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  #131  
Old 12-31-2012, 09:59 PM
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Brantel Brantel is offline
 
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Talking HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!

Happy New Year to all!!!!!

Powered up 12/31/2012 @ ~23:59:00 EST



Running off the VP-X Pro in Demo Mode!!!

Xponder not powered up because I don't have my dummy load here at home!

I met my personal goal to power this thing up in 2012!
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  #132  
Old 12-31-2012, 10:11 PM
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SmilingJack SmilingJack is offline
 
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NICE!

Now that's better then watching the ball drop!

Congrats!
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  #133  
Old 01-01-2013, 06:03 AM
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Don Patrick Don Patrick is offline
 
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Default Wow!

Now that's a nice panel!
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  #134  
Old 01-02-2013, 07:05 PM
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Auburntsts Auburntsts is offline
 
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Brian,
Any tips for inserting the 22ga wires into those high density pins?
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  #135  
Old 01-02-2013, 08:30 PM
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Brantel Brantel is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Auburntsts View Post
Brian,
Any tips for inserting the 22ga wires into those high density pins?
Yep...see this post!

Its the only way to go no matter how bad it looks....

The 22ga are the easy ones. Trying to get 20ga just does not work without cutting a few strands out.

Typically however when 20ga is called for, it is split into multiple pins and when they do that, I use 20ga for the common wire and 22ga for the two split leads.

A good set of strippers is critical to getting a good enough strip without splaying the wire strands all over the place. I bought a set of the die/machinced type StripMaster strippers from AeroElectric Bob when he was selling slightly used sets. These typically run over a $150 dollars a set, he was selling them slightly used for much less. The cheap $35-$40 units do not do the job like the die type do.
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Brantel (Brian Chesteen),
Check out my RV-10 builder's BLOG
RV-10, #41942, N?????, Project Sold
---------------------------------------------------------------------
RV-7/TU, #72823, N159SB
Lyc. O-360 carbed, HARTZELL BA CS Prop, Dual P-MAGs, Dual Garmin G3X Touch
Track N159SB (KK4LIF)
Like EAA Chapter 1494 on Facebook
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  #136  
Old 01-03-2013, 10:36 PM
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Brantel Brantel is offline
 
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Built the main EMS harness tonight. When you use the VP-X Pro, you get by with a few less wires in this harness since the VP-X Pro provides Volts, Amps, Flap and Trim Pos etc. to the G3X.

Started out cutting to length and tagging, stripping and pinning these thermocouple wires. This stuff is high $ because Garmin specs out something special so don't make many mistakes here...







Then comes the fuel level sender wiring. I will either reuse the Dynon ones or most likely will switch to the Princeton ones since they work much better. Either case, I use the +12v sensor power and the 0-5V inputs.

Multiple cables get tied together for the power + LO/ground signals.



There is a config module in this harness along with a thermocouple for reference. These config modules take some rediculously small wire. It is almost impossible to work with this stuff without breaking the wire out of the pin after crimping. This wire is just too small!

Also added the carb and oil temp cables to the connector.



Next I added the cables for the new style solid state pressure sensors that Garmin provides. These are super high quality units. Must have been a good idea because Dynon copied Garmin's lead....fuel, manifold and oil pressure.

Again many pins and wires get tied common on these cables...takes some creative soldering and planing.



This puppy is almost full. It would be if it were not for the VP-X Pro...



I love solder sleeves!

Fruits of my labor:





Took all evening to make this one harness!

Next is the simple TT Gemini power and track source wiring along with the slightly more complicated harness for the TT GX Pilot. Then it is off to the cold hangar to install this thing!!!!
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Brantel (Brian Chesteen),
Check out my RV-10 builder's BLOG
RV-10, #41942, N?????, Project Sold
---------------------------------------------------------------------
RV-7/TU, #72823, N159SB
Lyc. O-360 carbed, HARTZELL BA CS Prop, Dual P-MAGs, Dual Garmin G3X Touch
Track N159SB (KK4LIF)
Like EAA Chapter 1494 on Facebook

Last edited by Brantel : 01-03-2013 at 10:39 PM.
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  #137  
Old 01-05-2013, 10:48 AM
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Brantel Brantel is offline
 
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Worked on the TT GX Pilot and TT Gemini PFD harnesses today.

