OK, so sometimes, you just have to treat yourself.....
In searching out one of th remaining "bugs" in my panel wiring for Louise's -6, I discovered that the reason I wasn't getting audio form the #2 Comm receiver (an ICOMM A200) to the audio panel is that I had the shield and signal pins reversed - don't ask how, I can't tell you. These things just happen! Interestingly enough these two pins are directly above and below one another in the connector (slots "H" and "10" if I recall correctly). Unfortunately, of course, being already installed in the airplane, with all the wire bundling in place, it would have been nearly impossible to pull the connector out of the tray without some real gymnastics. I have used all sorts of kluges in the past to get these Amp pins out of the connector body - usually ending up with a tiny jeweler's screwdriver, or something similar, and generally damaging the pin.
A damaged pin usually isn't a problem, since the install kit comes with about three times more pins than you need, and you just crimp on new ones - but in the confined space under and behind the panel, I wasn't sure I'd have enough room to do this without opening up the entire wire bundle, which would have taken a lot of time and bad words. I know that a lot of techs have built their own Amp pin tool from a piece of broken hack saw blade, or other stiff metal, ground down to size, but I didn't have anything convenient, had never seen one on which to base my model, and was just tired enough of fooling around with things to stop by the electronics store to see if they had the tool.
Nine dollars later....(yup, it was nine bucks for that little two-cent piece of metal)...I had the tool, stuck it in the rack and instantly heard a satisfying "click". The pin pushed right out the back. So did the second one. they went in just as easily, and in five minutes, the job was done. It probably would have taken me an hour to make the right tool and much more to try and do the job without it. OK, at my hourly rate.....yup! It was worth it. At least, that is what I am going to keep telling myself - so I won't buy a pizza tonight, and I saved a lot of frustration. I'm not made of money....but sometimes, a little luxury like that is just what a guy needs!
Paul
In searching out one of th remaining "bugs" in my panel wiring for Louise's -6, I discovered that the reason I wasn't getting audio form the #2 Comm receiver (an ICOMM A200) to the audio panel is that I had the shield and signal pins reversed - don't ask how, I can't tell you. These things just happen! Interestingly enough these two pins are directly above and below one another in the connector (slots "H" and "10" if I recall correctly). Unfortunately, of course, being already installed in the airplane, with all the wire bundling in place, it would have been nearly impossible to pull the connector out of the tray without some real gymnastics. I have used all sorts of kluges in the past to get these Amp pins out of the connector body - usually ending up with a tiny jeweler's screwdriver, or something similar, and generally damaging the pin.
A damaged pin usually isn't a problem, since the install kit comes with about three times more pins than you need, and you just crimp on new ones - but in the confined space under and behind the panel, I wasn't sure I'd have enough room to do this without opening up the entire wire bundle, which would have taken a lot of time and bad words. I know that a lot of techs have built their own Amp pin tool from a piece of broken hack saw blade, or other stiff metal, ground down to size, but I didn't have anything convenient, had never seen one on which to base my model, and was just tired enough of fooling around with things to stop by the electronics store to see if they had the tool.
Nine dollars later....(yup, it was nine bucks for that little two-cent piece of metal)...I had the tool, stuck it in the rack and instantly heard a satisfying "click". The pin pushed right out the back. So did the second one. they went in just as easily, and in five minutes, the job was done. It probably would have taken me an hour to make the right tool and much more to try and do the job without it. OK, at my hourly rate.....yup! It was worth it. At least, that is what I am going to keep telling myself - so I won't buy a pizza tonight, and I saved a lot of frustration. I'm not made of money....but sometimes, a little luxury like that is just what a guy needs!
Paul
