auto-pilot panel
The conversion harness is not really a problem. On the newer RV-12's without the conversion harness, the only wires on the auto-pilot cable are the 4 wires that go under the panel to the molex plug. As I remember Van's instructions, they are disconnect the d-sub plug from the AV-50000, remove the wires from the molex plug, save the plug, and throw away the old auto-pilot cable.
With the conversion the wires from the d-sub autopilot cable go into one of two conversion d-subs. The 4 wires from the molex connector go into the other side of one of those d-sub connectors. So you can't just throw those cables away. So after I disconnected the 4 wires from the molex connector, I cut them off, put heat shrink over the ends, and taped up the ends of the d-sub auto-pilot connector, and labeled it old and not used.
I got the new wiring harness with the kit from Van's and hooked up the 4 wires to the old molex connector, made the other connections as Van's instructions say, and hooked it all up and it worked. I had two problems. First, I went to the Skyview setup and had the network search for the new items. After doing that, the auto-trim function was not recognized. I then learned that you have to go into the calibration menu and let it calibrate the auto-trim function before it will work.
The other problem was that I put in Tosten grip and I had the pitch trim backwards. That was an east fix, just switch two wires on the d-sub that goes into the back of the auto-pilot module.
I had one more problem. I did not disconnect the battery before I started. There is an internal one amp fuse in the Switch Module that controls the voltage regulator. After I was done with the upgrades and they all worked, the battery was not charging. I presumed that the Ducati had failed, so I replaced it with a John Deere. It did not work either. After extensive trouble shooting. I found that that 1 amp internal fuse was blown. Eric from Van's then told me that the new wiring plan for the voltage regualtor is to just jump the small yellow wire (the one that used to go through the switch module and that 1 amp fues) over to the white wire on the regulator. I did that and the battery is charging properly.
My take away from all this is that before you make the holes for the auto-pilot and knob module, take out the com radio tray and the switch module. Then there is no way particles can fall down into the switch module.
I found the name of the guy that posted the extensive article on installing these modules in an RV-12 with a conversion harness. His name is Jim Schmetterling of Schmetterling Aviation. Search the forums for his article. If you can't find it, I have it on my ipad as a pdf file.
His article, Dynon, and Van's support were extremely helpful to me and without all of them, my stuff would not be working.
I installed the GPS 2020, ADS-B 472, auto-pilot control module, auto-pilot knob module, AOA, and a new stick grip, Tosten, with pitch trim and auto-pilot disconnect all in the same project. It was a larger undertaking that I realized at the beginning. It took me three weeks, working all day Mon-Fri, and then a couple of more days to solve the battery charging problem.
I hope this helps. If I can help further I will be glad to try. I have only flown 3 flights since adding all of this equipment but it is great and truly worth the effort.