I was thinking about the serial network cables in the modern Dynon avionic network communication. The Dynon uses 9 wires to transfer serial data from each of the avionics component to the main HDX display. With the exception of the EMS - HDX connection, all the serial wires only require 8 wires or 4 twisted pairs. In the CAT6 cable, the wires are already constructed with 8 twisted pairs using 23 AWG wires, slightly less than the standard 22AWG aviation wire.
With that information, what is the downside of using the CAT6 cable to connect the various avionics together, making the wiring run less cumbersome? Of course there has to be a Network - DB9 connection board for the final connection to the HDX display but I am thinking of running network cable is a better solution than rolling your own and making the connections much more reliable. In the DB9, every wire has to be individually crimped and inserted in the correct pin number. In the network cable connection, the crimper does the job and from the billions of network connections, I don't know of a failure yet. Having spending may hours with my own Dynon DB9 connections, I have caught a few mistake while checking the work.
Aside from the network cable not "aviation" grade, most of the avionic wiring are located in the benign environment of the fuselage and avionic bay, not in the hot engine compartment.
Any opinion? I know commercial airplanes use shield network cables for the obvious reason due to the certification at that level of safety regulation. There is no shielding needed in our small airplane so CAT6 cable should work in our application.
With that information, what is the downside of using the CAT6 cable to connect the various avionics together, making the wiring run less cumbersome? Of course there has to be a Network - DB9 connection board for the final connection to the HDX display but I am thinking of running network cable is a better solution than rolling your own and making the connections much more reliable. In the DB9, every wire has to be individually crimped and inserted in the correct pin number. In the network cable connection, the crimper does the job and from the billions of network connections, I don't know of a failure yet. Having spending may hours with my own Dynon DB9 connections, I have caught a few mistake while checking the work.
Aside from the network cable not "aviation" grade, most of the avionic wiring are located in the benign environment of the fuselage and avionic bay, not in the hot engine compartment.
Any opinion? I know commercial airplanes use shield network cables for the obvious reason due to the certification at that level of safety regulation. There is no shielding needed in our small airplane so CAT6 cable should work in our application.