Adding Garmin GPS 18 to ACK E-04 ELT

[ccondit]

Can anyone give me any pointers in how to add a Garmin GPS 18 to an ACK E-04 ELT, as in mentioned is possible in the Installation/operation manual from ACK rev. 1.6, dated 2/22/2012?

My ELT came with a round ELT interface plug, and I don't see any version of the GPS 18 with one, they are either with bare wires or USB plugs. I also wonder if I should be looking for a more modern "button" GPS than the GPS 18? I planned to mount the GPS 18 next to my old Garmin 195 (still working!) antenna, at the center top of the windshield.

appreciate any help.

Chris

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Chris, does your GPS 18 have a USB connector? Of so find another unit. We can work with the DB-9 or bare wire model.

Is your ACK E-04 ELT already installed? If it is there is a round 4 pin mini din plug coming out of it and the female plugged into it with wiring going to your aircraft power. How many wires come out of the female mini din plug?

I'll comment further after you answer these questions.

[ccondit]

Appreciate very much your help.

We just finished mounting the ELT in the plane (replacing the old 121.5 unit), and hooking up the antenna.

Our next step today is running the "phone" wire (the Audio Alert Cable P/N E-04.10.3) up to the Remote Control Panel Indicator (RCPI), which we mounted yesterday, and then installing the Audio Alert Indicator in the panel.

My ELT has a round 4 Pin din plug coming out of it, but we have not yet done anything with hooking that up to the aircraft power; we'll tackle that tomorrow.

I have not yet gotten a Garmin GPS 18.

I assume that is the best "button" style GPS for interfacing with the ACK E-04, even though it dates from 2007 at least? Is there a better one you suggest?

And if the GPS 18 or 18x is the one, do you suggest I get one with bare wires or one with the DB-9 model?

And do you have any preferred places to get one?

My intention is to install the GPS-18 next to my antenna for my Garmin GPS 195, at the top center of the wind shield, unless you have a better suggestion.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Well I tried to get you on the phone today bit I just missed you leaving the house and your cell phone just went to voice mail.

First I have not installed either a ACK e-04 ELT or bought or used a Garmin 18. But I have done a few wiring schemes between Garmins. So I took a look at both the install manuals to see what you where looking at.

What you are trying to do is send gps coordinates to the ELT to be transmitted in an emergency. Not really hard to do with the ACK E-04 and the Garmin 18 or any Garmin for that matter. You don't need a Garmin 18. Your Garmin 195 is capable and just as easy to wire to send the GPS info.

As the ELT instructions call for you will want some 24ga min 4 conductor shielded wire. I would use DB-9 plugs but you could use any good Molex 4 pole plug. You will need a male and female. If I was buying a Garmin 18 I'd buy the bare wire unit.

Here is a schematic made up from the ELT manual and the Garmin 18 manual. The Garmin 18 is actually for the DB-9 version but I' bet the bare wire unit is the same. If you compare it to your manual you will see I'm advocating putting the power line for the GPS through the DB-9 connector. This just keeps it a clean install and should you ever want to remove the GPS it is one plug. The important thing is that the ground wire on the ELT side goes to ground and the DB-9 plug so the GPS is grounded directly to the ELT. Data transfer requires a good direct ground line between the units.

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