jlfernan

jlfernan

Well Known Member
To any junior or aspiring engineers out there...What is the purpose for the subpanel? Is it a structural member or is it there just to provide support for any deep instruments/avionics? The reason I ask is I just started my mapbox install and while looking at some folks websites, I've seen some funky things!
The instructions are very confusing and the photos Vans includes made things worse. Just wondering. :confused:
 
Jorge,
I'm not sure what the exact function of the subpanel is but I did not want to cut into mine. Instead, I shortened the map box to about seven inches. Maps don't fit now, of course, but I still put lots of stuff in there. Batteries, checklists, flashlight, etc...
 
Jorge,
The angle around the front of the box is the only support. Since I cut the box down there is realy not that much weight to worry about.
 
Cut away...

Jorge,

Some place in the directions Van's mentions you can cut that sub-panel as needed.

Because of my panel layout I did not install the map box but did cut a hole for my radios and transponder.

Good luck.
 
Mapbox

jlfernan said:
To any junior or aspiring engineers out there...What is the purpose for the subpanel? Is it a structural member or is it there just to provide support for any deep instruments/avionics? The reason I ask is I just started my mapbox install and while looking at some folks websites, I've seen some funky things!
The instructions are very confusing and the photos Vans includes made things worse. Just wondering. :confused:
Click to expand...

Jorge, I am almost done with the mapbox. Did it strictly by the plans. The only tricky part was figuring out the vertical dimension of the subpanel cut. The drawings show a horizontal dimension but not the vertical. But it wasn't that big a deal. The subpanel angles support the mapbox end, not the subpanel itself, so you can rivet the angles where they need to be. I have pictures of the install on my page. http://www.pilotbill.com/Panel/Panel_30Jun07.html.
 
Subpanel is structural, sort of

The subpanel is only about 8 inches from the panel and most radios, transponders, etc are about 12 inches deep. The subpanel provides support for these items. The subpanel could be a bulkhead just like the rest of the bulkheads aft of the baggage compartment, but it is there to give you comething to attach things to. You can't just attach radios to the panel alone, they must be supported at the other end of the tray also. It's the same with the map box. When I first flew my -6A, I had vacuum gyros installed and they were long enough that I had to cut large clearance holes in the subpanel for them. I have since removed the gyros and now I just have a lighter plane.

Bruce Reynolds
RV-6A, 450 hours (on grass)
 
When I cut holes in the sub-panel...

I would add 3/4x3/4 angle around the hole to give the radio something to rest against. This also strengthened the sub-panel. I also place uhmw tape to keep the radio from being rubbed the wrong way.

Kent
 
I am planning on putting my mapbox very low on the instrument panel if possible. As a consequence, I will need to notch out the bottom of the subpanel. (It seems like about 1/3 of the back of the box will hang below the bottom flange of the subpanel.) I'm wondering if it would be sufficient to attach a doubler to the subpanel, reinforced with the angle, that extends low enough to wrap around the bottom of the map box. Is notching out the bottom of the subpanel any worse than cutting a square hole up higher on the subpanel. Any thoughts?
 
Steve, I did it with my EFIS

alpinelakespilot2000 said:
I am planning on putting my mapbox very low on the instrument panel if possible. As a consequence, I will need to notch out the bottom of the subpanel. (It seems like about 1/3 of the back of the box will hang below the bottom flange of the subpanel.) I'm wondering if it would be sufficient to attach a doubler to the subpanel, reinforced with the angle, that extends low enough to wrap around the bottom of the map box. Is notching out the bottom of the subpanel any worse than cutting a square hole up higher on the subpanel. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Its position was about 2 inch below the bottom of the sub-panel. I used three pieces of 3/4 angle to frame the sides and below the EFIS unit.




Kent
 
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Do overs!

If I were doing it again, I would not install the map box. A lot of work, it has to be perfect to slide the panel in or out and it clutters up my panel. The box makes it difficult to work under the panel on that side. I would make small map boxes on the side, under the knees or somewhere else.
 
Steve, did the same thing

Steve
I did the same thing mounting the map box below the EMS on the right side, I used 3/4 angle to make a support structure and the result seemed as stiff as the unmodified bulhead
<a href="http://img105.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p8090120ar8.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/2603/p8090120ar8.th.jpg" alt="Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us" border="0"/></a>
 
try again

Steve
Obviously I do not know how to post imageshack pictures, I have added the pictures to the photo gallery section of my web site under the panel section (click the link in signature below)
Hope this helps :)
 
Thanks for the input and pics. And thanks Jekyll for reminding me that I've already seen answers to this question. Once I got to finishing it seems like I'm trying to keep track of 100 different little projects all at the same time. It's tough to keep things straight!
 
Finally figured it out!

After much head scratching and with help from you guys, I did it. I think it came out pretty good.




It's great when a plan comes together!!

 
To help the "cluttered look", it might be worth considering adding a door to the opening; make the box into a glove compartment like most autos have. :confused:
 
That's next. One comes with the kit. I can only work a couple of hours everyday before I go to work. The door will be done tommorrow.
 
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