And add some nutplates to the back side while you still can do it easily. They are lighter than a nut and washer and they won't fall off and roll to the most inaccessible place in the wing like a nut and washer will...
I put mine on the access panel itself that is right under the aileron bellcrank. Maintenance doesn't get any easier than that!
I put mine on the access panel itself that is right under the aileron bellcrank. Maintenance doesn't get any easier than that!
I put mine on the access panel itself that is right under the aileron bellcrank. Maintenance doesn't get any easier than that!
Jereme,
Have you got a photo you could share of what you did? I'm about to close up my left wing so timing of this thread is gold for me, and I was favouring putting the controller onto the access plate for maintenance reasons also. I could still modify the ribs easily enough (with nutplates etc as per others) as the skins aren't yet on my wings.
And I went with the access panel inboard of that. If I recall correctly, this required an expansion of my vocabulary because the wires were exactly long enough to reach and making that connection inside the wing was NOT fun. I think I'd recommend not following my example.
Just wondering for all those that installed the heated pitot from Dynon in their -9. Where did you mount the heater module? Any photos or advice is greatly appreciated.
Not sure what you mean here Claude. The wires were plenty long enough for what I wanted to do on the more outboard access.
I didn't use the bellcrank access plate, I used the one inboard of that. It's twice as far from the pitot tube, hence my distance and access issue (the connection was a long reach inside). Using the access plate itself worked great, but I'd use the one you did if I did it again. The biggest mistake I did with my electrical system is trying to save a few pennies on wire and it led to a number of bad choices, tight wire runs and short splices. The choice to use the inboard access plate was not remotely worth the cost of 6 feet of wire.
Jereme,
Have you got a photo you could share of what you did? I'm about to close up my left wing so timing of this thread is gold for me, and I was favouring putting the controller onto the access plate for maintenance reasons also. I could still modify the ribs easily enough (with nutplates etc as per others) as the skins aren't yet on my wings.
I put mine on the access panel itself that is right under the aileron bellcrank. Maintenance doesn't get any easier than that!
Just make sure the wires cannot come in contact with the bellcrank. Otherwise, the wires might jamb the controls.
Geoff, sorry they aint high quality photos but here is the premise that I went with. Any questions at all don't hesitate to ask. Note: It is worth pointing out (at least in my mind) that if you are going with this method it is of utmost importance to properly safely/tape/secure these wires so they don't become entangled with the bell crank.
20191228_133402 by Jereme Carne, on Flickr
20191228_133413 by Jereme Carne, on Flickr
20191228_133429 by Jereme Carne, on Flickr
Just like Airguy recommended for easy removal should it need repairs. I also added a service loop for the dynamic/AOA feed should the pitot need to be sent in for repairs also. I would share pics but the Expercraft website has been down.
I'm currently installing this system in my 9A build... You will need to find some way for the 2nd plastic tube to run across all the ribs between the mast and the air data computer. The AOA is a 2nd pressure reading that gets compared to the standard pitot reading that the air data computer uses to infer angle of attack.
Specific to your question, the install kit comes with enough tubing and hardware to connect this pitot tube and two static ports to a dual ADAHRS setup.
I had installed my ribs before cutting the necessary 2nd hole for the 2nd tube. I ended up turning my unibit by hand to enlarge the tooling holes on the ribs under the wing walk. ...and this was before the bottom skin was attached. I'm not sure how to run a 2nd tube in a retrofit situation.
Also, I just realized that the stock Van's tube you're referring to is probably a simple aluminum tube sticking out from under the wing. The heated AOA pitot tube wants to be mounted in a teardrop shaped mast ($90+) similar to that seen on certified aircraft. I'm sure somebody has retrofitted one of those before. Looks to be a grind.