Calm opinions on Van's 14A order form options.

[bille]

First post. I am overwhelmed by the amount of information here. Thank you to all who have created/contributed!

I am about to pull the trigger on a 14A quick-build and would like input on the standard options that are part of the Vans order form. This may be concisely described somewhere already so feel free to point me to the right place.

I am not trying to start any wars here. If you want to weigh in, please do so...and maybe with a value 1 to 5 of how strongly you feel about adding it or not adding it (5 being strong feelings). If you want to suggest an alternative to the Vans option that would be OK as well.

Thank you!

Bill
RV-14A (Almost ordered)

[David Paule]

Welcome to VAF!

A good place to start would be by browsing the VAF threads and learning how the choices of options you make relates to how you're going to use your plane. I'm sure that you have a goal there, right? Basically, spend some time browsing the threads and if possible, talking and even visiting with owners and builders.

There are any number of after-market choices as well as the ones shown on Van's order form. Some after-market choices are competitors to Van's options. The only thing these have in common is that by choosing them, you might not make the construction simpler.

Dave

[Bavafa]

There isn't a whole lot in the QB kit that I can think of changing since those comes built and the factory will not make modifications outside of the plan. The only thing that I would recommend (value 3) is to exclude all the wiring/harness that VANS supply with the empennage and wing kit. There are some other smaller parts what is hardly worth any money that I would recommend to change such as static ports but that is not an item to exclude.

Good luck and congrats

[wirejock]

I don't see a whole lot of choices.

Plenty more difficult decisions await. Like primer!

[HighFlying]

Why would you exclude the wiring harnesses? I have a SB wing kit on order already as well as the empennage, so curious as to what alternative to the VANS wiring harness you would suggest. Also, I have excluded the wing tips and ordered the leading edge skin without the light cutout as I am planning on using ZipTips.

[Bavafa]

Originally Posted by HighFlying

Why would you exclude the wiring harnesses? I have a SB wing kit on order already as well as the empennage, so curious as to what alternative to the VANS wiring harness you would suggest. Also, I have excluded the wing tips and ordered the leading edge skin without the light cutout as I am planning on using ZipTips.

My disclaimer: This is only my opinion and what worked for me building two 14s
VANS harnesses are made to work with multiple EIFS brands and have more wires in them than may be needed for the given setup.* Some of the wires that would be better if they were shielded, such as landing lights, are not.* And at the end, one will need to sort out the pining of the*molex connectors to see what wires should be connected to the wire that you run from your equipment to those connection points depending on if servo brand A* was used or servo brand B.* They are not cheap either, so for me, it was just easier to extend my wires past the connection points (wing or emponogge) since that portion needs to be provided by the builder anyway.
Good*luck

[Carl Froehlich]

Originally Posted by Bavafa

My disclaimer: This is only my opinion and what worked for me building two 14s
VANS harnesses are made to work with multiple EIFS brands and have more wires in them than may be needed for the given setup.* Some of the wires that would be better if they were shielded, such as landing lights, are not.* And at the end, one will need to sort out the pining of the*molex connectors to see what wires should be connected to the wire that you run from your equipment to those connection points depending on if servo brand A* was used or servo brand B.* They are not cheap either, so for me, it was just easier to extend my wires past the connection points (wing or emponogge) since that portion needs to be provided by the builder anyway.
Good*luck

+1
The excessive use of Molex connectors, the lack of shielded wire where it makes sense, and Van’s attempt to make it fit for “your” install creates, in my opinion, more problems and hassle than it solves. If nothing else, cut off the tiny molex connectors used at the trim servo and replace. I chased a trim servo problem for over a day on a new RV-14 to find out there where multiple molex connectors for pitch trim in the tail - one of which was bad.

While I understand the market trend of “a kit for everything” this is just wires. If you can build an RV you can run wires.

Carl

[HighFlying]

Originally Posted by Carl Froehlich

+1
The excessive use of Molex connectors, the lack of shielded wire where it makes sense, and Van’s attempt to make it fit for “your” install creates, in my opinion, more problems and hassle than it solves. If nothing else, cut off the tiny molex connectors used at the trim servo and replace. I chased a trim servo problem for over a day on a new RV-14 to find out there where multiple molex connectors for pitch trim in the tail - one of which was bad.

While I understand the market trend of “a kit for everything” this is just wires. If you can build an RV you can run wires.

Carl

This is a very interesting conversation. So the prevailing opinion of those who have built is to do your own wiring? So eliminate all the wiring harnesses? There looks to be quite a number of harnesses on the parts list. When installing the various components, is it obvious what type wiring configuration is required?

[Carl Froehlich]

Originally Posted by HighFlying

This is a very interesting conversation. So the prevailing opinion of those who have built is to do your own wiring? So eliminate all the wiring harnesses? There looks to be quite a number of harnesses on the parts list. When installing the various components, is it obvious what type wiring configuration is required?

I would guess the prevailing opinion is just the opposite. But as with all things RV, build as you want. Just know some roll their own so perhaps engaging these builders might give you ideas about buying the wiring kits, buy none of the kits or some combination of the two.

Carl

[bruceh]

There are some options that may be less known. I upgraded my RV-9A canopy material to the UV blocking plexiglass. I think it was $300+ additional. Highly recommended if you are someone who gets sunburned easily. Not sure if that is even available on the RV-14, but the supplier Aircraft Plastics should be able to answer (or Van's).
On the older RV models, you could get more options to choose from:
Canopy: slider or tipup
Fuel senders: capacitive or floats

Engine options are where it gets more complicated:
O-360 or O-390?
Fixed pitch or constant speed?
Spinner material/size?
Alternator internal or external regulator?
Fuel injection or carb?
Mags or electronic ignition?

I won't even go into Avionics!

Lots of choices, so it depends entirely on you to define your mission and what you want out of the airplane. My suggestion is to define the mission first, then go from tip to tail and decide well in advance everything you want, AND THEN DO NOT CHANGE IT! Any changes will add build time and expense.