Connecting EDM 900 to an IFD 540
Printed From: Avidyne
Category: Avidyne General
Forum Name: IFD 5 Series & IFD 4 Series Touch Screen GPS/NAV/COM
Forum Description: Topics on Avidyne's IFD 5 Series and IFD 4 Series Touch Screen GPS/NAV/COM
URL: http://forums.avidyne.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=2216
Printed Date: 09 May 2025 at 8:20am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Connecting EDM 900 to an IFD 540
Posted By: Robert114
Subject: Connecting EDM 900 to an IFD 540
Date Posted: 29 Jun 2021 at 4:39pm
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I recently installed an EDM 900 in my 172 along with Cíes fuel senders. I had my avionics shop “connect” the EDM to my 540 to get fuel flow info. I’m still not showing fuel information. When the 540 boots up, the first screen is a fuel management page with fields for fuel added and fuel remaining. This has always appeared since the 540 was installed a couple of years ago. Is there something The avionics shop or I have to turn on for the fuel info to be displayed? Also, what needs to be turned on to receive wind info on the 540? I have Aspen MAX PFD & MFD’s and a Garmin (sorry!) 345 transponder for ADSB-in and out. Thanks for any help. Robert
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Replies:
Posted By: skitheo
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2021 at 8:30pm
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Just saw this. As a matter of fact, in the process of doing a ground checkout for a client, I saw the same behavior with EDM-930 + IFD540 + Aspen 2500 MAX + NGT-9000 + CiES in a 172. Fuel Solution: Your RS-232 IN port on the IFD540 which is connected to the EDM-900 must be set to "Shadin-FADC" NOT "Shadin-fuel" . This info is buried in one of the install manuals and can easily be missed. Winds solution: Your IFD540 needs OAT, Baro, IAS to calculate winds. I believe that data comes from the Aspen over ARINC 429. The IFD540 "Main ARINC 429 Config" page should have one of the IN ports configured to "Honeywell EFIS" and "Low" or "HIgh" speed, to match the Aspen "Nav Setup C" configuration page "429 OUT PORT SPEED" setting unless you have an ACU2 (advanced topic). If this doesn't do it, check the Aspen "MISC CONFIG D" configuration page for to ensure that the "OAT Source" setting is correct for your aircraft. Per the IFD installation manual: Baro-corrected Altitude Sources The IFD5XX/4XX can accept baro-corrected altitude from multiple sources. The IFD5XX/4XX can accept Altitude information from altitude Air Data Systems in the following formats: ARINC 429 or RS232. If multiple altitude sources are connected to the IFD5XX/4XX, the IFD5XX/4XX will use the altitude sources in this order (highest first): 1. ARINC 429 INS/IRU 2. ARINC 429 EFIS <------- 3. ARINC from Transponder 4. RS232 FADC |
Posted By: Robert114
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2021 at 1:13am
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Thank you, Skitheo! I’ll show this to my avionics shop later this morning. Robert
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Posted By: skitheo
Date Posted: 22 Jul 2021 at 12:41pm
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@Robert114 - Did that take care of your problems? |
Posted By: Robert114
Date Posted: 24 Jul 2021 at 6:07pm
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Theo, between bad weather and scheduling, I haven’t been able to get to the avionics shop to find out. However, when I cut and pasted your response above to the owner, his answer was “At least he didn’t call me an idiot!” I’m assuming that meant your solution will work. I’ll keep you posted. Thanks again. Robert
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Posted By: skitheo
Date Posted: 24 Jul 2021 at 7:09pm
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Thanks! Hey, if someone else can learn and/or benefit from my experiences, great! Please do keep me posted.
