Item#: DALT-020 DIGITAL Altimeter/VSI - Radiant Instruments

BELITE ELECTRONICS is a Division of BELITE AIRCRAFT - Wichita, Kansas www.beliteaircraft.com E: [email protected] T: 316-253-6746

DIGITAL Altimeter/VSI

Item#: DALT-020

Specifications, Installation and Operation Instructions for Belite Digital Altimeter/VSILAST UPDATED: October 2014

current altitude is more than 100 feet off a legal VFR altitude (1500, 2500, 3500, 4500 ft ASL…)

Daylight readable LCD display, easy to read, dimmable

Backlight may be turned on anytime from the front panel (external dimmer switch not required)

Accepts external dimmer backlight input

Very low power requirement -- uses 10 milliamps (0.01A) of power in normal operation

May be connected to ship’s static air pressure source

APPLICATIONS May be used to display Altitude and Vertical Speed information in any experimental or ultralight aircraft.

Non-TSO’d; non-PMA’d. Also provides a variety of other safe-flight functions such as Density Altitude, VFR Cruising Alarm and Voltage Alarm.

DISCLAIMER: Products from Belite Electronics are not designed to be used in applications where their failure would endanger safe flight or human life in any way. They are intended solely for use in VFR conditions. They are not certified to meet any Technical Standard Order, and are not produced under a Parts Manufacturing Authority (TSO / PMA). As a result, they are suitable only for use in experimental and ultralight aircraft, and in Light Sport Aircraft, if meeting the requirements of the respective manufacture.

WARRANTY: Please contact us at [email protected] should your product need warranty service. RETURN/REFUND INFORMATION: Must be returned in new, resalable condition within 14 days. In the U.S. and Canada, this unit is warranted to the original end user for a period of one year, from date of purchase either from Belite or its authorized distributor. In Europe, this unit is warranted for a period of two years. Such returns from Europe shall include a bank check in the amount of $40 to cover repair return to Europe. Belite specifically disclaims all obligations and liabilities under this warranty, other than the obligation to repair or replace the unit, or refund the original purchase price, at Belite’s sole discretion, in fulfillment of all warranty and liability claims. If you do not accept the terms of this warranty, please promptly return the uninstalled unit for a full refund.

RETURN/REFUND INFORMATION: Must be returned in new, resalable condition within 14 days.

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A New Generation of Digital Avionics

T: 316-253-6746www.beliteaircraft.com

The Belite Digital LCD Altime-ter / VSI is designed to provide many critical pieces of flight information to the pilot in a single, small lightweight enclo-sure. The unit is not TSO’d or PMA’d. Use only in appropriate aircraft as a backup to certified instruments in VFR conditions.

FEATURES Displays altitude in increments of 10 feet

Displays Vertical Speed in increments of 10 feet

Altitude and Vertical Speed are simultaneously viewable on home screen

Weight of just 1.8 ounces (51 grams)

Displays last set barometric pressure continuously

Displays density altitude Displays pressure altitude Displays instrument (cockpit) temperature in Fahrenheit and Celsius

Displays absolute pressure in inches or Kpa

Displays system voltage User settable voltage alarm User settable metric (meters) or English (feet) display units

User settable VFR cruising alarm --- advises pilot when

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DIGITAL ALTIMETER/VSI page 2


INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS Fits into any standard 2.25” mounting hole Use only the screws provided. Do not use long screws Adapter barb provided for static line Requires a voltage source of 9 to 15 volts

SWITCHES & INDCIATORS The main LCD screen provides alphanumeric information to the pilot.

Three tactile buttons allow input of current barometric pressure (up/down); the middle button allows the user to cycle between display modes.

An LED output is also provided. It may display either a red or a green value, depending on flight condition & alarms.

DESIGN: This product incorporates the following:

Microprocessor with RAM and firmware Solid state barometric pressure sensor Digital thermometer (integrated into the microprocessor)

System level voltage sensor Tactile switches Multi-color LED output 2 line LCD display with variable intensity backlight

FUNCTIONALITY The product will provide Indicated Altitude (IA) information between 0’ and 19,500’, in increments of 10 feet. The product will not provide IA below 0’. All such indications will be reported as 0 (zero) feet. The product will provide, at a minimum, system voltage information between 9 and 15 volts, with an accuracy of not less than 0.1 volts.

