Cutting of the instrument panel was done in the drill press with a $12 General tools circle cutter from the hardware store. The primary flight instruments had to be shifted to the left an inch or two to allow for the planned radio stack. Distance between the flight instruments is 3/8".
It took some experimentation to find a magnetically undisturbed location for the magnetic compass in the panel . Once I installed the panel in the plane there was no good place for the compass. It seems to be disturbed by the rollover bar everywhere on and in the panel (or is it the metal garage door overhead??). More on this after the plane flies...
Update 4/15/01 -- Was able to successfully swing the compass in its location shown below. I did this in-flight by flying parallel to north/south and east/west roads and adjusting the compass with a home made brass screwdriver. Several iterations of flying parallel to the roads and adjusting the compass to the correct heading at each of the cardinal headings eventually yielded correct headings within a couple of degrees. Magnetic variation was subtracted out when doing this procedure as the roads are true headings.
A Test Installation of the Instrument Panel
Evolution of an Instrument Panel
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8/1/06 Added: Flight Data Systems GT-50 G-Meter/Clock/Timer Monroy ATD-300 Traffic Avoidance Unit Post light to Illuminate Switches Master Bright Switch for LC-40e Light Dimming System DB-9 Connector for Programming the AFP-30 Zeller Canopy Holder Replaced: Cabin Vent outlet with High quality Model Removed: Falcon G-Meter Astrotech Clock/Timer |
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10/1/03 Added: Flight Data Systems AFP-30 Computer Falcon G-Meter KS Avionics Tetra II CHT/EGT Altrak Altitude Autopilot Power for Noise Canceling Headsets Magnetic Deviation Card Replaced: Altimeter Directional Gyro Attitude Indicator Manifold Pressure Carb Heat control Cabin Heat Control Removed: Westach EGT/CHT Westach OAT |
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1/21/01 Just weeks before the first flight... |
I am using the Vans electrical kit. It seems easier than designing a system from scratch. The drawings are a HUGE help and it was very useful to order them long ago providing time for digestion. The only other option considered was using Bob Nuckolls system design.
There are two tricky bits to the system. Ones is wiring retard breaker magnetos. The other is providing overvoltage protection for the 40 amp internally regulated Nippon Denso alternator. Both of these problems were solved by accessing the Aeroelectric Connection website and downloading drawings from there.
I am trying to leave enough slack in the wiring so the panel can be lowered down the next set of attach screws for service and modifications. We'll see if this works or is useful.
Here is the guts of the Vans Electrical kit design in the early stages of wiring. The terminal strip on the bulkhead is for the trim and flap relays. Also, I cut an access hole visible on the right
The radio rack had to be made from .032" 4130 steel bent into a 90° angle because the edge distance was not adequate to use .063 alum angle. The angle dimensions are 3/8" (where it attaches to the panel) by 3/4" (attaching to the radio cans). The rack is tied to the forward bulkhead with .063" angle in a manner similar to the battery box to firewall attachment. It seems quite sturdy.
The ELT installation with its antenna visible on the left
This is a nifty place to put the panel flood lights. These eyeball lights do a great job and are relatively inexpensive. They can be rotated down and used as a map lights too!
I went a little crazy with panel lighting. It consists
of
post lights for the flight instruments, two map/flood lights
shown
on the left and the internal lighting on the engine instruments and
radios. The rear seat passenger also has a map light with its own
dimmer. Rich designed a four channel microprocessor controlled
light dimmer nicknamed the "Dimwit" so each group of lights can be
controlled separately. More on the "Dimwit" as it moves out of
the beta stage...
The rear seat has everything needed to fly. This
includes
flap control, elevator trim, radio frequency toggle, transponder ident,
throttle and rudders. The trim and flap relays and fancy stick
grips make this possible.
Update 4/10/01 - The "Dimwit" seems to be working pretty well. I
have actually flown at night with it now!
Update 2/26/04 - We have re-engineered and renamed the
"Dimwit" the LC-40
Lighting Controller. Click the picture for details. It sells for
$89!
LC-40
LC-40e