine monitor install

    Quote Originally Posted by 311Brodel View Post
    It's been a while since you've installed this - you still happy with it?
    Yes Jeff I am still real happy with the Blaze engine monitor. It has worked as advertised and really like its functionality at a reasonable price compared to the other offerings out there. Even added a tach reading to the primary page of the display. One of the best features is the master warning/caution light which takes into account all the limits that are user programmed based on your specific engine parameters and will illuminate when any are exceeded or not met. Bruce N199CL

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •