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I'm looking for help.
Aviation guys and surplus hunters!
I've been playing around with a vacuum powered gyro
compass to install in my sub. The compass works great but the vacuum pump
has it's problems.
I rigged a vacuum pump to a 12VDC motor to try
it. For continuous use, the motor needs to be large to supply
sufficient vacuum. It's a continuous 12amp draw. The pump is also
noisy, although much of that can be dampened by creating a continuous loop with
a return air line and sound abatement padding. Also, the bulky pump
unit is cumbersome in a tight sub.
The solution is a electrical driven compass.
>From my understanding, they are replacing the older vacuum units in small
aircraft. I'm told they are available, aircraft certified, for around
$1200. That's to steep for the small amount of time I will actually use
it, and I sure don't need it certified.
I was wondering if anyone out there can
point me to a source for yellow tagged or red tagged units that will still
operate, and at a better price then a new one. If It could
keep a heading within 30 degrees for twenty minutes, it's all I need and
would be far better then the magnetic compass I have now.
Thanks, Dan H.
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