RV-8 Panel decisions..

[Kingfisher]

Hi, I'm starting to think about my panel and looking at options similar to those shown in this thread. Based on G3x with stack on left with GTN650xi, GTX345, autopilot and audio panel with possibly second Nav/Com and G5 as back-up.
My question concerns the amount of space available between the 650 and the forward baggage bulkhead. Is this sufficient to allow all the wires necessary for the 650 without interference with said bulkhead? Is it necessary to modify the bulkhead or or any other part of the structure?
Thanks
Mike Edwards
RV8A

 

[Jonnyb]

Mate of mine has a GTN750Xi in his panel. “There’s space, but it’s tight”, were his words when I asked that exact question.

 

[lampwins]

I just replaced a 430 with a 650Xi. It did not require any modifications but it is an extremely tight fit and there were moments I thought it wasn’t not going to happen without cutting into the baggage bulkhead. I had approach fast stacks build the harness, and I had to work to bend all of the wires to the side directly out of the connectors, including repositioning the grounding bars to the side, instead of directly backwards out of the connector. In the end it fits and I am confident none of the connections are actually strained.

 

[izzybear]

I went with much the same avionics as you are contemplating, and the GTN650xi is tight, but it does fit without any mods to the bulkhead, but it is a 90 turn for the wire harness. That being said, I did install the access door in the luggage bulkhead, which allows for easier install of the avionics in the panel with the access door open, before closing it, so I guess I should call that out as a mod.

 

[PhatRV]

Hi, I'm starting to think about my panel and looking at options similar to those shown in this thread. Based on G3x with stack on left with GTN650xi, GTX345, autopilot and audio panel with possibly second Nav/Com and G5 as back-up.
My question concerns the amount of space available between the 650 and the forward baggage bulkhead. Is this sufficient to allow all the wires necessary for the 650 without interference with said bulkhead? Is it necessary to modify the bulkhead or or any other part of the structure?
Thanks
Mike Edwards
RV8A

You can make the shapes of the avionics out of foam and trial fit them. Mine panel is VFR only but I had to mock up the arrangement with the actual boxes. I am not familiar with Garmin but some of the Dynon avionics, some of the devices can be mounted remotely from the panel display and that helped with the packaging.

 

[Carl Froehlich]

Easy to fit a GTN-650 with no mod to the baggage compartment bulkhead IF you make the panel removable. Easy to do.

Carl

 

[Jonnyb]

You can make the shapes of the avionics out of foam and trial fit them. Mine panel is VFR only but I had to mock up the arrangement with the actual boxes. I am not familiar with Garmin but some of the Dynon avionics, some of the devices can be mounted remotely from the panel display and that helped with the packaging.

I have a feeling Garmin provides files so you can 3D print their boxes to see if they fit.

 

[walkman]

You will likely want to source a 90 TNC connector

 

[Ben Ellis]

I have a feeling Garmin provides files so you can 3D print their boxes to see if they fit.

This is a great suggestion and what I did to layout my panel.

I have attached a picture of my 750xi, which I understand to be the same depth as the 650xi. It's a tight fit but totally doable. This was a work in progress photo so disregard the unbound wires and the floating GAD 29, that's not where it is actually mounted. Also, I have since put in 90 degree connectors for the coax cables to relieve strain.

 

[Hangar 1271]

As you may have noticed from the picture, the connectors go into the tray and not the radio. What that has meant for me is I cannot remove any of the connectors without pulling the entire panel. There just isn't room to get my hand back there and pull anything. It fits but tight is an understatement

 

[Ben Ellis]

As you may have noticed from the picture, the connectors go into the tray and not the radio. What that has meant for me is I cannot remove any of the connectors without pulling the entire panel. There just isn't room to get my hand back there and pull anything. It fits but tight is an understatement

I had this issue but then I found that if I slightly loosened the screws on the bracket that holds the connectors then I can easily enough remove the bracket and connectors without removing the tray or the panel. The connectors are designed to be removable by pushing the bracket sideways. But the bracket is still tight enough that the connectors won't release on their own and they are fixed in place once the LRU is inserted (which also means that the LRU has to be removed to remove the bracket and connectors this way).

It's a moot point once you're done building because you'd have to remove the panel to be able to reach back there.

