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  #11  
Old 12-04-2010, 05:28 PM
Bill Dicus Bill Dicus is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Shorewood, WI (Milwaukee area)
Posts: 1,066
Default Panel

Not wiring -but I think compass not used much. I mounted mine in the right side panel after checking for mag interference there. Would the current compass spot serve well for G meter? Have fun designing. It's almost a shame to be done with that part and be somewhat locked in!
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Shorewood (Milwaukee) Wisconsin
RV-8 N9669D Flying 12/4/14!
Flying Pitts S-2A, Piper Lance
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  #12  
Old 12-04-2010, 08:00 PM
jmitchell jmitchell is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 132
Default Lost sight of the mission a bit...

Thanks for the comments, I appreciate it.

I should have mentioned Vertical Power keeps spare parts to support existing VP-50 units in stock in my earlier post. I forgot about that, sorry.

Of course Marc is absolutely right about having several other items that would keep me on the ground that I don't have backups for.

It's a delicate balance between too many backup systems (and the weight / complexity / cost associated with them) and not enough.

My day job is flying heavy transport helicopters to offshore oil / gas platforms off the Canadian East Coast in the worst kind of weather. The aircraft I fly has 2 of everything and 3 of the really important things! I am accustomed to a certain level of system redundancy.

In addition every AME I know and solicit for advice on my electrical system only have experience working on complex transport machines. They have no idea what a day VFR sport plane mission is all about. Some can?t get over the fact I?ll only have one engine out front! There is almost zero general aviation here in Halifax to draw on let alone sport aviation.

Anyway, the only VP-50 backup circuits I planned initially were to the boost pump, and flaps sourced from the battery in the unlikely event the VP-CU became U/S.

But when I started working with the VP-50 load planning worksheet I realized I was too close to my alternators limit and was running out of available VP-50 power pins. Mostly because I have heated seats (front /back) and two auxiliary power outlets to run heated (motorcycle style) vests, electric flaps, boost pump, and landing light. Cumulatively these items draw a lot of current.

My plan then evolved to incorporate an auxiliary bus (Fuse block) energized by both the alternator and battery to take care of the seat heaters, and boost pump (B/U) etc. At this point I realized the physical location of the aux buss (on the side wall under a switch console by my right knee) would make it convenient to add other items that would have had wires running in close proximity to it if routed to the VP-50 CU.

So for convenience I decided to just power those items from the aux buss as well. This lightened the load on the VP-50 and freed up some pins for future use.

My plan is still fluid and I?m fortunate to have VAF forum members and especially Marc Ausman offer comments, observations and suggestions for the purpose of improving the system.

Given Marcs recent illumination of the fact there are many single items that can ground my RV-8 I need to rethink my strategy a bit. I have to keep in mind the mission is Day/Night VFR. Not heavy weather IFR.

Thanks again, keep the comments coming!

P.S. I agree the compass has little use, but I don?t have anything else in mind for that panel position at the moment and my Dynon D-100 has a G-Meter.

P.S.S. Here is a link to my updated schematic as of yesterday. (Now I have to change it!)

http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/jeffrey....ic%20V1.02.vsd
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  #13  
Old 12-04-2010, 11:32 PM
Daniel Hooper Daniel Hooper is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 23
Default

"http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/jeffrey....ic%20V1.02.vsd"

When you post schematics, could you save as PDF, PNG, JPEG, or something else generic? Visio is expensive!
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  #14  
Old 12-05-2010, 11:13 AM
jmitchell jmitchell is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 132
Default Schematic saved in more common formats...

Good point. Here you go:

http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/jeffrey....ic%20V1.02.gif

http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/jeffrey....ic%20V1.02.jpg

http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/jeffrey....ic%20V1.02.png

Cheers.
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  #15  
Old 12-05-2010, 12:03 PM
Daniel Hooper Daniel Hooper is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 23
Default

Thank you!
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  #16  
Old 12-09-2010, 06:51 AM
jmitchell jmitchell is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 132
Default My revised RV-8 Wiring Schematic v1.03

Revised my general wiring schematic for your comments.

http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/jeffrey....ic%20V1.03.jpg

Link to panel image:

http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/jeffrey....20JM%20002.JPG

Link to VP-50 Load planning sheet:

http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/jeffrey....heet_VP-50.xls

Thanks for your input.
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  #17  
Old 12-10-2010, 09:03 AM
DeltaTango's Avatar
DeltaTango DeltaTango is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Friendswood, TX
Posts: 68
Default ergonomics

Clean layout. However I would switch the transponder and SL40. In an -8 your left hand will be free to switch radios and turn on lights when flying down low near airports. The transponder is basically set and forget. I would put the GPS on the left also however compromises must be made for making things fit nicely.
Obviously it will work anyway you go. Just my .02 worth.

David
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  #18  
Old 12-10-2010, 09:25 AM
Randy Erwin Randy Erwin is offline
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Central Point, OR
Posts: 53
Default

I agree, beautiful layout, and very clean. But I also agree that you might be happier the VP over on the right, and stack the Garmins all over on the left side.
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  #19  
Old 12-10-2010, 10:47 AM
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cdmiller cdmiller is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Battle Ground, Washington
Posts: 138
Default Nice panel

Beautiful panel layout. I agree with the other post about putting avionics that require tuning, etc. on the left side so that you can do them with your left hand, while keeping the right hand on the stick. For the same reason, you should put your flap and boost pump switches on the left side of the panel as well. That way, your left hand can adjust throttle, mixture, prop, flaps, and boost pump, while the right hand stays on the stick.

One other suggestion is to replace the whiskey compass with a G-meter. With two remote magnetometers on the Dynon's, you do not need a whiskey compass unless you plan to fly IFR. You will want a G-meter, however, if you intend to do aerobatics. Do to the variations in elevator stick force with CG differences in the tandem RV-8, it is a good idea to watch a G-meter, while pulling G's. Putting the G-meter up high on the panel makes it easy to see during aerobatics. Note. I have a Dynon in my plane and it is much easier to watch an analog G-meter than to watch a small digital readout on the Dynon during aerobatics.

Finally, you might consider putting a switch on the stick to swap active and standby frequencies on your com radio. That is a great convenience while formation flying and at other times.

Cheers,

Dan Miller
RV-8 N3TU 890+ hours of fun

Last edited by cdmiller : 12-10-2010 at 10:51 AM. Reason: added clarification
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  #20  
Old 12-10-2010, 01:30 PM
RV-4 RV-4 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: St-Jerome,Quebec,Canada
Posts: 1,125
Question WHISKEY COMPASS

Dan
''One other suggestion is to replace the whiskey compass''

I'm not 100% positive on this one but I believe it is a requirement in Canada to have one either IFR or VFR..Please correct me if I'm wrong and I will be the first one to take it out..;-)

Cheers

Bruno
rv4@videotron.ca
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