Power cable through firewall, how?

PIN 37 · #1 04-16-2010, 11:57 PM

Is there anybody out there that can tell me how to get the main power through the firewall into the cabin. Do people simply put a cable through a hole in the firewall using a rubber grommet? or is there some tricky device available that can be fitted to the firewall that allows power access both sides, cabin and engine side? Any help or advice would be appreciated.

jsharkey · #2 04-17-2010, 05:28 AM

Van's FWF drawings call for snap bushings gooped up with high temp/fire proof sealant. There are other methods including rubber grommets with stainless fire covers, "eyeball" swivel penetrations etc. The Van's method is light, cheap, simple and effective.

Jim Sharkey
RV-6 Phase 1 almost finished

pierre smith · #3 04-17-2010, 05:39 AM

...Bob Knuchols (sp?) is the go-to guy for all your electrical/wiring advice and solutions. Here is the page entitled "Keeping the wiring in and the fire out" or something like that:

http://www.aeroelectric.com/articles.../firewall.html

He has probably the best publication on safely wiring your entire airplane as well,

Best,

Rupester · #4 04-17-2010, 09:14 AM

I decided on a rubber grommet covered by a "clamshell" SS cover.

The Nuckolls method using fireproof jacketing looks great ... problem being the difficulty of finding 1" diameter SS flange to rivet/bolt to the f'wall. The only ones I could find are aluminum.

Tom Martin · #5 04-17-2010, 09:27 AM

For big wires I like to use one of the firewall penetrations offered by http://www.planeinnovations.com/ If large current wires ever short out there are going to be a lot of sparks. Plastic bushings on a stainless steel firewall, even covered with goop, are a long term accident waiting to happen.

ccrawford · #6 04-17-2010, 09:32 AM

I was looking at this last night too. Found this:

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo...enetration.php

Looks like the Plane Innovation version of this is a bit cheaper.

However, I will probably go the rubber grommet + stainless cover route.

beav · #7 04-17-2010, 12:12 PM

SafeAir1 makes a 1" version as well that's even cheaper than the Plane Innovations one and includes stainless steel mounting hardware. You can buy them through Avery:

http://www.averytools.com/pc-1003-12...-thru-kit.aspx

panhandler1956 · #8 04-17-2010, 08:09 PM

Lowes $22 for a ss handhold in the plumping section. Cut off the ends and you have two.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_116778-22910...20bar$y=9$x=11

sf3543 · #9 04-17-2010, 09:33 PM

I have used these with great success. It allows you to isolate the positive lead through the firewall
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/BATTER...CTOR,2353.html
It requires a hole about the same size as an eyeball pass through.
You can't beat the price.
I have also made some smaller ones of my own using some uhmw block and threaded brass rod that have worked well.
Good luck.

panhandler1956 · #10 04-18-2010, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sf3543

I have used these with great success. It allows you to isolate the positive lead through the firewall
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/BATTER...CTOR,2353.html
It requires a hole about the same size as an eyeball pass through.
You can't beat the price.
I have also made some smaller ones of my own using some uhmw block and threaded brass rod that have worked well.
Good luck.

Steve,
I like your solution better except I worry about the plastic melting in case of a fire, etc....maybe I'm too paranoid about that from reading all the Dan Horton posts about firewall insulation. Your installation is definitely elegant and certainly another option I considered.
Regards,