Sequence
Hi,
Just another set of thoughts, we are pretty complete on the wiring - just tidying to do.
I started by just running the wires, slightly long both ends, focusing on the long runs / edges of the aircraft first - ie, Rudder / tail, Wing tips through to the mid section. Then central cockpit (stick controls, strobe PSU, flaps etc), then FWF going aft to panel / buses. So as things were terminated the surpless was left at the panel.
For each area I did the 'biggest first', so sort the aerial, strobe, air lines, audio cables (all 1/4" OD), then pitot power, lights, flap, signal - you get the idea...
The biggest 'thinking' area was the routing, particually through the spar and aft through the cabin into the tail. We split the transpoder and strobe / pitot lines from everything else where possible, or put it with things like the air lines. GPS and Nav aerials plus screened audio cables given air where possible. So far with everything powered, no whine / noise from strobes / transponder.
We were very methodical on labelling every end of every wire as it was pulled, just using a simple bit of tape with a number, or heat shrink with a 3 digit number for final assembly. At the end we have about 200-250 cores labeled. Having a PC / spreadsheet with the core id, start / finish locations is a huge help. I've also got a full list of all connectors, and which cores go to which pins - including the avionics DBs - really useful in trouble shooting.
We added a DB25 male / female which has most of the avionics data lines, so GPS RS / ARINC lines, SL RS lines, TT RS lines, P1 / P2 push to talk are there, sort of like a poor / simple "approach hub". Means we don't have to muck around with the avionics rack connectors for the intra-connections between units.
With regard to the panel layout, a similar type approach, 'big stuff first' - but obviously the small stuff needs to go somewhere. I used CAD to do all the layout, partly as it provided a way of marking out the cutouts, partly as a 'thinking white board' and partly as if I need to redo the panel in the future I will get it laser cut (however as a first time builder it would have taken 3 or 4 cuts to get a workable panel). Once the major blocks are in, bus distribution (CB / fuses), then switches, then devices.
With the single ground principle from Bob, the resource that is / has caused the biggest headaches are the ground connections, we have over 50 ground lines - mixture of groups of 10 ground tabs and a DB9 (should have been a DB15 or 25).
With tip up - as mentioned be aware of the fwd and side edges of the canopy.
It isn't 'hard' but can be difficult, the planning / visualisation of the routes and the long term access / maintenance took significant thought - still probably the 80/20 principle.....
I'll stop rambling!
Regards, Carl