Avionics

Misc installations at IP  ( 3 hrs )

Installed 8-32 screw & locknut anchoring Glove Box to Subpanel.  Installed CO Detector Test/Reset button.  Mounted CD40 CO Detector to top of Glove Box.  Mounted ACK model E-04 121.5/406 Mhz ELT switch/light module to IP with black flathead screws & locknuts.  Connected 2 large connectors to GEA24.  Re-installed GTX 45R transponder.    Lots of cable retention / protection remaining !

ELT switch module and CO Detector test button installed

Inside view prior transponder re-install

CD40 installed on top of Glove Box

GEA24 connected

GTX 45R transponder re-installed. 
Harness routing and protection yet to be done

top view over GEA24, Avionics Bus, CD40,
with GTX 45R below

Avionics

Instrument Panel installed ( 4 hrs )

Big day !   With excellent help from Rex (brother-in-law) and wife, Nancy we lifted IP into cockpit.  Nancy had great idea to gather the wire harnesses and various attached components into blanket to lift along with IP all at once from floor up into cockpit !  Yay!)   Managed to loop all harnesses and components into space ahead of pilot's side so IP could be moved into position to start attaching with flathead screws.  Perfect fit!  Started routing harnesses and sub-components to LH, center, and RH sides.  Attached GAD27 to subpanel.   Good progress...but a lot yet to do.

Rex's help was essential to move panel into position.  Thanks Rex!

nothing in center stack...yet

initial connections...

another view LH side....preliminary routing

RH side.   RAM mount for iPad will be added in open space

avionics bus installed 

close up of switch labels

early routing...will be adding radio tray, etc

Avionics

Install GPS 20A, etc ( 3 hrs )

Installed 4 nutplates and mounted GPS 20A.  Removed canopy.  Prepped for installing Instrument Panel next.  Brother-in-law, Rex was great help moving canopy and bringing IP shipping crate up from basement.  Ready for the big install !

GPS 20A installed. 

Overview...just prior to removing canopy so easier to install IP.  

(also found I can reach top nutplates for GAD27 location easier, 

so I should have done earlier)

Avionics

GAD27 and GPS20A installed ( 3 hrs )

Measured GAD27 (already connected to IP harness by Stein Air, so didn't remove) to make a template, then  drilled four #10 holes for 10-32 pan heads on LH subpanel.  Installed 4 nutplates.  Positioned GPS20A and drilled 4 #10 holes.  Installing top 2 nutplates for GAD27 was very difficult, so I changed to blind rivets.

Nutplates installed for GAD27, GPS20A positioned (holes drilled).  

Avionics

GEA 24 and Avionics Bus install ( 2 hrs )

Installed four 10-32 nutplates to sub-panel, then mounted Garmin GEA 24.  Made cardboard template for "avionics bus", drilled four holes for 8-32 screws.   Stein provided 1/2" long standoffs which work well in this location.  I mounted above where GTR 200 Radio tray will be mounted for clearance.

GEA 24 installed to sub-panel

since pre-wired to main harness, I made template to locate
mounting holes for Avionics bus.

avionics bus

Avionics

Installing GEA24 on sub-panel ( 2 hrs )

Drilled four #10 holes for mounting Garmin GEA24 on sub-panel.  Drilled #40 holes for nutplates for the 10-32 panhead SS screws I'm using.   Also machine c'sunk ACK's  "ELT switch" to change the supplied 4-40  brass panhead to black flat head screws...so flush and "disappear" on instrument panel when mounted.

