flap motor wire

prkaye · #1 04-01-2009, 02:54 PM

The wires coming off Vans Flap Motor appear to be solid (not stranded). Can I use my normal ring terminals on these? Anybody know what gauge of wire this is?

N941WR · #2 04-01-2009, 03:29 PM

Phil,

My wires were stranded and I used blade connectors to make future maintenance easier. Good thing too as I've had the flap motor out two or three times since I started flying.

I put the male and and female connectors on the motor so I couldn't cross the wires during maintenance.

prkaye · #3 04-02-2009, 08:53 AM

Ah, quite possibly... I'll have another look. What aboug gauge? How do I determine what gauge it is... just eyeball comparison with Tefzel of known gauge?

N941WR · #4 04-02-2009, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prkaye

... What aboug gauge? ...

I just used 18 AWG and a 10 amp breaker as called for in Van's sample schematic. It has worked fine and never tripped.

briand · #5 04-03-2009, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N941WR

I just used 18 AWG and a 10 amp breaker as called for in Van's sample schematic. It has worked fine and never tripped.

Mine are tinned (soldered) too, that's to protect the stripped ends.

18 AWG here too, but I swear I read to use a 7.5 amp CB.

jsharkey · #6 04-03-2009, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N941WR

Phil,

My wires were stranded and I used blade connectors to make future maintenance easier. Good thing too as I've had the flap motor out two or three times since I started flying.

I put the male and and female connectors on the motor so I couldn't cross the wires during maintenance.

I used 18 AWG wire and a Molex style two pin power connector from Radio Shack. These are cheap and easy - same as Whelen strobe connectors - and are keyed to ensure correct polarity when reconnected during maintenance. It is connected through a 10A (?) breaker/switch per Van's suggested wiring diagram that came with my FWF kit.

Jim Sharkey

Wunderon · #7 01-08-2017, 04:07 PM

Just looked at the pigtail on my ca 2015 motor and they are marked awg 22

n82rb · #8 01-08-2017, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wunderon

Just looked at the pigtail on my ca 2015 motor and they are marked awg 22

are you sure?
22 is only good for max of 7 amps.

bob burns
RV-4 N82RB

Wunderon · #9 01-09-2017, 11:27 AM

double checked..

RV8

My OP-10 shows AWG 18 to the motor from the switch, but the circuit is protected by a 5 A fuse, which is my plan.

lr172 · #10 01-09-2017, 11:55 AM

Flap motors draw a bit over 5 amps when heavily loaded. I used a 7.5 breaker and have had no problems. 22 AWG is fine for 7 amps, especially for a 1 foot wire. I think I used 20 gauge. 18 is overkill for a 10' run at 7 amps. Either way, size the breaker for rating of your wire, not your device.