Wednesday, June 19, 2019

Finish Kit (...and others for Final Assembly)

Nav Lights, Pitch Trim calibrated ( 3 hrs )

Back to diagnosing Nav Lights.  Tried Strobe Lights switch (1st time with Wing Tips installed with Nav Lights)...and Yay!  they work.  So Nav Lights must be grounded.  But still no Nav Lights. Decided to focus on Nav Light  Switch in panel, so checked resistance to confirm Open and Closed positions.  Checked volts across terminals with power on, switch off and on.  Sent email with results to Stein Air - and decided to start G3X in Config mode so I could calibrate Pitch Trim.  Whoa...!  the Nav Lights came ON as Config started up.   I realized I'd left Nav Light switch in ON position.  Since G3X has no interaction with Nav Lights (not using GAD27, GEA24 discretes, etc) the only logic I can determine is somewhere a loose pin, or loose crimp suddenly decided to cooperate.   I checked a few more times, and each time I turned on Master switch, the Nav Lights turned ON and Off as expected.  AND the green is on right side, red is on left side.  I did not disconnect/re-connect anything...maybe a terminal at the switch is loose where I was probing with voltmeter ?   I'll do more checking tomorrow.  Now its time to celebrate.    I also calibrated Pitch Trim for neutral, full Up, and full Down positions.  Need to confirm much less "Down" travel than "Up". [ note from future:  Vans build support confirmed pitch trim is designed with much more Up, than Down.  A-OK]

  • Up               .002 v
  • Neutral      4.139 v
  • Down        5.021 v
    Nav Light switch...at least access is relatively easy with
    Canopy open