What say yee?

[RVG8tor]

My Breaker panel will be hinged at the bottom, the idea being future maintenance, you just have to tip the panel out to get to the bus bars. In order to support the wire bundles I want to use a cushion clamp attached to the bus bar. I have a a tie for two rows of breakers that is held together with #8 screws, this is a convenient place for a cushion clamp. You can see the clamp in the photo.

The clamp is totally cushioned, (WDG type) so the wires will not touch any metal, but there would be voltage running trough the metal part of the clamp. I wonder if this could cause problems? It would take more work but I can fashion a standoff attached to the panel to make the same support. Just wonder if the easy route will work.

Thanks for the help

[Greg Arehart]

I see no reason why there should be a problem with these wires. They are double insulated (once with the wire sheathing, and again by the rubber in the WDG clamp). Stick with the simple route.

greg

[lorne green]

Just as an option, you could use nylon (wdg) adel clamps. (The white ones)
Regards

[PCHunt]

I would be a bit worried about the long-term potential issue of the weight of the wires plus vibration causing the copper to work-harden, and maybe crack. (Although the copper looks pretty stout.)

I could be way off base here. I work on some pretty old airplanes, and have seen what the ravages of time and vibration can do.

And I'm talking about airframes, not my body!!

[Greg Arehart]

Pete,

I presume you are talking about the copper in the wires. To mitigate this, perhaps a couple additional supports would work? Any thoughts on the maximum length of unsupported wire?

greg

[scard]

Originally Posted by Greg Arehart

Pete,

Any thoughts on the maximum length of unsupported wire?

greg

AC43.13 Paragraph 11-96

supported at intervals of not more than 24".
However, let an abundance of common sense prevail.

[Tom Martin]

My current rocket has a hinged buss as you describe. It swings down from the panel and is held up in place with a 4g bungee cord. (at 3.5 Gs it starts to "fall" down below the panel). I have built a couple of other planes with this type of buss panel. If you have the wires enter the panel close to the hinge point and leave some slack you will have no problems. The panel only gets pulled down a few times a year so it is not like it is moving that often. It does make servicing and trouble shooting very easy.

[PCHunt]

Originally Posted by Greg Arehart

Pete,

I presume you are talking about the copper in the wires. To mitigate this, perhaps a couple additional supports would work? Any thoughts on the maximum length of unsupported wire?

greg

Actually, I was thinking about the copper bus bars. (Probably overthinking the issue.)

[lucaperazzolli]

mmmmmh,

I would prefer use a small tube to prevent wire chafing and metal contact in this area. Just one inch between the clamp and wires.

my2cent

[Noel Simmons]

I am not sure bolting an adel camp to the buss bar is the best thing.