 

[Walt]

Done plenty of RV8 panel upgrades with no issues. Panel does not have to be "removable".
I do suggest you make the panel opening wide enough to allow pulling the radio trays out.

 

[Carl Froehlich]

Done plenty of RV8 panel upgrades with no issues. Panel does not have to be "removable".
I do suggest you make the panel opening wide enough to allow pulling the tray out.

View attachment 103711

Walt and I are in different camps on having a removable panel. I would never build a plane without one as I know at some point an upgrade will come along, or just basic maintenance and there you are, on your back with your head under the panel. With a thoughtful process this objective is not hard, so why not?? My panels come out to sit the bench in 15 min.

Note the use of adle clamps to route the GTN-650 cables forward away from the baggage compartment bulkhead.

One other option is to use 12"-18" pigtails on the comm, NAV and GPS antenna lines. Not a hard requirement but it makes hook up easier. Here the NAV tray BNC is the biggest PITA to connect if not using a pigtail.

One other thought. Move the GTN-650 as high up on the left side as possible.
This eases the pain when smashing buttons to do the latest ATC route update. Put the oversized Garmin autopilot module low for left hand manipulation. The GTN-650 has priority.

Carl

 

[Marlonyoung]

Done plenty of RV8 panel upgrades with no issues. Panel does not have to be "removable".
I do suggest you make the panel opening wide enough to allow pulling the radio trays out.

View attachment 103711

I like the layout of that panel.

 

[Webb]

It fits but is tight. I was used to having the avionics stack on the right so I set it up that way. In retrospect, I would now prefer it on the right.

Don’t forget the guy in the back seat.

 

[WWhunter]

To the OP, seems like most people are in the Garmin arena. While I have owned and like Garmin, I most likely will go with Dynon when I upgrade my 8's panel in the future. One of the reasons is that I am not a huge fan of touch screens and the little 'shelf' with buttons on the Dynon definitely makes me lean towards it for my future panel. Granted, most of my flying has been low/slow bush type planes on wheels or floats. Gettting tossed around, I learned that a touch screen can be a bit of a frustrating experince at times. Very little time in the RV so far, so maybe it won't be an issue, but passed experience has led me to this decision. Another minor issue after nearly 40 years of flying is Garmins habit of dropping support for older units, even if they are still a viable unit. Maybe Dynon is the same, but the older D100/D120 currently installed are 100% usable for now. Just something to think about.

 

[olyolson]

Another option for the backseat is a Garmin Aera 660 connected to the GDL-39 3D via BT (for the synthetic vision & wx/tfc). Easy to make a bracket to secure to the back of the front seat and connect to aircraft power.

 

[walkman]

Walt and I are in different camps on having a removable panel. I would never build a plane without one as I know at some point an upgrade will come along, or just basic maintenance and there you are, on your back with your head under the panel. With a thoughtful process this objective is not hard, so why not?? My panels come out to sit the bench in 15 min.

Note the use of adle clamps to route the GTN-650 cables forward away from the baggage compartment bulkhead.

One other option is to use 12"-18" pigtails on the comm, NAV and GPS antenna lines. Not a hard requirement but it makes hook up easier. Here the NAV tray BNC is the biggest PITA to connect if not using a pigtail.

One other thought. Move the GTN-650 as high up on the left side as possible.
This eases the pain when smashing buttons to do the latest ATC route update. Put the oversized Garmin autopilot module low for left hand manipulation. The GTN-650 has priority.

Carl

The back of my front luggage has a removable panel held in the usual hinge method. Works great. Combine that with a typical 10"+ hole for primary EFIS and there's plenty of room.

My center panel is removable, and I have an under tray as well, but have not found it necessary to remove.

 

[vlittle]

Another option for the backseat is a Garmin Aera 660 connected to the GDL-39 3D via BT (for the synthetic vision & wx/tfc). Easy to make a bracket to secure to the back of the front seat and connect to aircraft power.

The back-seat panel was the driving force behind the huVVer-AVI instrument program. These connect wirelessly (or wired) to a SkyView system, so only power is required. For Garmin G3X or G5, serial port wiring is required. For the more adventurous, any of the huVVer units (say one mounted on the front panel) can take the Garmin serial link and convert it into a wireless link for the back seat panel. Each instrument is configurable to display flight or engine instruments.