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B500 variometer system
The new system brings the next generation of modern
Borgelt Speed-To-Fly
variometer systems with GPS coupling
The new Borgelt B400 and B500
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 (Borgelt B400) to a complete GPS linked variometer to drive almost any glide computer of choice
(Borgelt B500).
The system components are:
B500 The B500 replaces the B50 with the addition of new technology and
functions.
The B500 consists of the B500 variometer
unit, The B500 Glareshield Controller and Display unit and the
B500 GPS.
B500 GPS
A small GPS unit is part of the B500 VE and plugs in to a connector at the
rear of the B500. This GPS uses the latest
low power technology and draws less than 30mA at 12 volts as well as
providing genuine 4Hz fixes.
B500 variometer unit
Identical to the B400 in front panel appearance the
B500 variometer unit is slightly longer at 115mm including connectors and is
also available in 57mm or 80mm sizes. An airspeed sensor is included in the
B500 which enables calculation and display of advanced variometer functions.
The vario display and climb mode audio are the same as the B400 AV with the
addition of red and green LEDs near the “zero”
point of the variometer. When climbing the green LED is ON when the
variometer is above the running 20 second value .
In cruise the red and green LED’s indicate when the airmass is rising or
sinking.
In cruise mode the vario becomes optionally TE vario, netto or Relative
netto. Two blue LED’s and two amber LED’s provide the speed command display
and the “fly faster” and “fly slower” sounds are the same as in the B50 -
two alternating tones for “fly slower” and two very rapidly alternating
tones for “fly faster”. There is a silent zone
around the correct speed to fly and when the relative vario goes above the
Macready setting the sound changes to the normal TE vario.
The audio is muted and restored by pressing the push button in the lower
left mounting screw position.
The B500 has a two channel audio and is supplied with left and right
speakers. The audio sounds can be switched
depending on various circumstances. When thermalling the
sound is switched to one speaker when the circle should be opened in that
direction. When cruising the speed command sounds come from the side
where the next turnpoint lies.(depends on final
glide computer)
Various B500
functions are customisable by connecting the unit to a PC, including the
audio silent zone. Software updates are accomplished the same way.
B500 Glareshield Controller/Display (B500 GCD).
NEW
"Available June 2007" B500 GCD2 Add $100.00
(same as GCD above but includes miniSD
Card and Adapter)
The GCD is a a small unit 30mm high by 80mm wide and only
30mm deep which is designed to mount under or in the lip of the instrument
panel cover.
The controls are closer to the pilot and the
display is very close to his line of sight, assisting with orientation and
lookout. By separating it from the variometer the variometer pointer does
not obscure its displays.
It is supplied with a 0.5m cable with plug
which connects to the B500 variometer unit by plugging it in to a socket on
the back of the instrument.
The B500 GCD has a push button top left and under it a rotary encoder with
push button action and the rest of the area is occupied by a 122 x 32
graphics LCD with display area measuring 60.5 x 19 mm.
The push button changes the display page and the rotary encoder push button
moves the cursor to the variable the pilot wishes to change whereupon
rotating the encoder changes the variable. There
is no “enter” function. For example, on the main
page the Macready setting is the only variable so just rotating the encoder
is all that is required to change this. To change bugs, ballast or volume
press the page button to get to the next page where this is displayed, press
the encoder knob to move the cursor to “Ballast”
and then rotate the encoder to change the ballast setting.
The B500 GCD receives GPS and air data from the B500 variometer unit/B500
GPS and in addition to the display of the average rates of climb the B500 is
controlled by the GCD and the pilot can enter Macready, bugs contamination,
ballast state, control B500 audio volume and balance and in addition a
simple GPS navigation display with turnpoint database,
wind and
final glide computer can be shown.
This makes the instrument ideal for club gliders while the B500 also
supplies RS 232 serial air and GPS data to any desired full function glide
and navigation computer such as the Borgelt B2000 or any of the PDA type
devices. *(see PDA-PS later)
While in theory the B500 could be controlled by a PDA or other air data
computer such as the Borgelt B2000, using the
GCD keeps the variometer “housekeeping” functions separate from the glide
computer which simply picks up these changes in the serial data stream going
to it from the B500 VE. This simplifies both the control of the variometer
and of the glide computer.
Total energy is by
probe for the same reasons as with the B400 . TE probes provide by far the
best and most reliable TE compensation. There is a B500 mode where the pilot
can select static(uncompensated)vario or pitot/satic
compensation for the motor glider case.
The B500 has an Outside Air Temperature probe and the temperature is
displayed on the GCD.
GPS and Air data is supplied by the B500 to external computers and
navigation devices by serial messages at 1 Hz in the same manner as done by
the B50. The decode of this message is available
on the Borgelt Instruments website under “manuals- B50 -DDM”.The B500 is then the “variometer engine” for these systems.
PDA-PS For those using a
PDA(palmtop computer) for a glide computer there
is an optional PDA power supply (PDA-PS) that plugs in to the B500 and
provides 5 volt power and data to the PDA. There is also a connection for
a logger on this unit and a panel mountable
switch which allows connection of the logger direct to the PDA for
declarations and optionally allows selection of Logger GPS or B500 air
data/GPS for flight information.
Installation is simplified as 12 volt power must be supplied only to the
B500 and the PDA-PS distributes power and data to and from the logger and
PDA. Optionally the PDA-PS also supplies power and data to a B2000 glide
computer as well as to the PDA.
B500
with GCD1, (glare shield
display/controller)
including OAT, GPS and glare
shield display/controller and 2 speakers
specify 57 or 80mm
$1595.00
B500
with GCD2, (glare shield
display/controller PLUS mini SD Card and adapter
specify 57 or 80mm
$1675.00
(57 or 80mm) including OAT, GPS and glare
shield display/controller and 2 speakers
OPTIONAL (recommended)
PDA-PS PDA/logger power/data connection module
Universal
PDA-PS/data/power distribution board
OPTIONAL
add $125.00
PDA-PS
PDA/logger power/data connection module
when purchased separately
$135.00
Manual available
here
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 and B500
will at minimum be direct functional replacements for the B40 and B50.
B50 SUPER VARIO
 
Click here to View B50 Manuals
Discontinued, replaced by B500
NO LONGER AVAILABLE
57mm B50 ADU II Vario read-out remaining in stock
Just Close-out price at
$169.00!
Borgelt B2000 - B2500
available only on special order
Click here To View the B2000 Manual
price available on request
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