These Track Source switches add complexity to the situation and I am not sure they are worth it or not. While they do add some redundancy, 99% of the time they will be in the EFIS position.

Christer at SteinAir told me that they don't put these in as many panels these days...

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Brantel (Brian Chesteen),
Check out my RV-10 builder's BLOG
RV-10, #41942, N?????, Project Sold
---------------------------------------------------------------------
RV-7/TU, #72823, N159SB
Lyc. O-360 carbed, HARTZELL BA CS Prop, Dual P-MAGs, Dual Garmin G3X Touch
Track N159SB (KK4LIF)
Like EAA Chapter 1494 on Facebook

Last edited by Brantel : 01-06-2013 at 10:31 AM.
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  #138  
Old 01-06-2013, 06:14 AM
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Brantel Brantel is offline
 
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Finished the TT Gemini PFD and TT GX Pilot harnesses yesterday.

No big deal. The TT Gemini PFD harness needed back to back Schottky diodes on the power line since it only has one power input and must be backed up with my backup power system. Other than that these were normal. Not sure why all manufacturers don't add a built in second power input with internal diodes especially on a device intended to be used as a critical backup. I would pay the extra $5 to have this so I don't have to do it myself and have a lump in the harness where the diodes are. (That my critical feedback Andrew and Lucas, otherwise I love my Gemini!)

While wiring up the harness for the TT GX Pilot, I realized that I forgot the ARINC Out 2 line that must go from the GSU73 to the TT GX Pilot. No big issue, just made one up and added it to the bundle. The new style backshells are easy to work with when making changes to a harness! In contrast are the solder style connectors that TT provides with their products. I have grown accustom to most everyone else providing the Mil Spec style machined pin connectors that get crimped instead of soldered. To be quite honest I thought about replacing this solder connector that came with the TT GX Pilot with a crimp pin style but decided to go ahead and use it. I am good at soldering so it was not a difficult task to make this harness up but I can tell you the crimp pin style are much easier. I know they cost more but for me they are worth it. (That is my critical feedback Andrew and Lucas, otherwise I love my GX Pilot so far and based on other experience, I know it will work great in the air!)

Powered the additions up with the G3X in demo mode to verify all the interconnects and had an error where I had not flipped the RS232 lines going to the AP....fixed that (would have been much easier if I had used a crimp pin style connector) and it all worked great. In demo mode after you add the TT GX Pilot to the mix, the system acts like it is really working and flying the plane. All the integration works back and forth.

Thats about all I can do while here at home so now it is back to the airport to get this thing installed!
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Brantel (Brian Chesteen),
Check out my RV-10 builder's BLOG
RV-10, #41942, N?????, Project Sold
---------------------------------------------------------------------
RV-7/TU, #72823, N159SB
Lyc. O-360 carbed, HARTZELL BA CS Prop, Dual P-MAGs, Dual Garmin G3X Touch
Track N159SB (KK4LIF)
Like EAA Chapter 1494 on Facebook

Last edited by Brantel : 01-06-2013 at 08:50 AM.
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  #139  
Old 01-06-2013, 10:17 AM
BillL BillL is offline
 
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Location: Central IL
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Default RE: Post 137 AP Input Switch

Stein built my panel and I have a input switch on my AP also. I/we could not find a way to ensure known input from G3X and/or the 650, thus the switch.

If there is another way, it would be good to know a solid answer and eliminate the switch.
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  #140  
Old 01-06-2013, 01:33 PM
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MCA MCA is offline
 
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In my case, the panel is wired without a switch. For me that is just one less switch that could be in the wrong position. The 650 is wired to the G3X, and the G3X is wired to the autopilot. So the AP is always controlled by the G3X.

If for some reason in what I anticipate to be a rare circumstance, the autopilot steering commands don't work, I can steer the autopilot from the control head or just hand fly it.

For me anyway, it is simpler to just work with a known configuration and simpler to know what to do if that configuration fails..
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Last edited by MCA : 01-14-2013 at 01:14 PM. Reason: typo
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