Nov 15, 2023     Back at it - (2 hours) Category: Avionics

Finally got the new shop organized enough to start working again. GRT updated my EFIS software so I now have audio alerts from the EFIS. I didn't wire this before since I didn't have that option so I had to pull the comm radio and run a new wire for the audible alerts from the EFIS to the intercom. Success! It's good to be back at work.

  Jan 08, 2023     EIS - (13 hours)       Category: Avionics

Another long break since the last entry. I finally settle on installing the EIS in the panel rather than remotely. Continuing to clean up the wiring.

  May 30, 2022     Quick updates - (23 hours)       Category: Avionics

I haven't been doing a good job taking pictures or keeping this up to date. Lots of work cleaning up and running wiring and working on the interior close out panels.

  Dec 27, 2021     Wiring takes forever - (7 hours)       Category: Avionics

Nothing cool to show. Just running wires and getting everything hooked up. Here is the mess as it stands now.

  Dec 17, 2021     Bluetooth audio - (2 hours)       Category: Avionics

Wired a Bluetooth audio module to the audio panel for easy connection to devices in flight.

  Dec 13, 2021     Headset jacks - (2 hours)       Category: Avionics

Routed the wiring and installed the GA headset jacks from the audio panel

  Nov 30, 2021     Aux battery diode - (1.4 hours)       Category: Avionics

Installed the diode from main power to my aux battery

  Nov 27, 2021     More avionics work - (16 hours)       Category: Avionics

I spent this week getting more done on the avionics. The Garmin comm/audio panel is in as well as the GRT ARINC module. Doublers installed for the comm and GPS antennas (oops, forgot to do that before painting). Also the GRT ADS-B module is in. I installed it on top of the fuel pump mount under the pilot seat. Hopefully heat is not an issue but it is a short run to the external antenna.

  Nov 15, 2021     Comm antenna doubler - (2.1 hours)       Category: Fuselage

Fabricated and Installed the comm antenna doubler. Maybe next time I build I will install these before painting.

  Nov 13, 2021     GPS 175 installation - (6 hours)       Category: Avionics

I found a second hand Garmin GPS 175. Installed and powered up. No real issues except I had to email Garmin to get the installation manual. It is definitely more technical than the GRT manuals but able to figure it out. GRT technical support was great as well to make sure I had the interface right.

  Nov 13, 2021     It's alive - (6.7 hours)       Category: Avionics

Cleaned up and double checked some of the wiring. Installed the grounding block on the firewall and as many of the ground wires as I had ready. I wired up an old computer power supply to the main bus and ground. Installed fuses to the pilot and CP EFIS circuits, ADS-B receiver, autopilot, fuel pump and trim. Powered everything up. The EFISs worked flawlessly and all connected equipment was recognized. I ran a quick check of the autopilot servos and both worked find. All pilot stick buttons checked and verified correct and communicating with the EFIS.

  Nov 11, 2021     ELT and more wiring - (8 hours)       Category: Avionics

Finished up wiring the ADS-B receiver and continued work on the main bus. The bulk of the time was spent building the DIN connector for the ELT harness. The tiny solder terminals on the ELT harness were tough. I ended up using some crimp terminals on the wires then soldered those to the solder connectors. Worked out well and that thing is done. Also realized I mis-wired some of the trim switches and had to pull the whole thing apart and re-wire it. All works now.

  Nov 10, 2021     Pilot harness - (6 hours)       Category: Avionics

Cleaned up the pilot EFIS harness and tied it up. After double-checking everything I tied it up, then found a mistake. I had to pull the whole thing apart and re-do it. All is good now. Nothing like doing everything twice.

  Nov 09, 2021     still running wires - (5.8 hours)       Category: Avionics

Long day of wiring. Built a bracket and mounted the main bus. I mounted the EIS and kept pulling and labeling one wire at a time. Keep grinding.

