Electrical help needed

[Earl Findlay]

Thank you for the assistance everyone.

I am but just a student. I've exceeded VNE on accident but truthfully, I bet most of us have. It happens, and the trick is to not let it happen too often or happen again.

After consulting with others I am going to keep this one simple. A master switch connected to a busbar, and lights on that busbar. Foregoing the avionics master and will just turn off the radios manualy at the conclusion of the flight. I will connect the radios to the battery directly for redundancy.

Regarding the battery, it is true that the baggage floor is riveted, but I am planning to use quarter turn screws for ease of access, inspection and so I can install the battery where it works from a C.G. standpoint

[mturnerb]

Originally Posted by Earl Findlay

Thank you for the assistance everyone.

I am but just a student. I've exceeded VNE on accident but truthfully, I bet most of us have. It happens, and the trick is to not let it happen too often or happen again.

After consulting with others I am going to keep this one simple. A master switch connected to a busbar, and lights on that busbar. Foregoing the avionics master and will just turn off the radios manualy at the conclusion of the flight. I will connect the radios to the battery directly for redundancy.

Regarding the battery, it is true that the baggage floor is riveted, but I am planning to use quarter turn screws for ease of access, inspection and so I can install the battery where it works from a C.G. standpoint

Did you understand the part about the structure of your airplane not being designed to bear weight UNDER the baggage floor?

I stand by my earlier suggestions including that you stop building until you have expert help and more knowledge/skills.

[lr172]

Originally Posted by Earl Findlay

Regarding the battery, it is true that the baggage floor is riveted, but I am planning to use quarter turn screws for ease of access, inspection and so I can install the battery where it works from a C.G. standpoint

Again, we get sucked in with a request for help and your reply is "thanks, but I'm sticking with my idea." This will be my last reply to you.

Larry

[9GT]

You folks have taken the bait once again, hook, line, and sinker.

[PaulvS]

Or, as the Brits would say, "someone has been pulling my plonker"!

[bjdecker]

Catfish:
verb (used with or without object)
Slang. to deceive, swindle, etc., by assuming a false identity or personality online:
“He fell in love with her online before he realized he'd been catfished.”

[10builder]

Originally Posted by 9GT

You folks have taken the bait once again, hook, line, and sinker.

I too read the initial plea with much skepticism (especially given the comments in other threads by "Earl") and hence limited my advise to simply seek local help. We'd all be remiss as a community if no advice was offered. That being said, seeking advice in earnest on this forum and then disregarding it categorically seems to fit the definition of "trolling".

[mturnerb]

Originally Posted by 10builder

I too read the initial plea with much skepticism (especially given the comments in other threads by "Earl") and hence limited my advise to simply seek local help. We'd all be remiss as a community if no advice was offered. That being said, seeking advice in earnest on this forum and then disregarding it categorically seems to fit the definition of "trolling".

I admit to taking the apparent trolling bait but I recall some similar threads/discussions involving a guy who was all too real and just as obstinate in his acceptance of advice (which was all good). Sadly he died when he crashed his plane. So I'd rather be a fool who tried than a bystander who did nothing.

[Mike S]

Originally Posted by mturnerb

I admit to taking the apparent trolling bait but I recall some similar threads/discussions involving a guy who was all too real and just as obstinate in his acceptance of advice (which was all good). Sadly he died when he crashed his plane. So I'd rather be a fool who tried than a bystander who did nothing.

Very well said.

[Flying Canuck]

I have a tendency to extend the benefit of the doubt to people, occasionally to my own detriment. I'll take this thread at face value and won't make any assertions about the sincerity of the request for help or assumptions that the advise will be heeded. There has been good input here, I'll add mine for what it's worth.

I had some electrical issues with my plane soon after completion and had some here suggesting that I stop and get someone who knows what they're doing look at my work. That's a reasonable statement and one that I couldn't argue against given that the problems that I was having were entirely my own doing. I too did not have anyone nearby to assist and managed to resolve my issues with help from this group and from my avionics manufacturer.

I had problems starting my plane at first, I blamed the battery (PC680). Didn't seem to have enough juice to crank well. I ended up putting in a Shorai Lithium Ion battery which worked better but was not a full solution. On a flight into a small unserviced strip last summer I lost my ability to start altogether. I soon found that my starter cable had burned through. My problem starting was never the battery, it was the use of a homemade 8 GA cable for the starter contactor to starter cable. I replaced it with a prebuilt 4 GA cable and suddenly I was starting better than ever. I replaced 2 more cables when I got home. This only caused me an inconvenience, but it could have caused a fire.

I said all that to make one point and make it loudly. Put your battery as close to the starter as you can and use heavy cable for your connections. If you place it in the back, the proper sized cable to the starter (0 GA or larger?) could weigh as much as a battery. That sort of distance negates the more powerful battery, you'll get better cranking power with a small battery with a short run. And you might just save enough weight to be able to fill your tanks with a passenger and baggage.

Once more - DO NOT under size your primary power cables. It is asking for a fire. Over sizing your battery will make it worse.

I will also recommend the SportAir workshop, it was most helpful. I can't imagine the mess I would have made without it. Hopefully it gets restarted soon.