Sandel SN3308
 

I'd be interested to hear opinions about the SN 3308 from people who have actually flown them.

In Australia the reputation is that bulbs are a problem and they are difficult to read in sunlight. In the US neither of these concerns are rated seriously. The bulb is about $30 and seems to be a 30 min or less job to replace, so I doubt I'd notice the additional cost in out 100 hourlys. Which leaves the sunlight readability issue. Is it really a significant issue?

They are getting cheap to the point of being a candidate to replace a mechanical HSI, so I'm "tyre-kicking" the idea.

Unless you're buying used, I believe the 3308 has been superceded by the 3500 which has the LED backlight which is much brighter. lasts longer and sunlight readable.

Having said that I fly with the 3308 and have had nearly 400hrs trouble-free without changing the bulb. I carry a spare one for when it does need replacement, but changing it out is not a big deal. The trick to bulb longevity is to not have it on full brightness the entire time. I actually find 1/4-1/2 intensity is sufficient most of the time unless the sun is shining directly onto the Sandel from behind my shoulder.

Otherwise it is a fantastic EHSI - able to display anything you could ever want, including maps, tracks, bearing pointers, CDI's, RNAV annunciations, distance and bearing to next waypoint etc.

Another trap is the length of the Sandel EHSI's. Make sure ,with cable, you have enough space behind the dash .

Also the screen looks a few generations behind that of something like a Garmin GTN series . They don't look so good together IMO.

The only comment I'd make is in some installations the labour to install can be a big cost so the overall difference in cost between new and used might not be as much as you might imagine it to be. To look at it another way the second hand price needs to be very cheap to make it worthwhile in my opinion.

The Sandels are great products, the 3308 is getting a little long in the tooth but still a good unit.

I'd seriously consider an Aspen, being a newer design it will have a greater degree of future proofing. They interface with just about any piece of Avionics you can name, much like the Sandel, unlike the Garmin equivalents. Also Aspen are introducing more and more functionality all the time like ADSB etc

With the Aspen you also get an EADI, an altitude alerter, minimums alerter and flight director if your auto pilot supports a flight director. There's also and airspeed tape altitude tape, VSI and rate of turn and balance ball. You can replace the whole 6 pack with an Aspen if you so wish.

Currently flying with the 3500 which I reckon is a fantastic bit of kit. I realise you're asking about the 3308, but the 3500 could well be worth considering. LED does make a difference. Some of our guys have trouble with it initialising... but in my experience that's because they're a little rip, **** & bust after start-up. My habit is to just take your time -it only takes a minute or 2 for it to initialise after power-on. Best just to leave the instrument untouched until fully up too -setting it too early seems to extend the time taken. We've had 1 AHRS fall over too... possibly a consequence of the strips we work. It can be a fairly physical environment. I believe Sandel have a "ruggedised" AHRS available now too, that would address any concerns there.

Aspen is the real deal and the right thing to do. But in Oz I suspect its approaching $20k to install.

The SN3500 seems to be a big improvement over the SN3308. But new its about the same cost as an Aspen to install. They seem to be about $3.5k secondhand vs $1.5k for a high ser no 3308 with the up to date software.

So, I'm thinking that the Sandel SN3308 might be a cheap / easy option if the daylight readability is OK.

A 3 pack of bulbs seems to be $100. I'm a bit confused about the replacement requirements. At launch it despite to rated 400 hour life, replacement was supposed to be 100 hours or annually. There was supposed to have been an amendment to extend this and now there are "long life" bulbs. It would seem to me that every second year which would be less than 200 hours for me would be reasonable. I struggle to see that bulb replacement is the drama its painted to be.

Glasair 111
 

Re the Sandel SN 3308, I have used one for about 10 years in bright sunlight fir etc. it's has been fantastic.
Like the others I carry a spare globe but at 660 hours still on the original one.
Cheers

Hello. I am currently looking at a Sandel 3308 manual and I cannot find any information on changing the brightness level on the instrument. Is it possible, and where are the controls. Thank you for your assistance to this question.

There is a separate dimmer knob that should be located near the Sandel, but not on the actual instrument itself. From experience, it pays to keep the dimmer at less than 90% which improves the longevity of the backlighting bulb by a few hundred %. Amazing!

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....338bf2e46e.jpg

Page 18 and in the schematic section of the 3308 Installation manual. Looks to be a simple rheostat driving Pin 26 between 0v and bus voltage.