Avionics

Install GTX-45R transponder ( 3 hrs )

Removed "center" area for transponder support plates.  Primed after drilling #40 holes, then riveted to  hinges.  Aligned tray, drilled 4 holes and dimpled for #6 flat head screws.   Mounted between subpanel and main panel frame...works great.

getting ready to rivet. 

four #6 flatnead screws mount tray to plates

installed w/o transponder...shows major cut out in center
aligned with tray

with GTX 45R transponder installed in tray

Avionics

Avionics installation ( 3 hrs )

Fabricated support for GTX-45R transponder with pair of piano hinges (left over from seat back build).  Used hinge pins not used for engine cowling (since converted to Cowl Pin Covers) ...so integral retention tabs.  And extra 0.032" alum scraps provided by Vans in kit as extra material.   Will cut out center area for weight reduction and cooling, then rivet these plates to hinges.   Simply remove each pin to remove transponder if service needed.

marked zone to remove on each 1/2 plate, corresponding
 to opening in tray provided by Garmin

Bottom view.  Shows pin retention tabs.   Used two 4" wide
scraps, which enables easy cutting out "center" prior to
riveting to hinges.   Eyeballed location of rivets, since
not visible (those under sub-panel were challenging to do)

Used tray in position to mark center area to cut out. Biased
 unit forward to clear "stuff" on backside of instrument panel.
Rectangular opening in sub panel is for portion of deep glove 
box running from Instrument panel forward.

checking location of GEA24.  Having glove box on instrument
panel compromises space available, but will be niceto have
storage in panel

Avionics

Avionics mounting ( 4 hrs )

Installed LH & RH Cabin Heat Control Cables after cutting to 36" lengths per Sect 50-07.  Needed to insure Avionics would not interfere.  Remainder spent exploring specific location & orientation on co-pilot side sub-panel.   Lots of connector and harness routing concerns to work out.  Step by step gaining clearer strategy.  Started fabrication of piano hinges to mount GTX-45R transponder.   Nick Millard at Stein Air has been helpful answering several questions.

GTX-45R: under glove box, foward to clear stuff on lower RH
instrument panel, while leaving room on left for connectors. 
GEA24 concept on sub-panel clears large connectors.

Fabricating piano hinges.

Empennage

Empennage Fairing ( 3 hrs )

Completed filling pinholes using epoxy/micro balloons, followed by sanding.  Then re-coat with Cromax Quickprime A-4240S (purchased another 14oz spraycan at National Coating and Supplies  store).  Final wet sanded with 600 grit to prep for painting later.   So...H.Stab and V. Stab removed and back into storage.   Laid out strategy for GTX-45R Transponder mounting (on RH area under glovebox) using 2 piano hinges, etc.

Emp Fairing final sanded w/ 600 grit after filling pinholes.   Four Intersection Fairings in background rec'd same process.

Empennage

Empennage Fairing ( 2 hrs )

Finished sanding smooth where I filled pinholes.  Sprayed Cromax Quickprime A-4240S (sandable, acrylic primer) on Emp Fairing and 4 Intersection Fairings.   Looking good!  But some pinholes remain, so another round of fill, sand, prime soon.

Used most of can on canopy transition,  so ran out
 before I could fully cover both Upper Int Fairings...

Tah Dah !

Empennage

Empennage Fairing ( 2 hrs )

Mixed epoxy/flox and filled pinholes on Emp Fairing (also some on 4 Instersection Fairings).   Later, after cured 6 hrs, sanded smooth all 4 Intersection Fairings and Empennage Fairing.    Began exploring where and how to mount various units supporting Garmin G3X system:  GTX-45 ( remote transponder w/ ADS-B in/out), GEA24 (engine monitor), GD-40 (CO detection), GPS20A (remote WAAS GPS), and GAD27 (intergrated controller).   Referenced couple other RV14 builder logs, and Layout provided by Stein Air.

flox mix added to fill pinholes ( prior sand smooth... again)

unpacking Avionics...

Empennage

Empennage Fairing ( 3 hrs )

Completed sanding high spots and contoured at HS leading edge.  Removed Fairing ( Yay !  - some prying required, but did come off...whew...) to sand edges.  Smoothed edges all around using 120 grit.  Removed excess flox underneath using dremel.  Ref Step 5 at 12-13.  Pleased with fit when re-attached.  No gaps !   Got a lot of pinholes opened via removed layer of filler/paint...so will tackle those next.

underside w/ molded flox shown

prior sanding flox on edges & contouring

re-installed after sanding edges

no gaps

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