The product will provide Vertical Speed Information in increments of 10 Feet Per Minute (FPM), between at least -3000 and +3000 FPM. Such information is updated 5 times per second, and may lag actual vertical speed by up to 7 seconds.

The product will provide temperature of the instrument +/- 3C, and therefore, all displays of density altitude are reported as affected by instrument inaccuracy and cabin / instrument.

Power draw is 10 milliamps (backlight off) (0.01A) Power draw < 100 milliamps when backlight on (0.10A) We recommend that you connect in series with your

master avionics power switch, and include a 1A series fuse. There is no internal fuse in this product. Overall physical dimensions are 2.5” x 2.4” x 0.9” (not including connector clearances). The rear external electrical connector has three wires: ground, power and backlight input. (The colors are black, red and yellow, respectively.) The connector comes conveniently prewired for a 9 volt battery, which is recommended for initial test and user training before installation. Thereafter, prior to installation in aircraft, the 9 volt connector may be snipped off and discarded. The ground must be connected to avionics (system) ground. The power must be connected to a voltage source between 9 and 15 volts. The backlight input may be connected to a variable voltage source, providing between 0 and 12 volts of power at up to 100 milliamperes. (The backlight input provides a direct current source to the backlight light). The brightness of the display will be variable to the input voltage. A typical source of such dimmer input is a potentiometer, with a value of 0 to 5K. Of the three leads of the potentiometer, one is connected to ground, the other end is connected to ship’s avionics power, and the middle (wiper) is connected to the backlight input of this instrument.

ACCURACY As this unit is non-TSO’d; non-PMA’s, the accuracy of this unit is not certified or guaranteed. Use only in VFR conditions as a safety backup to certified units and systems. Do not use in any aircraft where such installation would violate appropriate aviation regulations.

Typical accuracy is +/- 50 feet in altitude mode (subject to correction for installation, temperature, etc.). Due to averaging of vertical speed, typical accuracy is not specified in VSI mode. Typical accuracy in temperature mode is +/- 3C. Typical accuracy in voltage mode is +/- 0.1V. Other accuracies are not specified.

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OPERATION -- BASICS We recommend that you “play” with the unit using a 9V battery before permanently installing in your aircraft. Ensure that the 9V battery carries sufficient voltage – simply use a new battery, which will operate the unit for several hours.

Upon power on, the unit will initialize, flashing the red/green LED, and will display the “home” screen, which shows altitude and VSI information. Correct altitude display takes approximately 10 seconds. Correct VSI information takes approximately 30 seconds. Altitude and VSI will both count down, showing initialization in progress.

The unit will also alternately show current barometric setting and VSI information on the bottom line.

Depressing the up or the down arrow will change the barometric setting. Set as required to local pressure.

Depressing the middle button for more than 5 seconds will ALWAYS return the unit to the HOME screen.

When on the HOME screen, depressing the middle button for more than 5 seconds will toggle the backlight ON and OFF.

Some users may desire not to use advanced functions. Altimeter, VSI, backlight control and barometric setting are always available off the home screen.

OPERATION -- ADVANCED Pressing the mode button briefly advances the mode. The various modes which may be displayed are:

• HOME (ALTITUDE, VSI and BAROMETRIC PRESSURE setting are simultaneously displayed)

• DENSITY ALTITUDE• PRESSURE ALTITUDE• TEMPERATURE – FAHRENHEIT

• TEMPERATURE – CELSIUS

Density altitude is calculated using internal cabin temperature, not external temperature. It is displayed in multiples of 100 feet; and is not affected by local barometric pressure. Do not rely on this display for takeoff calculations; use airport information.

The barometric pressure may be changed when in this mode, but it will not affect the density altitude calculation. (Density altitude calculation is based upon pressure altitude, corrected for temperature.)

