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  #11  
Old 05-11-2015, 12:02 PM
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MarkW MarkW is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Edgewater, FL. KSFB
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dba,
You have had some good opinions.
I will add a few.
I would add a to/go. I would try to get better separation between groups of switches. Especially Flap and FP. I used fuses rather than breakers and was able to put them in a swing down panel to get them out of the panel.
I put my GMC305 on the bottom and I like it there. However it is the shortest item in the panel so connections on the back will be best for a top position.
Some of your misc. items would fit nicely on the far right. USB, 12vdc, dimmer, cabin heat. I think you will find the cabin heat cable works best from a side position anyway.
I have two GDU370 portrait efis's. I am not sure I would want or need a second touch unless someone is going to fly from the right seat alot.
The oil cooler damper knob may be better beside the carb. heat rather than having another knee banger on the left.
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  #12  
Old 05-11-2015, 12:16 PM
BobTurner BobTurner is online now
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Livermore, CA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by terrye View Post
You've got a second com radio (GTN-650 + GTR20) but I don't see where you have a second nav source. For IFR I think you need one.
True in Canada, but not in the US. Although having some backup (maybe a battery operated gps) is certainly a good idea.

A matching look, or function, what's important to you? For a few dollars more, PS audio panels are considerably superior to the 240.
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  #13  
Old 05-11-2015, 01:35 PM
Bavafa Bavafa is offline
 
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Location: Sacramento, CA
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In addition to all other comments, plan your panel in such way that you can add even more things later on if you had to. With that, I would look to move the A/P switch to another location to preserve that spot for another full size stack device. Also, Cabin Heat and oil cooler pull cables can easily be fitted in that control cable area but I will leave enough room just in case you added a CS prop control cable.
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  #14  
Old 05-11-2015, 02:23 PM
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UnPossible UnPossible is offline
 
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You might want to add a forth switch in the Mag row (use can use a blank for now), in case you upgrade to a second EFI system
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  #15  
Old 05-11-2015, 02:31 PM
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rzbill rzbill is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Asheville, NC
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Default Switches along the bottom

I have my switches along the bottom like you show. I like them there however I have noticed that sometimes I bump the ones on the left when I am getting out of the plane.

Normally I leave the strobe switch on in order to give myself notice of the master being on. That has saved me multiple times. On one occasion I turned the strobe switch off while doing maintenance and sure enough I killed the battery by leaving the master on shortly thereafter.

Last week..... I killed the battery with my BC-8 (backup alternator) switch. It held a relay engaged for a week. The PC-680 almost started me but not quite.

SO, the point is, I would recommend some bump protection for any switch that could kill the battery (such as master, back up alternator, or essential bus).

I will be installing some bump protection in the near future. Tired of it.
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  #16  
Old 05-11-2015, 02:32 PM
rockwoodrv9 rockwoodrv9 is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Meridian ID, Aspen CO, Okemos MI
Posts: 2,645
Default Good advice

Read that advice carefully! I thought all my mounting was done and then I read RV7A Flyer's post. My backup battery was too close to the side and when I checked my canopy just now, it needed to be moved. It was an easy move, but it is worth throwing the canopy on after you THINK you have everything where you want it!


Quote:
Originally Posted by RV7A Flyer View Post
Be sure to double-check the clearances on deep components (like the D6) if you have a tip-up (don't know anything about the 9, I built a 7). I *almost* had to redo the panel because of an interference between the stiffeners on the canopy and the audio panel when the tip-up was closed (some flush pulled rivets gave me enough clearance, but it was a squeaker). I.e., don't just think about the part you'll see, think about all the moving parts that will have to clear all the components of the panel.

Looks very nice, though...let us see it when it's done!
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  #17  
Old 05-11-2015, 09:46 PM
bob888 bob888 is offline
 
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Location: Fresno, CA
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Take a look at Vertical Power VP-X to simplify a lot of the behind panel stuff. You might also look at the new PS Engineering audio panel PDA 360EX to save a few bucks (also USB built in). I'm not so sure another NAV is really that important given the independent GPS in the EFIS's. Presumably if the GTN 650 fails, these (nonIFR) nav sources could be used for backup.
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  #18  
Old 05-12-2015, 06:35 AM
Robert Anglin Robert Anglin is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: houston, texas
Posts: 900
Default Nice!

You have a nice set up there. We too went With The G3X system. The panel space in an 8 is much smaller so we had to make the best of it. As others have said we put the 305 auto-pilot controller at the top of the radio stack as high as we could, it is more natural to have it at the top when you are using it all the time, in and out of VFR to IFR. The other thing I saw was that you selected the 240 audio panel. We went with the 340. The 340 or 350 has a marker-beacon in it, were as the 240 dose not and the 240 is none TSOed. If you are going to try any be Full IFR with this aircraft and that is another topic. If you have the marker beacon along with a or two VOR radios, you have the option of VOR, LOC, and GLS, approaches. Then if you get something like a GTN-650 your also have the GPS approaches along with the standard old hole shots. It gives you more with-out spending a lot more for it as you go together. I know there are many out there that say GPS is all you want to be using these days, and that's fine. My home work led me to believe that the day will come that the GLS will go a-way, but it will be a long time coming. Most all of the ATP's I have talked to say that the ILS is their main stay all over the world and looks to stay that way for some time.
It is not much, but I hope it help you. Yours as always. R.E.A. III #80888

Last edited by Robert Anglin : 05-12-2015 at 06:37 AM.
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  #19  
Old 05-12-2015, 07:49 AM
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Pat Hatch Pat Hatch is offline
 
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Location: Vero Beach, FL
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Consider adding a T.O.G.A. button somewhere in the vicinity of your throttle. If you will be working on your instrument rating at some point, you will really want to add this capability to your GMC305. You can read up on it in the installation manual and pilot guide, but its best feature is when you push the button at minimums on an approach, the autopilot will pitch up to go-around attitude and transition the GTN650 from approach to missed approach NAV. The autopilot will then execute the missed approach and enter the holding pattern for you, or if not on autopilot, the flight director will give you the corresponding missed approach commands.
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  #20  
Old 05-12-2015, 08:11 AM
RV7ator RV7ator is offline
 
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Location: Boise, ID
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I don't understand why you want a fancy audio panel. A stand alone intercom takes less space and money. A cheap subpanel mixer would be the most you'd need with your few fixed audio sources. All the frequency and mic selection is done at the GTN.

John Siebold
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