Jan 13, 2015     Panel design - (12.50 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

This entry represents about a week of work on the panel design, and some updates. Several items have changed: The Garmin 430W has been replaced with an Avidyne IFD440 Com/Nav/GPS, and the Aerospace Logic volt-ammeter has been updated with their latest version, which displays loadmeters for both alternators at once (also eliminating a panel-mounted switch to select between them!) I also moved all the round-dial units into a nice group on the right side, and moved the trasnponder back over to the left side. This made room for the dimmer knobs to be located vertically, out of the way of my right knee when I'm climbing in. I think this is a very pleasing layout.

I still wish I could get the vent moved to the left panel, but switches make more sense there. It's better than reaching cross-cockpit for the commonly-used stuff. But it also means I am going to have to thread a 3" scat tube in and amongst all the panel wiring somehow.