Starting to Wire - How to Route?

[Scott Will]

I took most all my wires through the two pre-punched holes near the center of the spar. The bundle runs in the center fuselage under the cover for the fuel pump... used some of the 3/4" corrugated conduit for that. Towards the end pulling wires through the conduit got pretty interesting - leave some pull string or wire in there for future upgrades.

What I didn't do was run my wires down in the center where the elevator pushrod is... I branched them out left/right as needed. Therefore they are completely out of the way of the control stick and pushrod. I ran some conduit under each of the seat pans.

I also used a hole near the gear weldment for the antennas. Let's see - I think I have three lines running through that hole (marker beacon, transponder, comm). The only other hole I had to punch myself was for the wing servo wire harness.

Does that all make sense?

[Davepar]

Originally Posted by Jim P

Did you have room for all the wires (strobe, nav power, trim power, A/P and antenna coax) to fit through the existing wire holes in the spar? I assume that we take the bundle, run it under the center floor cover then up the side of the forward/ heat cover? I have the strobe power under baggage floor and hope to keep the a/p, strobe, and antenna coax seperate.

I used the outboard and inboard holes in the spar:

• strobe - didn't need to go thru the spar
• nav - inboard hole
• trim - inboard
• A/P - routes along the front of the spar to an outboard hole
• VOR/MB - also front of spar/outboard hole

I mainly used the outboard holes in the spar for the wing stuff with just a few exceptions. Tail stuff used the inboard holes.

I ran two bundles under the cover forward of the AFP pump. They will pop out in the gaps at the side of the cover right under the cabin heat and up each side of the recess. I'll use some split conduit or spiral wrap to protect the wires as they go up the firewall.

Trying to keep the noisy/sensitive wires separate is a good idea, but difficult. I was able to keep A/P & strobe separate other than about 4 feet in the wing. Comm antennas and strobe are separate except for maybe 1 foot. MB/VOR and strobe share the length of the wing.

There are two approaches to routing wires. a) Just go for it--might lead to re-doing/changing some wire routes mid-stream. b) Try to plan every wire route, and still might have to make changes mid-stream.

[N797RV]

Larry,

1st rule you can never have enough conduit.

2nd rule put in extras for the future.

3rd keep the runs out of the elevator tunnel, the void in the main spar and the area behind the main spar (the stick mechanism area)

If I had to do it over again here is the plan that I would follow:

[Jeff Vaughan]

I ran conduit on the right and left side along the floor from the gear weldment to the corner where the floor meets the firewall then up the the corner.

I can email you photos if you wish. Let me know

[alpinelakespilot2000]

Originally Posted by N797RV

3rd keep the runs out of the elevator tunnel, the void in the main spar and the area behind the main spar (the stick mechanism area)

Out of curiosity, Dick, why keep wires out of the elevator tunnel? Van's runs the manual trim cable down one side. Why not use the other side to run wires as Van's suggests. After all, like the trim cable, they'd almost certainly be secured to the ribs with adel clamps or something. There's really no way for them to interfere with the pushrod if they are secured. I'm genuinely curious here because this has been my intention all along and I'm close to getting ready to do some of these runs. Thanks.

[Joel Medeiros]

Larry,

Your diagram shows five penetrations of the main spar. Did you add an additions hole beyond the four that Van's provides and was Vans's ok with it.

Thanks,

Joel
Finishing wireing and having trouble with wires through the main spar

[Jeff Vaughan]

I added one extra hole per side of the spar with the blessings of Vans. They provided guidance as to where not to put them.

[170 driver]

Jeff,
I recently sent an email to Vans about this, no reply just yet, could you show me their response on this issue?

[the_other_dougreeves]

Originally Posted by Davepar

I have the strobe power supply under the baggage floor, so that wire branches off in the baggage compartment. Elev trim wire follows a similar route to the pilot stick.

Is that what's under those hinged panels in the baggage area? That's not stock, is it?