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Pannel Porn

Panel #2 since purchase. There is a blank on the left for a Garmin AP Head and I need to label the Annunciation lights. But it is coming along. This one will be in until a G3x is in the budget. :)



Nick,
I'm envious. Your left HOTAS loos so cool.

Mine is a patched together 1/2 modern era, 1/2 old school round dials.
But it's mine, and on a budget that didn't cause me to break my piggy bank.

Daddyman
 
Panel #2 since purchase. There is a blank on the left for a Garmin AP Head and I need to label the Annunciation lights. But it is coming along. This one will be in until a G3x is in the budget. :)

Great work Nick! Really efficient use of panel space.

Carl
..
 
Just wow! I never imagined it’s possible to pack such an avionics suit into this little panel space very impressive!
 
Panel Revision 3. This one will be in a while. 😁 It's ready for a GPS175 when funds permit.

PXL_20210120_005201662.jpg
 
View attachment 7156

This is my RV-4 panel.

That is an impressively clean and pleasing cockpit. Love the panel. It doesn't look forced like a lot of tandem cockpits with just too much stuff. Even though it has all the goodies. Nice simple scan with absolutely everything you need so you spend more time enjoying the harmonized flight capabilities of the RV-4 and less time on an ADHD scan inside the cockpit.
 
I wanted a clean, uncluttered panel and also to retain the canopy hinge release handle so Com 2 (GTR-20) and transponder (GTX-45R) went under the panel. Electrical protection is all fuses except for the alternator field breaker; I mounted two fuse blocks on the right panel support rib.

I'm really happy with how it turned out!
 

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Look out the window...

View attachment 7156

This is my RV-4 panel.

Very nice, that throttle does look very familiar somehow...hmmm
Having spent a lot of time staring at glass I now make an extra effort to "look out the glass"canopy that is...
Nicely done...

V/R
Smokey


PS: One of my early F16 instructors who caught you looking heads down staring at "the green stuff" would remind you not so politely of the "beautiful canopy God gave them to look out of"!
 
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Very nice, that throttle does look very familiar somehow...hmmm
Having spent a lot of time staring at glass I now make an extra effort to "look out the glass"canopy that is...
Nicely done...

V/R
Smokey


PS: One of my early F16 instructors who caught you looking heads down staring at "the green stuff" would remind you not so politely of the "beautiful canopy God gave them to look out of"!

You would be surprised how little I spent. The only things that were bought new non-engine related, was the Comm / Intercom (GRT200, GREAT Radio), the G5, and 1 Autopilot servo. Everything else either came from eBay at a significant discount, or in the case of the other servo, local extra's.

Engine wise is a different story. Last year I was fighting with the Carb. It frustrated me one to many times. I switched everything to SDS EFI and threw on an older Hartzell CS I had. Transformed the airplane. Yes, made it a little heavier (prop), but totally worth it in my opinion.

This go around on the panel I simply ran out of room using their Round Programmer. I could have the Programmer or a vent, not both. Switched to the new Design1 rectangular programmer and got to keep my vent. It looks better anyway. I can't say enough good about SDS. But that's another conversation.
 
Love the Viper throttle grip; where on Earth did you get it though?

It started life as a Thrustmaster gaming throttle. Built specifically for the old "Falcon" series. I did a few switch mods, left some stock, and machined up an adapter plate / arm assembly. One of the first things I did after buying the airplane. 120 hours so far, loving it.

I got mine from eBay. Search "Thrustmaster Cougar" or "Thrustmaster Cougar Throttle" I just checked and there where not any throttles listed, but they come up from time to time. The prices seem to have skyrocketed in the last year for some reason, it was actually very reasonable when I bought mine.
 
Nice to see the value of MGL represented on your panel. It is a loss to us that they are no longer represented here on VAF........ :(

I went with MGL because basically what they offered size wise fit. I made a good choice,I really like the engine monitor and the N-16/Vega, it all works really well, displays are really bright.
 
