Borgelt B400 AV
variometer system 31/08/2005
(Some details may change before full
production availability.)
Download B400 manual as PDF file: B400man.pdf
The new Borgelt B400AV and B500 VE variometer systems consist of several components designed to be compatible and offers the customer the ability to construct a variometer system to his or her requirements ranging from a simple variometer with audio and averager to a complete GPS linked variometer engine to drive almost any glide computer of choice.
The system components are:
B400 AV (Variometer with
Audio and Averager)
plus optional
Digital averager displays
for B400 AV DAD -S and DAD -L
B500 VE (Variometer Engine) with
Glareshield Control and
Display unit ( B500 GCD)
GPS unit for B500 VE (B500
GPS)
Individual system components are described below.
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B400 AV
The B400 AV is designed to replace the well known B40 variometer and like the B40 is aimed at replacing the old technology mechanical variometers in the instrument panel of cross country and competition sailplanes as well as providing a good variometer with audio and averager for club and training sailplanes.
The B400 AV is available in both 57mm and 80mm sizes for easy installation in existing instrument holes and is only 85mm deep behind the panel including connectors (20mm shorter than the B40).
A standby power pack of 4 x AA alkaline batteries will provide at least 7-8 hours of operation in the event of main power systems failure.
A remote press button circuit or button in lower left enables the pilot to select the 20 second running average rate of climb at any time. The audio continues to function as a variometer during this time.
Alternatively one of two small full time digital averager displays may be driven by the B400 AV. The advantage of the separate display is that it may be mounted in or very close to the instrument panel glareshield, close to the pilot’s line of sight. One display is 38 x 14mm with 6.3 mm high digits (DAD-S) , the other is 50 x 21 mm with 12.5mm high digits(DAD-L). The displays are supplied with 0.5 m cables with plugs which plug in to matching sockets on the rear of the B400 AV.
The B400 AV uses surface mount technology in the electronics and the variometer display is by a small stepper motor driven pointer plus several high brightness LEDs. This provides the display with far better resolution and contrast than the LCD type pointers.
Audio is full range or “Up” only and there are two styles - “B40 mode” with solid tone in sink and 50:50 chopped tone in lift and a “competition mode” as follows: At -10 knots (-5 m/s) the audio begins with clicks which become closer together as the sink decreases and then become a rising tone with the tone being chopped in lift. When the lift is above the running twenty second average the tone is chopped 50:50, when the lift is below the running average the tone is 70 on:30 off. Style selection is by a small switch accessible through a small hole in the rear cover of the instrument.
Volume control is by a centre off toggle switch in the upper right mounting screw position.(B400).
The instrument is supplied with an external speaker with case and mount.
Total energy compensation is by TE probe making for easy installation and setup.
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The Borgelt B400/500 system allows selection of the optimum variometer system for any sailplane and is backed by our 28 year record in the design and manufacture of electronic variometer systems.
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Note: Not all advanced functions described above will necessarily be in the initial 1.0 release of the firmware in the variometer systems but the B400 AV and B500 VE will at minimum be direct functional replacements for the B40 and B50.
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