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Question about G3X touch and/or stand-alone engine monitor

H

Humrnv

Member
I have an RV-6 with an O-320 that is currently being overhauled. The only current engine monitoring gauges is an oil pressure, oil temp, and RPM. I would like to be able to also monitor egts, chts, fuel flow, and most engine parameters during break-in to hopefully make sure everything is going well. I have previously had a JPI 730 in my Cherokee which I liked so I do like the stand-alone. However, the cost of a new JPI system and most equivalent ones are expensive. I'm thinking about doing the G3X with an engine monitor add-on module and sensors instead. Seems I will get a lot more function out of the money spent. Does anyone out there have an opinion on if they prefer a stand-alone monitor? Does the 10" screen get too crowded with the engine and fuel parameters? I wasn't looking to do the G3X upgrade yet but if I have to spend the money on an engine monitor. I also have an AV-30 EFIS that would be replaced by the G3X.

Thanks
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
 
The G3X will be superior in every way to any standalone monitor. Not that they are bad, its just that you get so much more from a G3X.
 
If you’re on a budget take a look at the stand-alone engine monitor from GRT. It was designed in the last century (B&W dot matrix, etc) but it does work. When your budget allows you can add a GRT EFIS and display that data in color bar graphs, dials, whatever.
 
Humrnv said:
Does the 10" screen get too crowded with the engine and fuel parameters?
Click to expand...
In my opinion the G3X Touch engine info layout is very good and not at all cluttered or crowded. I like having the engine strip right next to the primary flight instruments. And Garmin has made incremental software updates over the last few years to improve engine info display and make it more configurable.

HTH

Dave
 
Faced with the same decision I am about to install a G3xTouch, I already have a G5 and autopilot
 
BobTurner said:
take a look at the stand-alone engine monitor from GRT. It was designed in the last century (B&W dot matrix, etc) but it does work. When your budget allows you can add a GRT EFIS and display that data in color bar graphs, dials, whatever.
Click to expand...
This is what I have in my -9A and we also bought one to install in our Zenith 801 project. The thing just works and works, soldiering on in glorious monochrome. And as you note, GRT has some relatively cheap EFIS solutions that display the data in whiz bang color.
 
First let me say that I agree with the previous responses that the Garmin G3X Touch solution is superior. However, just like buying an airplane, you have look to yourself and ask what is it that you want (what is your mission)?

If you are looking to invest in your RV and bring the avionics up to today's GA standards, increase the value, capabilities, enhance flying experience, safety, situational awareness, etc. then the Garmin G3X or Dynon HDX, GRT, or a few other very capable systems are the way to go. Most of us believe Garmin is superior and you pay the extra for having superior.

If you are looking to have just an engine monitor that provides the same engine information as the Garmin systems or any of the above mentioned systems, then you should look at other Engine Monitors companies. There are several companies that sell nice engine monitors in a small form factor but that is all you get... an engine monitor.
I have installed and used the Electronic International CGR-30 in a couple of planes, and for the money, it has been my go-to for Engine monitor only. There are a few other similar systems like the JPI EDM 830 series and Insight G2 that I don't know much about other than the display looks nice and it's inexpensive comparatively. There are so many options for Engine Monitor only, that you really have to dig in and see what you want. As mentioned above Grand Rapids (GRT), also MGL, AVMap, and a few others. I chose Electronic International in 2 of my planes because of a personal choice in their menu system and their primary focus on being just a engine monitor company... JPI is probably the other that I would choose. You get a lot of info in 1 small form factor.

When it comes to pricing comparison ---
  • Garmin G3X - There is no real comparison in price - you are buying a PFD that has all your flight displays but after you add all the modules (LRU, Engine Sensors, Engine module, etc) with no Autopilot... just to get to your engine monitors, you are looking at a minimum of $9K to $10K (maybe more). Again, you get so much more than just engine monitor and if you go this route I bet you decide to go all in and add autopilot servos, autopilot controller and other options which may end up being more like $15K to $20k.. so no comparison to just an engine monitor.
  • Electronic International- This system is pretty much all in at around $4000
  • Insight G2 - I've seen them advertised for around $2300 but I'm not sure what all that includes.
  • JPI EDM 830 - Larger display that fits in to 1 round hole - not sure if you have to purchase sensors separately but it's advertised for $2800.
  • Several other brands that mentioned above are even less expensive but have much smaller screen and are fairly old technology.

My point in all this is that you should really look at what you really want. In my opinion there is no comparison between the 3 engine monitors mentioned above and a complete advanced avionics platform like the Garmin G3X or other similar systems. Engine monitor is just a very small piece of what they offer but you have to buy the system to get the engine information.

Hope this helps, good luck.
 
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BCP Boys said:
My point in all this is that you should really look at what you really want.
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Agree. I also had a look at standalone engine monitors when I decided my upgrade, but found most either equally expensive, or outdated in display, data acquisition, etc.

