Routing headset jack wiring..

[Tram]

Well, the intercom that was in our RV when we picked it up is now toast and I'm glad it is. Replacing it with a PS Engineering 1000 and I'm looking to route the headset jack wires. I'm going to have Stein at SteinAir.com wire up a harness.

I'm thinking about mounting the headset jacks on the vertical pillar behind the seats in the middle. I want the headset wiring behind the seats as I hate being covered with wires and think this location would allow for access during flight if I need it.

What I'm curious about is this - since I didn't build it and haven't had a chance to dig out the plans, I'm wondering where best to route the wires to mount the jacks in this location.

I'm thinking about running the wires under the "floor" of the seats and back up through the floor into the pillar. Does anyone see any issues with this?

[noelf]

Which type of aircraft are you working with??

[pierre smith]

...we had our plugs on top of the crossbar behind the seats and regretted it.

A much more convenient place is on the left and right sides of the lower instrument panel. Access is easy and the excess wire simply lays between the seat cushion and the fuselage side.

Best,

[Walt]

Originally Posted by pierre smith;506897A

much more convenient place is on the left and right sides of the lower instrument panel. Access is easy and the excess wire simply lays between the seat cushion and the fuselage side.
Best,

Agree with Pierre, plus it keeps the cables shorter which makes them easier to install and less likely to pick up noise.

[RFazio]

I installed the jacks in my 6 exactly where you wanted them and I like them there. Like you said there wires are all behind you. When I get out of the plane I hang the headsets on the passengers shoulder belts. It works perfectly. I can reach them from the pilot seat and hand them to the passenger easily. They stay plugged in and out of the way. I routed my wires like all my wires going to the back of the plane outside under my wing route fairings. Then back in behind the spar under the seats to the center channel and up into the electric flap motor area. I have them tied all along the way so they can't interfere with anything.

[az_gila]

If it's a -6x tip-up, you can place the jacks in the triangles behind the base of the roll over structure. Keeps the wires to the outside instead of having two sets of wires in the middle.

[elippse]

Mine are in the back, too, and it keeps the rat's-nest behind you.

[N941WR]

Originally Posted by pierre smith

...
A much more convenient place is on the left and right sides of the lower instrument panel. Access is easy and the excess wire simply lays between the seat cushion and the fuselage side.

Best,

I too mounted mine on the left and right side of the panel and there is no "rats nest" of wires. They simply lay down beside your leg.

If you mount them behind the seat, you have to turn around to plug them in.

[Brantel]

Mine are in the lower corners of the panel below the vents. Work fine there...The cord and the Zulu control box just lay beside me in between my leg and the side of the fuse....

Makes getting to the Zulu controls easy.

[aerhed]

I've mounted them behind, overhead, center console, side console, & panel corners. Center is the worst. Still can't say which is best. Maybe wireless? I do usually wire them standard with a PTT and take PTT from there to the stick. Easier troubleshooting and allows use of a hand mike if needed. On most intercoms, the pilot's PTT is a normal ground and the jacks function as a "hard wire" to the com in the event of intercom failure. If you install the jacks in the panel corners its easier to yank them out in flight and swap headsets or plug in a hand mike if you don't have a dedicated mic jack for it.