Finished wiring the fuse panel

Cut all the power wires to length and labeled each. Stripped each wire and terminated with a crimp on fuse holder. Had to buy yet another crimp tool for these… https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004P2VAVM/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apip_atOw34QqkDCOo

I’m going to open a crimper museum when I’m done with the plane.

 

Inserted all of the terminated power wires into the Bussmann fuse block that I bought from Waytek.

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Mounted the fuse block and the Van’s power module kit, popped the fuses in and put the cover on.

 

I temporarily connected the battery and everything powered up with out incident or smoke. I still need to wire the GMU 11 in the left wing. Then I can plug the wing harnesses into the fuselage and test everything out. I also verified that PFD1 would power up from the IBBS. Very exciting to see all the avionics light up though.

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Today’s Time (hours): 8.0
Finish kit (hours): 165.0
Total Time (hours): 899.0

 

Finished wiring the panel

Wired the GSU 25 ADAHRS.

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Wired the G5 backup flight instrument.

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Pilot side complete. I still have a bit of tidying up and lacing to do. But everything is wired.

 

Terminated all of the ground lines to the ground block.

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Wired the PFD2 GDU 460.

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I still need to install the fuse panel and wire it up. I also need to wire the GMU 11 in the wing and reconfigure the connectors at the wing roots. Then the wiring will be complete.

 

Today’s Time (hours): 7.0
Finish kit (hours): 157.0
Total Time (hours): 891.0

 

Wired all the switches and the PFD-1

It’s been another busy week at work but managed to get in a few hours during the evenings and a bunch of time today.

Wired all the switches and routed all of the required power and ground wires as well as all the wires through the firewall for alternator, battery and starter relays, and magnetos.

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Reinstalled the PFD-1 GDU 460 and G5 backup instrument. I plumbed in the pitot, static, and AOA lines.

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Wired up the GDU 360. I was a real rats nest behind the panel so i used some temporary wire ties to keep things organized while I finish wiring the GSU 25 and the G5. Then I’ll secure everything properly and lace up the wire bundles.

 

I also realized that despite all of my wiring planning, I had accidentally omitted the GTP 59 temperature probe form the plan. I ran a shielded three-conductor cable from the left wing root to the panel.

 

Today’s Time (hours): 12.0
Finish kit (hours): 150.0
Total Time (hours): 884.0

 

Finished wiring the GEA 24, GAD 29, and GAD 25

Made up harnesses for the TO/GA button and panel light dimmer switches. I mounted them back in the center panel and wired the corresponding connectors under the panel. I used micro molex connectors to make the connections.

 

I received the stranded thermocouple wire I ordered from McMaster Carr. SO I was able to finish wiring up the GEA 24.

 

I wired up the GAD 29.

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I wired up the GAD 27.

 

Making progress. Glad I made this wiring list.  It’s been super helpful as a reference and to keep track of my progress. The terminations highlighted in green are complete.

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Today’s Time (hours): 10.0
Finish Kit (hours): 138.0
Total Time (hours): 868.0

 

Wiring Continues

Haven’t posted in a while but making steady progress.

Made a wiring harness for the TO/GA switch.

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Wired up the canopy harness.

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Relocated the GAD 27, GAD 29, and GEA 24.

 

Made up two of the four connectors for the GEA 24. Had to re-order the thermocouple wire for the EGT and CHT connections. I accidentally ordered solid wire instead of stranded. Connecting the engine to the airframe, there’s enough motion in those wires that I wasn’t comfortable using the solid wire. It probably would take long for it to work harden and break.

 

SO. MANY. WIRES!!!

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So glad i borrowed Jared’s engine stand rotisserie. I can’t imagine doing this with the airframe upright.

 

Today’s Time (hours): 8.0
Finish Kit (hours): 128.0
Total Time (hours): 858.0

 

Wired the radio stack

Made my first CAN Bus daisy chain termination for the GTR 200B com radio.

 

Finished wiring the COM radio connector.

 

Terminated the antenna cables with BNC connectors for the transponder and com radio and a TNC connector for the GPS.