The pressure altitude screen looks like the image to the right.

There are two temperature screens. The first shows Fahrenheit; the second shows Celsius. Both are always consecutively enabled.

After the temperature screens, the absolute pressure is shown.

The absolute pressure shows your local pressure, uncorrected for local barometric pressure. Changing the local barometric pressure will not affect absolute pressure.

Depressing the mode button will advance you to the voltage screen. It shows you current ship’s power (shown right).

The following mode allows you to set the voltage alarm level (shown right).

The ALARM VALUE (9.00V in the above photo) will flash, indicating that it is a SETTABLE value. Touch the UP or DOWN arrows to change the ALARM VALUE in increments of 0.05 volts. When you exit this screen, by touching the mode button, the last value set will automatically be saved in the non-volatile memory of the unit.

IF your SHIP’S POWER is below the ALARM VALUE (In other words, a voltage alarm condition exists), a battery indication will flash (shown above).

• ABSOLUTE PRESSURE• SHIP VOLTAGE• SHIP VOLTAGE ALARM

SET LEVEL• FEET OR METERS

SELECTION• VFR CRUISING ALARM SET

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A New Generation of Digital Avionics

Web: www.beliteaircraft.comEmail: [email protected]: (316) 253-6746Facebook: BeliteAircraft

This flashing voltage alarm symbol is also present on the home screen of the unit. In other words, you are always made aware of a voltage alarm, even when on the home screen (Altitude, VSI, Barometric Setting AND Voltage Alarm).

The voltage alarm will not flash unless a voltage alarm condition exists. You MUST set the alarm to a value appropriate to your electrical system. As an example, many users with 12 volt lead acid batteries in their aircraft may set the value at 13.0 volts – any value below this indicates the aircraft electrical system is not charging properly.

THE UNIT DOES NOT PROVIDE AN OVERVOLTAGE ALARM --- DO NOT USE WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN EXCESS OF 15.0 VOLTS.

This screen allows the user to select between feet and meters. The FT/MT indication will flash, indicating that it is settable. Press the down arrow button to toggle it. Exiting the screen will save the value that the user selects. If changed to Meters, the various screens within the unit will show metric values, not feet.

Advancing to the next mode will advance the unit to the VFR Cruising Alarm screen.

The Zero / One on the right hand of the screen will flash. If set to One, the VFR CRUISING ALARM is active. If set to Zero, it is disabled. Touch the down arrow button to toggle the value. Advance to the next mode to save your selected value.

When the VFR CRUISING ALARM is active, any INDICATED ALTITUDE which is a legal VFR Altitude (1500, 2500, 3500, 4500…) will cause the LED to illuminate as solid green when within 100 feet of that altitude. For instance, 3400 through 3600 feet are

legal altitudes, while 3390 is not a legal altitude. When the altitude is illegal, the alarm blinks RED in color.

Shown is an example of the HOME SCREEN when the VFR altitude is NOT legal. Note that the RED LED is illuminated:

If the INDICATED ALTITUDE was legal for VFR cruising, the LED would be green instead of red.

NOTE: If enabled, the VFR Cruising Alarm

indication is active for every increment of 500 feet. For example, 500, 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, 5500… to 19500. There is NO DETERMINATION by the unit as to distance above ground level. There is NO DETERMINATION by the unit as to legality of a particular altitude or direction of flight or operation in incorrect airspace (such as indicated on charts, or in Class Bravo airspace above 18,000 feet). The operator is solely responsible for determining whether a VFR cruising altitude is safe, legal, or correct for the direction of flight, regardless of the indication of the unit. The unit is not capable of making these determinations.

Advancing to the final mode will show the serial number of the unit. Advancing one additional mode returns to the home screen.

From ANY SCREEN, a long depression of the mode button will return the user to the Home Screen. In other words, you do not have to cycle through all of the mode screens to return to the Home Screen.

OPERATION -- ADVANCED Cont.

Documents

Item#: DALT-020 DIGITAL Altimeter/VSI - Radiant Instruments