Time to start thinking about an airspeed indicator, and altimeter for my project.
Any brands you can recommend? Or brands to stay away from?
Also need oil pressure,oil temp. Recommendations?
I was checking out the Tiny Tach. Pretty sweet but then I read that the battery is NOT changeable.
I think that's a deal breaker for me. Is there a competitor that makes a similar tach/hr meter I should look at?

I was actually thinking of something like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHo3BQrPMq0

All basic flight and engine instruments (CMC/EICAS)

$600 for the AHRS/ADIRU and some more for the tablet, but pretty darn cool.

There's a guy who posts on here that has developed a pretty slick setup as well....

Peter you around?

Check with David at Team Mini-max. They sell the Skylab Flybox that Peter makes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHo3BQrPMq0

Hi
Regarding Tiny Tachs, I've used a couple and never gave a thought to the five year life of the battery issue.  One was on a Continental and one was on a half vw.  I was satisfied on both occasions, perhaps partly due to low cost and the flexibility on the number of cylinders.  I suppose it is an issue if you are keeping the a/c for the long haul.  I also have used the prop blade light sensing tachometers and merely velcroed them to something in the a/c, they work well but mine did not have the hours feature which perhaps is the issue bothering you with the Tiny Tach.  I have not searched the net but I wouldn't be surprised if someone were offering the exact features of the Tiny Tach but with a replaceable battery, for more money probably.
Kim Brown

Thanks for the replies.
I actually much prefer what some disparagingly call steam gauges. As there has been no comments good, or bad on airspeed/altimeter brands I guess they are all about the same quality wise.
I should have done an internet search for tach/hr meters before asking. A quick glance shows quite a few options, and some for less $ than Tiny Tach. Some with, and some without replaceable batteries.
Flydog

I prefer steam instruments too. I think they go better with the 'retro' look of the Max.

Here's my panel - all the instruments seem to work ok so far - just cheapies from LEAF.

Hi,
While my taste runs to the digital, that's a very neat layout.  I like it.
Regards,
Duncan

doesnt the "military" prefer....steam gauges...as you dont need to look directly at it....where as digital you need to read every number

That's certainly the case with my Tiny Tach. It's way harder to read than the analogue instruments.

Though it is also the smallest. . .

size does matter...LOL

peripheral vision is very important in an emergency.....so size does matter...ie bigger the better  LOL

Hi,

Do you know this product http://www.talosavionics.com/products/

I have it with a 7" Nexus, it work like a charm .....

You can try it on your mobile phone, only with gps mesearment

Quoted from Arthur Withy

doesnt the "military" prefer....steam gauges...as you dont need to look directly at it....where as digital you need to read every number

C-130, C-5, and F-16 - Steam gauges as standby only.

F-22 and F-35 - no steam at all.

The instruments used in these aircraft (C-130 is closest to what we would expect to see in a civil aircraft) are similar to those used in modern commercial airliners. The Engine displays (EICAS) is an analog-style Arc-and-Needle with digits displayed inside the arc - kind of like the Kollsman window in Steamy altimeters (but the data is "live" in this case). The arcs all have yellow and red zones like old-school steamies.
The flight data is given on nice displays. Nav data is especially easy. Pitch and Roll are available at a glance. Airspeed, altitude, heading are digital, but also really easy to "see" without focusing.

These are not like the dreadful LCD number displays in some Electronic Instruments. Those are just horrid. Nothing but digits and they all look the same (RPM, Temp, Px, Alt, ASI - all a little box with 4 7-segment digits inside).

As for which one goes best with the "Max"... I can understand the preference for Steam.

Thinking about instruments for an aeromax...What do you guys think of the lri and aoa diy:
http://www.sonex604.com/aoa.html
Lift reserve indicator scaled by airspeed....

And a efis based on pixihawk telemetry like what we use for hobby grade uav...

Hi,
All along I had planned to go with the MINI EFIS from MGL.  Small, packed full of features and very reasonably priced.  Then came the  Skylab Flybox.  This, for me at any rate, is a clear winner.  It's all digital, so alerts can be programmed in, but looks like steam gauges, so they're very easy to read at a glance.

Regards,
Duncan

Hay Hangar flyer

You asked about the Sonex aoa diy, I made one and used it for a year or so on a Dakota Hawk I built.  I believe it is all it is cracked up to be, think it cost me about $60.  Was considering using it on a Max I am building but I also have the old fashioned original aoa called the Bacon Saver, so I may use that instead, it is a vane aoa.  Hard to go wrong for the small money involved.
Kim Brown