February 16, 2008 HOME

   

 

After a false start following the plans, I made the cabin vent brackets using the vents themselves as a guide.  That was easiest way.

There are several small L brackets that hold things together behind the panel. These 4 are the last of them (I think). They are all made from small pieces of angle or bent from .032" sheetmetal.

 

Ah, back to some real airplane building! Getting the forward skin prepped for installation brings the familiar -- those many hours drilling, deburring and dimpling.

 

I assembled and installed the second battery box.  This is the real Van's battery box.  Yes, I intend to punch the lightening holes in it, but it is otherwise finished and installed for the time being.

 

I guess this begins the wiring phase. I don't look forward to wiring, but my husband is standing by to help. He thinks, "Occasional guidance" I think, "Now here is something to keep him busy."

These (there is one on each side of the cockpit) are the battery busses.  Think, always hot.  They are made from simple terminal strips with a solid copper bar added across on side and drilled to match the screw holes so the original screws can be used.

 

The longer buss bar(s) setting perpendicular to the battery buss(s) is the master buss.  Of course, it is switched by the master switch through the batter contactor (master relay) on the firewall.  There is one on each side of the cockpit, that is, one for each electrical system.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first battery cable terminal is soldered!  You can see the solder between the terminal and the insulation.  I have to admit to a little paranoia, the terminal has a light crimp in addition to being soldered....

 

Here you can see the crossover cable from the primary starter solenoid to the secondary starter solenoid.  Well, it really isn't a crossover.  They are isolated, but running the cable from one to the other eliminates the need for 2 cables running to the starter.  They batteries cannot boost each other.

 

The first mini wire bundle I am making up runs from the aileron trim servo to the trim indicator.  It is only 3 22 awg wires.

 

This is the bundle from the tailcone.  It includes taillight, strobe, 5 wires for the elevator trim servo, a shielded 2-pair auxiliary, a heavy ground wire and a twisted bundle for the autopilot pitch servo.

 

This is just a picture of the bundle routing into the main spar center section.

 

With so little wiring done, there are already complicated intersections forming.  I have the feeling this will get complicated and I haven't started on the electronics yet.

 

Yep, at the end of the day, this is what it looks like in the cockpit.  These really do all go somewhere.  Hopefully, tomorrow if I can still remember where....

 

 

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