View Full Version : Portable g meter?
Anyone have any info on portable g meters, preferably electronic with data storage and download facilities?
OpenCirrus619
7th Mar 2006, 11:54
http://www.sportys.com/terryc/images/7761l.jpg
Sportys - G Meter (http://www.sportys.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&did=19&product_id=6321)
This handy g-meter is perfect for aerobatic airplanes—now you can know exactly how many g's you pulled during that maneuver. Also useful in training aircraft for teaching steep turns, unusual attitudes, etc. The easy-to-read display shows both instantaneous readings and max/min values for review after the maneuver is complete. Operation is simple—just press one of the three large buttons. Operates on two AAA batteries (not included). 4 1/8"l x 2 1/4"w.
Features:
memory with highest and lowest readings
easy-to-read display
light weight
intuitive operation
Saw this in one of the flying mags this month :ok:
OC619
FiddlerMax
7th Mar 2006, 13:24
If you're lucky enough to own a recent Powerbook, and can program a little, you can write a g-meter program yourself and save yourself $200. The safety feature to prevent hard disc damage when you drop the computer is easily hijacked, so you could just poll it once a second and write it to a file. Have a look here for some cool examples:
http://www.kernelthread.com/software/ams/ams.html
Make sure you strap it down well before pulling serious gs!
Apologies if you're not as hopelessly geeky as me :-)
Fiddlermax, that's so far beyond my programming abilities that an astronomical telescope would be needed, also a helmet would be needed in case the powerbook broke free :eek: .
Opencirrus, that's the sort of thing. Don't happen to know if it stores data and downloads etc?
ultimatepro63
7th Mar 2006, 17:34
a shop called transair to that sportys g-meter
OpenCirrus619
8th Mar 2006, 08:42
As ultimatepro63 says Transair (http://www.transair.co.uk/product4.asp?SID=2&Product_ID=4622) also have it in stock (priced in Sterling even).
From the very little information it doesn't look as if it stores any more than max and min - so I guess it doesn't keep a record of the flight which can be downloaded.
OC619
FiddlerMax
8th Mar 2006, 10:48
These schoolkids built their own for studying rollercoasters, and they have a special vest that holds the unit! Maybe you could do the same with the Mac. Seriously, it may seem off-the-wall but if downloadable data is essential for you, maybe it's worth considering.
http://homepage.mac.com/cbakken/pga/electronic/
I'm sure you could fire the interest of some geek out there to write the program for you (it'd probably take a couple of hours), and then find a friend with a Mac and away you go.
UPDATE: Found this on the web:
http://handhelddesign.com/q/products/accelerometer_3.html
It's a tiny little card that slots into any Pocket PC, and all the analysis software can be downloaded from their website. Looks like exactly what you're after?
Good luck with it. What are you going to use it for, btw? Aerobatics training?
Now that looks quite interesting, Fiddlermax, I'll pass it on. It's for monitoring a fleet (5) aircraft for overstresses, not so much to finger the guilty party but to make sure it's known about and checked. The aircraft have standard resettable g meters and can be hired by PPLs who may be tempted to have a go and may get it horribly wrong :eek: .
slim_slag
9th Mar 2006, 10:55
Wouldn't a few mechanical devices attached to the airframe do that job? Something like the things you can attach to packages sent via UPS which tell if they have been mishandled. A simple spring balance which tore a piece of paper if stretched too far, something like that but obviously better thought out. Why would you hire a plane to somebody you think 'might have a go'? The way things are going now, one insurance claim could put you out of business.
That is incredibly geeky fiddlermax, people can be so ingenious.