N546RV
Well Known Member
OK, I've spent way too much time agonizing over how to handle this, which is usually a pretty solid sign that I'm overthinking something. I've got two 10" HDX displays and a Dynon intercom. Each HDX display has a left/right/ground pin for audio. The installation manual specifies that both displays should be connected to the audio input of the intercom:
But I'm being really bothered by how to physically do this. Best practice would seem to be to use shielded cable for these audio runs, but then my wiring split ends up being somewhat complicated and bulky; in addition to the three window splices (which I'd need no matter how I do this), now I've got two shield terminations to handle instead of one.
The harnesses that came with the displays don't use shielded cable at all; they just have the three bare wires twisted together. I'm building up my own harnesses for most connectors, but I suppose I could grab those twisted pigtails and splice them together for my connection.
Possibly relevant here is the length of the runs. The intercom is right beside both displays, so the total harness length covered by this audio connection is about 18". Does the length of the run play a role in susceptibility to noise?
So that's where I'm at. Do I:
Seriously, this feels like one of those "do this simple thing and build on" moments. Please, shower your collective wisdom upon me. Surely there are lots of dual Skyview aircraft out there that have had to handle this.
If there is more than one display on a SkyView network, you MUST connect all displays’ audio outputs to the same audio panel input to ensure that audio is always heard. Electrically short the respective left and right outputs together for stereo mode (i.e., left-to-left and right-to- right) or connect all audio outputs together for mono mode. The same rule applies for audio grounds.
But I'm being really bothered by how to physically do this. Best practice would seem to be to use shielded cable for these audio runs, but then my wiring split ends up being somewhat complicated and bulky; in addition to the three window splices (which I'd need no matter how I do this), now I've got two shield terminations to handle instead of one.
The harnesses that came with the displays don't use shielded cable at all; they just have the three bare wires twisted together. I'm building up my own harnesses for most connectors, but I suppose I could grab those twisted pigtails and splice them together for my connection.
Possibly relevant here is the length of the runs. The intercom is right beside both displays, so the total harness length covered by this audio connection is about 18". Does the length of the run play a role in susceptibility to noise?
So that's where I'm at. Do I:
- Run two shielded cables and splice them together?
- Run the twisted bundles from the OEM harnesses and splice them together?
- Just run three new wires, untwisted?
- Do something totally different?
Seriously, this feels like one of those "do this simple thing and build on" moments. Please, shower your collective wisdom upon me. Surely there are lots of dual Skyview aircraft out there that have had to handle this.