My first panel plan

[crabandy]

Sounds like you need a copy of the "aeroelectric connection" by Bob Nuckolls. The website is a little funky, I found the book well worth the $20 from www.bandc.biz. Every electrical question you asked is in the book along with a lot more theory diagrams etc. Which wiring diagram you choose will affect how many switches you'll need for master/EBUS/alt etc.

Most people who use fuses mount them on the subpanel somewhere. Some people mount them on hinged trays, and some crawl under for access.

I would hold off cutting any holes in the panel until everything is finalized, it was about the last major assembly I completed on mine. Ignition/carbed or fuel injected/stick grips/trims all change your panel in little ways.

[RVbySDI]

Instrumentation should absolutely be the last systems to install prior to finalizing the build.

You mention you do not like the blank panel space with just the tiny MGL instrument and nothing else. My question is why are you going with this small EFIS? I know costs are always important and perhaps that is driving your decision. If so, then it is your plane and you need to build it how you want it. However you should consider everything you can think of when making decisions about how and why you choose the things you do for the airplane. My suggestion is that you should be using as much of that open real estate as you can with instruments that will provide you with the most information you can get. Since you have quite a bit of open space why not consider going bigger with the EFIS. The bigger display you are able to install the better you will be able to see and utilize the functionality of the EFIS.

Another thing I did not notice is a gps. I can only assume you anticipate using the Nexus 10 tablet for that capability. My suggestion would be to not use that tablet for any primary flight duties except as a backup. I would suggest installing a dedicated aviation GPS in your panel. You can easily mount any of the portable GPS's on your panel with either manufactured mounts or you can fabricate your own. In the pictures below you can see I mounted a Garmin 695 in the panel to the right of the pilot EFIS. I just don't like the instability that is inherent in all of the tablets out on the market. I use an iPad in my plane but it is only serving as a backup tool for navigation. One of the biggest complaints I have with the tablets is the difficulty seeing the screen due to low brightness and glare on the screen. Perhaps the Nexus 10 is better in that regard than the iPad.

For reference, here is a pic of my panel. I have been flying for 3.5 years behind it now.


During construction I spent many many many many hours planning and designing how it was to be laid out. I sat in the bare cockpit early on and while making airplane noises I visualized where I needed to have every switch and component that would ensure the most ergonomic position. Even so, once I was flying I still discovered some things that I should have positioned differently.

You asked about fuse locations. You cannot see it in this pic but I mounted a hinged panel underneath the panel on the passenger side. It is hinged on the sub panel and secured with Velcro to the bottom of the panel just under the passenger side EFIS. That panel holds the fuses. All I have to do is pull the panel free from the Velcro and I have access to the fuses.

Another thing that is not showing in the pic above is the mounting of my iPad. I used a RAM mount on the passenger side bracket where the windscreen frame attaches to the fuselage. The pic below is not very good quality but it shows this iPad location.


I hope this info gives you some inspiration.

Live Long and Prosper!

[crabandy]

Here's a pic of my hinged fuse panel, probably would make it fixed next time. A lot of extra work went into making it hinge without pulling the wires, and provides marginal access. I used hinges on the panel and subpanel to attatch it, pulling the front hinge pin releases it to swing down.

[alwaysoutdoor]

So here is my updated panel idea (pretty much just took everything you guys suggested off/ moved the boost pump/ centered the EFIS better/Added ALT air that I forgot the first time) What do you guys think now? I am trying to keep my panel pretty cheap as I don't have much spare $$. I was gonna use the tablet for GPS but what other more reliable cheap options are out there? The IFly is about $750 and that may be at the top end of my price range- that is why the tablet sprung to mind- less than $250. Fuses I guess I will put upside down between the panel and subpanel so I can get to them by sticking my head under the bottom of the panel

[crabandy]

Any of the older Garmin handhelds can be had fairly cheaply, along with a tablet will take you anywhere with more info than you need.

I'm starting to like your new layout, but the EFIS looks a little far left. If you sit in the seat (I used spare blankets and pillows to simulate) do your stare directly at it straight ahead? If not close your eyes look straight ahead then open your eyes look at a point on your panel and put the EFIS there.

Good luck!

[6 Gun]

I think you are on the right track and I say put the tablet to the left of center and I-720 next to it in a panel mount that is turned upright in portrait that way later on if you add an EFIS you will have the space were the pad is just cut the hole I would move the engine monitor to the top of your radio stack with the radio and trans under it also buy a radio that has the intercom already in it.I would not put any switchs on left side only key switch and master toggle mount them on right side with breakers right under each switch from spruce about $4 each the push type I went ifr or I would have went the pad route with backup gps for vfr . In the extra space on left I would add extra pad for passenger or angle it to pilot .Anyway do it last as things change fast.
Tailwinds Bob

[RV7Guy]

I like your idea of keeping it simple. I would however try to stick with aviation related gear as primary and use the tablet as secondary. If you can wait a few months, do whatever you can to get to Oshkosh for Airventure. Or, Sun n' fun in a couple of weeks. There you can see and touch everything. Things change very fast so wait as long as possible to pull the trigger.

Nice work, forge ahead.

[Paul K]

Just one quick note, when my wife is getting cold, she tends to grab stuff and pull! I would move the alt air to the other side of the engine controls away from the cabin heat. Infact, I would move the cabin heat up to the panel away from anything else!

Just my .02

[RVbySDI]

Originally Posted by Paul K

Just one quick note, when my wife is getting cold, she tends to grab stuff and pull! I would move the alt air to the other side of the engine controls away from the cabin heat. Infact, I would move the cabin heat up to the panel away from anything else!

Just my .02

if you look at my first pic in post #12 you can see I placed the cabin heat lever all the way to the right just under the passenger air vent. There is nothing else over there that a cold passenger might accidentally grab. This placement is one of the things I thought about during those many many many times of sitting in the cockpit thinking about where things should go.