  Nov 08, 2021     ADS-B and copilot EFIS wiring - (6.2 hours)       Category: Avionics

More wiring. This is a slow process. No real issues but it just takes a long time.

  Nov 07, 2021     Grinding through some wiring - (6 hours)       Category: Avionics

Another day working through the wiring. I assume after doing one wire at a time it will eventually be done. I'm not keeping track, just doing one at a time.

  Nov 06, 2021     Fixing servo bolts and battery ground - (8.2 hours)       Category: Avionics

My servos were mounted with bolts and locktite. I decided to get some drilled-head bolts and safety wire the bolts. Installed the battery grounding point on one of the main landing gear bolts. I replaced the washer with the ground mount. re-torqued the landing gear bolt. I also figured out a place to mount the main bus.

  Nov 04, 2021     Trim wiring - (2.1 hours)       Category: Avionics

Brought the wires in for the trim servo control and trim position indicator. Ran the wires to the back of the panel for the indicator and to the pilot stick for the trim control

  Nov 02, 2021     Stick grip install       Category: Avionics

Installed the pilot stick grip and wired it to a d-sub connector. I don't have the right female connector for the inputs so I will have to hold off. It was a real pain to get the wires through the stick.

  Nov 01, 2021     Stuck soldering - (3 hours)       Category: Avionics

soldered up the Ray Allen stick grip. I soldered per the directions then realized I needed buttons 2 and 4 to go to ground not power (AP engage and disengage). Desoldered and corrected.

Update: I connected buttons 2 and 4 to ground for both NO and NC. Not helpful so I had to pull it apart and do it again.

  Oct 31, 2021     Battery and equipment mounting - (10.1 hours)       Category: Avionics

This is a summary of the last few days of work. Built a bracket and installed the aux battery. The aux battery will be wired to ECU2 and to the pilot EFIS. I decided to move the main battery under the copilot seat from behind the panel and put the main solenoid back on the firewall. Also found a spot to mount the EIS forward near the firewall. The ARINC is now mounted under the backup battery mount. I picked a spot for the ground bus installation on the firewall but did not install it.

  Oct 26, 2021     panel and avionics mounted - (4.6 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

Built up the panel cutout with the two EFISs, GPS, radio, switches, ELT remote and air vents. Temporarily installed in the aircraft to start the fitup and wiring.

  Oct 25, 2021     Avionics stack - (3.5 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

continued work on the avionics stack brackets. Installed nut plates for the EFISs

  Oct 20, 2021     Avi brackets - (4.2 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

Started work on the avionics bracket for GPS and comm mounting

  Oct 19, 2021     Repainting test - (5 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

repainted the aileron I previously stripped. The results were better than previous but still not great. I have more work to do.

  Oct 17, 2021     Panel is cut and servo mount - (4 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

I got the panel cutout from sendcutsend.com. It turned out well. A few of the holes were a little undersized and needed some filing to open them up. Rough installed the panel to test the fit and see what the space looks like behind and what kind of access I have once the boot cowl was installed. This is so I doing put anything anywhere I can't get to it later. Also worked on the roll servo mount.

  Oct 09, 2021     Roll servo mount - (5.1 hours)       Category: Fuselage

Fitted and installed the roll servo mount. The attach cable I had for the capstan didn't quite fit so I had to modify the capstan slightly to get it to fit. All was well. The servo was mounted with bolts and loctite.

Update: I decided the bolts with loctite was the wrong way to go. Replaced the bolts with drilled head bolts safety wired to each other.

  Sep 26, 2021     Paint stripping - (2.6 hours)       Category: Paint / Decals

I stripped the paint from one of the ailerons. That paint stripper is nasty stuff but it works well.

  Sep 25, 2021     ELT wiring - (2.3 hours)       Category: Avionics

Ran the wiring for the ELT to the panel.

  Sep 24, 2021     Baggage box - (8.4 hours)       Category: Fuselage

I built a box into the forward baggage compartment floorboard opposite the header tank.