BCP Boys said:
Garmin G3X - There is no real comparison in price - you are buying a PFD that has all your flight displays but after you add all the modules (LRU, Engine Sensors, Engine module, etc) with no Autopilot... just to get to your engine monitors, you are looking at a minimum of $9K to $10K.
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Don't agree. I had the dual G5 already installed, and the costs of the G3X as engine monitor upgrade were as follows, all in US$:
  • 175.75 GEA24 connector kit
  • 115.00 GA26X GPS antenna
  • 73.75 GDU470 install kit
  • 1083.00 Lycoming 4 cal probe kit
  • 3345.00 GDU470 7" portrait display
  • 795.00 GEA24 engine interface unit
Totals $5569.50
 
Dan 57 said:
Agree. I also had a look at standalone engine monitors when I decided my upgrade, but found most either equally expensive, or outdated in display, data acquisition, etc.


Don't agree. I had the dual G5 already installed, and the costs of the G3X as engine monitor upgrade were as follows, all in US$:
  • 175.75 GEA24 connector kit
  • 115.00 GA26X GPS antenna
  • 73.75 GDU470 install kit
  • 1083.00 Lycoming 4 cal probe kit
  • 3345.00 GDU470 7" portrait display
  • 795.00 GEA24 engine interface unit
Totals $5569.50
Click to expand...
Not questioning that it can be done cheaper than what I stated above, but I'll make 2 comments (without disagreeing with Dan57).
- The pricing comparison that I gave is from today - came off of the Aircraft spruce site. Everything you mentioned above is higher
- Why would you buy a 7" G3X screen and not use the main functionality that it was built for? I just want to make sure that the original poster understands that they have to buy several other modules to take advantage of what the G3X platform was really built for.
Can G3X be used as a standalone Engine monitor, yes of course. If that's what you want then go for it. I bet one day you will decide that that you have really nice system in your plane that you can upgrade to a complete advanced avionics platform, and you start buying the other modules and before you know it you are spending exactly what you I stated above. It's certainly a great path for future upgrade. . . . Honestly, if you do this and never upgrade to the full capabilities of the G3X then in my opinion it's a complete waste.
 
All above comments by BCP Boys are good and valid.

BCP Boys said:
The pricing comparison that I gave is from today - came off of the Aircraft spruce site. Everything you mentioned above is higher
Click to expand...
Yes, the prices I quoted were those I paid when ordering in August 23, and things have become dearer.

To the OP, as you guessed by yourself, many options are available. There are other avionic brands that also provide nice and cheaper stuff... for example we upgraded the RV-8 from it's dual Shelton screens to a dual GRT Sport EX, and for PFD/ND and engine monitoring functions the system works flawlessly.
Good luck in your choices ;)
 
I REALLY like my Insight G3 engine monitor. Easy to read with bar graph and numbers. CHT bar turns yellow, then Red based upon parameters you input. I was lucky and found a reasonably priced used one from someone doing a panel upgrade. The white bar shows EGT, and the number above it is the degrees lean of peak the cylinder is. Can also display OAT and fuel flow (I just don’t have the transducer).
 

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I recently made this decision. For me, a separate engine monitor made sense from a “separation of systems” and reduncy. I also have all the probes, sensors, senders wired and working. I upgraded my EDM-930 on JPI’s legacy product exchange program and for $500 have a brand new unit going into my, down the road, new panel.
I do like the fact that if my EFIS system takes a dump, I don’t lose engine monitoring, fuel levels, etc….but for multiple display folks that may not come into play, and is unlikely anyway.
I like the larger dedicated EMS display, although a second screen would give that.
What you give up are some really cool features in the G3X like flight planning integration. You won’t have fuel information integrated into the flight plan. My new panel won’t be done for a while, and haven’t used the G3X, just going off of what I was told by a large Garmin installer, well known here.

I don’t use an EFIS for flight planning, but it’ sounds pretty cool. I’m sure there are other feature you may give up without integration but I am happy with a separate system.
 
Strong advocated of the 10" G3X Touch. Compared to engine monitor, you're paying for ADHRS (although you could use G5 and upgrade later) and bigger screen. But consider the upgrade possibilities: autopilot for just the cost of servos (and the pain of running wires), and IFR is easy when you add the IFR GPS. Meanwhile, you get free a WAAS GPS.
 
Ed_Wischmeyer said:
Strong advocated of the 10" G3X Touch. Compared to engine monitor, you're paying for ADHRS (although you could use G5 and upgrade later) and bigger screen. But consider the upgrade possibilities: autopilot for just the cost of servos (and the pain of running wires), and IFR is easy when you add the IFR GPS. Meanwhile, you get free a WAAS GPS.
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Hi Ed - none of those things are related to having a “separate” EMS. My panel will have all of what you mentioned, with the G3X, just a separate engine monitor.
 
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