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Posted By: Robert114
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2021 at 10:36pm
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Well, the weather and scheduling issues finally cleared and I took the plane to the Avionics shop. Unfortunately, setting the fuel to “SHADIN-FADC” didn’t solve the fuel problem. All the other settings were correct. Likewise, no joy with the wind info. I’m not overly concerned about the wind info since I display a wind vector and speed on the Aspen. However, I will pursue the the fuel info display with Avidyne (hello Avisteve?) to see if I can resolve it. Again Theo, thanks for your help. Robert
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Posted By: skitheo
Date Posted: 16 Aug 2021 at 12:12am
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Well that's too bad! Sorry to hear that. |
Posted By: chflyer
Date Posted: 16 Aug 2021 at 6:39am
I'm not familiar with the 900, but I have had a JPI 700 working with my IFDs for over 5 years without any issue. I would be very surprised if JPI changed their config parameters from the 900 to the 700, but stranger things have happened. Here is the correct configuration when connecting a JPI 700/800 to an IFD. This is from JPI and it works for the IFD just like the GNS with GPS-C=6 and IFD RS232 serial in as Shadin-FADEC. The Avidyne AUX Fuel Management screen is fully populated and updated. I use it on every flight when leaning and recording remaining fuel on shutdown. What is your setting on the JPI 900? The 900 UG has a table on p53 showing the same GPS-C values as below, so they should still work. Since the 900 wiring is different than the 700/800, I suggest you look for the problem on the JPI side rather than the Avidyne side. ------------- Vince |
Posted By: dmtidler
Date Posted: 16 Aug 2021 at 10:31am
I too have had a JPI EDM-700 connected to my IFD540 for 5+
years with no issues. My IFD540 RS-232 settings are a slightly different and
match the latest IFD installation manual I have access to (revision 17). My IFD540
RS-232 input from the EDM-700 is set to Shadin-fuel. My IFD540 RS-232 GPS output
to the EDM-700 is set to Aviation. My EDM-700 is set to a GPS-C=7 value. According to the EDM-700
Pilot’s Guide, a GPS-C value of 6 or 7 should be used for connection to a
Garmin 430 or 530 (IFD). A GPS-C=6 is advertised to send “to waypoint” fuel
data to the IFD; a GPS-C=7 is advertised to send destination fuel data to the IFD.
I don’t think either value matters to what fuel information is ultimately displayed
on the IFD. I know with a GPS-C=7, my EDM-700 displays destination fuel
required (REQ) and reserves (RSV). I’m curious if the EDM-700 displays the same
with a GPS-C=6 or if the EDM-700 displays the GPS next waypoint (GPS WPT) fuel
required and reserves? |
chflyer wrote:Posted By: dmtidler
Date Posted: 16 Aug 2021 at 12:19pm
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While I'm not familiar with EDM-900, the GPS setup information in the EDM-900 Pilot's Guide appears identical to the GPS setup information in the EDM-700 Pilot's Guide. Shadin-fuel gives fuel remaining, fuel used, and fuel flow data to the GPS. Shadin-FADC gives fuel remaining, fuel used, fuel flow, and outside air temperature data (if the EDM is equipped with an OAT probe).
My take: If the EDM is equipped with an OAT probe, use Shadin-FADC to include the OAT data to the IFD. If the EDM is not equipped with an OAT probe or passing OAT data to the IFD is not desired, use Shadin-fuel. |
Posted By: Robert114
Date Posted: 16 Aug 2021 at 9:16pm
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Thanks Vince and Darren. I’ll get the 900 installation guide to my avionics shop after I talk to the A&P who installed it to verify there were no errors that JPI tech support corrected over the phone. (There were several.) My 900 does have an OAT sensor so the Shadin-FADC is already set. I’ll keep you updated. Thanks again. Robert
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Posted By: Robert114
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2021 at 8:01am
| I went to the airport yesterday hoping (convinced!) that changing the GPS-C setting in the EDM 900 from default to #6 would solve the data transfer issue. Wrong! Turns out the 900 had already been set to #6. I looked thru the config tab in maintenance mode on the 540 to see if I could find other settings that were incorrect (as if I would know) but didn’t see any obvious errors. Guess I need to find a way to verify the EDM 900 is putting out the data and both the 900 and the 540 plugs are pinned correctly. What a royal pain! So much for technology making life easier! ;-) |
Posted By: nrproces
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2021 at 10:24am
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Just making an "assumption", you did notify the folks at JPI, that you were installing the CIES system, so that they could make the software changes, correct? ------------- Sauce |
Posted By: Robert114
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2021 at 6:30pm
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Chris, Thanks for the “assumption.” I did notify them about the CÍES system and the fuel flow numbers and quantity in each tank (C-172) are very accurate on the EDM 900. I also have to assume they made the necessary software changes. At this point, I’m hoping it’s a wiring harness issue with incorrect pinning. My manifold pressure connector came apart in my A&P’s hand and I’m wondering if there is a similar issue here. Hopefully, there is a way to check if the I/O data is there.
Robert |
Posted By: Robert114
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2021 at 8:50am
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Problem solved! The wires for the GPS coming from the edm900 plug are labeled “GPS in and GPS out.” My avionics guy assumed, since it wasn’t clarified in the installation instructions, that they were “in” to the 540 and “out” from the 540. Wrong! It is into and out of the edm900 from the GPS. He switched the pins and all is working as it should, finally! Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions and support. Robert
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Posted By: chflyer
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2021 at 4:12pm
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Thanks for letting us know Robert…. a lot of investigation leading to a simple solution! Confirms that it pays to check the fundamental basics first before looking for a complicated problem. ------------- Vince |
Posted By: P35Pilot
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2021 at 11:29pm
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I have the exact same problem. Passing this info along to my avionics shop. Hope it fixes it. Thanks for the info. Yoram
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