With Easter over and the federal & state taxes complete and filed, it was time to get back to the 12. Yesterday visited John Bender and observed the canopy fiberglass process.
Today, completed the majority of the electrical wiring with the exception of the installation of the autopilot disconnect switch (waiting for the instrument panel to come back from powerdercoat). This, after receiving a few parts that I had ordered and purchased outright. Wanted to wait for these parts and finish the electrical before moving on.
I believe I may a problem with the length of the 5 conductor trim cable (WH-P30). With 8" of wire extending aft of the tailcone bulkhead, which is barely enough to wrap around the cable clamp attached to the servo tray, the trim wire appears to be about 16 to 18" too short. I measured this 16-18" by comparing it with the length of the 37 Pin Tunnel D-Sub connector harness that is above the instrument panel shelf. The trim wires are to plug into this connector. Step 3 on Page 31-04 requires us to leave 28.5" of the TUNNEL harness above the instrument panel shelf. The trim cable/wire is taut and all of the cables are bundled temporarily below the instrument panel shelf.
I did not shorten the aft end of the trim cable. Because of the manner in which the cable sheath was removed at the aft end I think I am going to have to heatshink the individual conductors/wires to give the cable some integrity. (See attached picture). My alternative here is to pull the cable further aft and then trim the wires. The insulated portion of the wire would then reach the cable clamp attached to the servo tray. BUT this would aggravate my problem with the length at the instrument panel.
Sent all of this Van's, and received the following reply.
"It's puzzling why some people seem to end up short on this, but others have made it work OK. All the P30s should be 260" long.
You definitely have too much wire out of the aft end though. P 10-08 specifies 6" out of the rear bulkhead - ie the strip point on the wire should be at the snap bushing, so your pic shows at least 2-3" too much out the back. It is not necessary to add heat shrink on the 6" of exposed wires. 6" is enough to connect to the servo OK - that is what we have on the airplane here.
It is also necessary to cut the corner going up to the panel from the clamp on the flow transducer. The wire will be too short if you go right to the firewall, up the firewall and back to the hole in the avionics deck." Gus
I really do not like the idea of having all of the other wires in one neat bundle (all forward of the rudder pedal cables) and the trim wire outside of the neat bundle allowing it to "cut the corner" per Gus' reply.
I did not tie wrap the OAT temperature probe cable and 4 wires from the WH-RV12-TUNNEL harness and the 9 pin D-sub connector to the F-1208 fuselage frame in the tailcone. Left the wires coiled in the tailcone. Once I get the Avionics kit, I will crawl into the tailcone ONCE to install this cable and the magnetometer (think that is what the D-sub will plug into). The fuel tank will most likely have to come out, either way.
Found a very nice document on the Dynon website describing the installation of the Dynon D180, the OAT probe and the magnetometer. See Appendix B.
Click here for the Dynon D180 Installation Manual
The only other problem I had during the electrical wiring installation per Section 31 was a couple of missing bushings. Section 31, Page 31-12, Step 3. The step has us route the wires thru a bushing in F-1207D-L. There is no step to install the small bushing and the bushing is NOT included in the finishing kit. Sent the info to Van's.
I reread ALL steps in Section 31 and verify my work because I skipped around during the install. Have a punch list of about 15 items. Will be able to complete the punch list with the parts Van's will be sending and once I install the rudder pedals.
All wiring is now installed, the punch list primarily consists of wire clamp, bushing, reed switch and reed switch magnet installation (shorted parts).
Flight controls install is next.
Time Today - 3 hours