 

Made up the connector for the GMC 507 autopilot control. Pretty simple… Power, Ground and CAN bus.

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Installed the com radio tray and the transponder and GPS trays that I had pre-wired. I routed and tied all the wires.

 

Today’s Time (hours): 8.0
Finish Kit (hours): 120.0
Total Time (hours): 850.0

 

Progress continues on wiring

I’ve neglected to post over the past week. Been a busy week at work. I have made some good progress though.

I vinyl-wrapped the fuse block panel and screwed the fuse block into it. I made a bus bar from a strip of copper to tie together the upper and lower buses of the fuse block.

 

I drilled some system holes through the left seat ribs, installed snap bushings, and ran the pitot and AOA lines from the wing root to the panel.

 

Drilled a couple of system holes in the lower sub-panel. Routed the the wires for the battery backup. Terminated the grounds for the the IBBS and the IBBS master switch.

 

Made up the connectors for the GTX 45R transponder and the GTN 625 GPS. I also started on the GTR 200B COM radio but didn’t get a picture.

 

Today’s Time (hours): 6.0
Finish Kit (hours): 112.0
Total Time (hours): 842.0

 

Began work on Fuel System (Section 31)

Took a break from riveting the the fuselage together. Jared’s lending me his engine-stand-fuselage-rotisserie. So I’ll wait until he drops by next weekend to finish the riveting. It’ll be a lot easier if we can roll the fuselage on its side.

So… Got started on the fuel system tonight. Picked and inspected all the parts.

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Separated the fuel line brackets and riveted to the cover ribs.

 

 

Disassembled the fuel selector valve. Oriented the fittings per the plans but couldn’t screw them in because I didn’t have the Loctite 648 that the instructions called out. Ordered some from Amazon. I riveted nut plates to the flanges of the valve. Finally I machine countersunk the screw holes in the face plate.

 

 

Crimped the connectors on the leads from the fuel pump. Added thread sealant to the fuel filter fitting and screwed it into the pump. Mounted the pump and filter into the into the fuselage.

 

 

Attached the AN elbows to the firewall and fuselage sides.

 

 

 

Today’s Time (hours): 3.0
Fuselage Time (hours): 136.0
Total Time (hours): 590.5

Completed left wingtip–Almost

All the things I did to the right wing yesterday, I did to the left wing today.

 

 

Thought I was finally at th end of the wings… but ran into another snag. When I was countersinking the screw holes in the tip, I hit a thin spot in the fiberglass and the countersink caught and made a giant hole. So I made a fiberglass patch. I’ll fill in the other side with some micro once the patch sets up. Then I can install the final nut plate and be done with the wings!

 

 

Traveling this week. So I will begin work on the fuselage next weekend.

Today’s Time (hours): 5.0
Wing Time (hours): 298.0
Total Time (hours): 450.0

 

Completed Right Wingtip

Laid out the cut the left and right wing tips. I made over-ran on of the cuts by an inch or so on the left wing. So I did a little patch and fill with some fiberglass and micro and set it aside to cure. Then continued work on the right wingtip.

 

Cut and installed the nav light lens.

 

Installed the nav/strobe light. Used the template from the plans to drill the wingtip. Terminated the wires with Molex .062 pins. Unfortunately Vans provided a 4-pin molex housing instead of the 5-pin one that matches the wiring harness in the wing. <sigh> Now I get to pay $10 in shipping for two $1 moles housings. Mounted the bracket and installed the light. Tested it out with a 9-volt. That sucker is bright!

 

Fit the wingtip to the wing and set it in place with a ratchet strap. Match drilled the holes from the wing skins to the wingtip. Final drilled and dimpled the holes in the wing for #6 screws. Final drilled the screw holes in the wing tip and then used a nut plate, a screw, and a cleco as a drill jig to drill the nut plate attach holes. Machine countersunk the screw and rivet holes and riveted the nut plates in place.

 

Fit the wing tip rib to the wingtip. Laid out and match drilled rivet holes. Riveted the rib in place.

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Bam! Right wingtip done.

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Today’s Time (hours): 8.0
Wing Time (hours): 293.0
Total Time (hours): 445.0