That is an impressively clean and pleasing cockpit. Love the panel. It doesn't look forced like a lot of tandem cockpits with just too much stuff. Even though it has all the goodies. Nice simple scan with absolutely everything you need so you spend more time enjoying the harmonized flight capabilities of the RV-4 and less time on an ADHD scan inside the cockpit.

Thank you! Your comments mirrored my design goals.
 
In my RV7 I mounted 2 EXP-Buss circuit boards (removed from 2 EXP-Buss's that had switches and all) and mounted just the boards, exactly in the same location as your fuse blocks.

If one of my solid state breakers trip, I have the opportunity, in flight, to turn off the effected device (remove the load ) and the breaker will reset.
 
I wanted a clean, uncluttered panel and also to retain the canopy jettison handle so Com 2 (GTR-20) and transponder (GTX-45R) went under the panel. Electrical protection is all fuses except for the alternator field breaker; I mounted two fuse blocks on the right panel support rib.

I'm really happy with how it turned out!


Looks very clean, nice work!
 
Are those blade type fuse holders? Can you get to them and replace a blown fuse in flight, or even see them?

I wanted a clean, uncluttered panel and also to retain the canopy jettison handle so Com 2 (GTR-20) and transponder (GTX-45R) went under the panel. Electrical protection is all fuses except for the alternator field breaker; I mounted two fuse blocks on the right panel support rib.

I'm really happy with how it turned out!
 
Are those blade type fuse holders? Can you get to them and replace a blown fuse in flight, or even see them?

I've got the same question. How do you replace or fix in flight...? Or even identify the device that's the problem in flight?
 
Quite simple. You don't.

In the airline world everything, literally everything is protected with a circuit breaker. If one pops in flight, you absolutely do not try and reset it. Unless directed to by a checklist that is. And that is incredibly rare.

A lot of people, myself included, put in fuse blocks that cannot be serviced inflight. If a properly done fuse blows inflight, there is a reason. I'll figure out what that is once I'm back on the ground.

I have safety of flight items on circuit breakers that I can reach. Does the other poster? Maybe, maybe not. Judging by the workmanship of what I see, I'd bet you he has thought this out.
 
I’ve been pondering the idea of putting lighted blade fuses in this project,,, but I’m have trouble figuring out how these work , are you fusing the feed to the switch in this case ?

Re :Thermos’s post , I wanted a clean, uncluttered panel and also to retain the canopy jettison handle so Com 2 (GTR-20) and transponder (GTX-45R) went under the panel. Electrical protection is all fuses except for the alternator field breaker; I mounted two fuse blocks on the right panel support rib.

I'm really happy with how it turned out!
 
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How do you access them on the ground?

On the -7 that's shown, its a Tip-up. Open the canopy and you have access to the fuses.

On my -4, I have to pull the forward skin. 30 Screws or whatever it is. A pain, yes. Never had to do it for a nuisance fuse fault.
 
Thanks all for your kind words!

About access in flight, I agree 100 percent with Nick.

In almost 40 years of flying and instructing in rental airplanes, and in flying the Archer I owned for several years, I only had one circuit breaker trip - vent fan in a beat-up Warrior with an instrument student - and I reset it. A few seconds later we got a burning electrical component smell, so we turned around and went home. Since then I've become a fan (no pun intended) of not resetting breakers inflight, and that's what I teach my students. The only exception is the alternator field breaker.

For the kinds of flying I expect to do, basically day/night VFR and light IFR (instrument climb to mostly VMC on top, approach with conservative mins), I have enough redundancy that I should be able to get on the ground somewhere within 30 minutes after losing one or sometimes even two systems.

elev666, I'm not sure exactly what you mean by fusing the feed to the case but there shouldn't be any additional wiring involved for lighted ATC fuses. If the fuse blows, the LED lights from power that would otherwise go to the protected circuit. I'd love to use them but they aren't available in current ratings less than 3A and I have a lot of systems that need fuses with lower ratings.

HTH

Dave
 
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Here’s the panel on my new-to-me 4. Classic and simple.
 

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+1 For blade fuses

I agree that a CB that pops should not be reset in the air except as directed by a procedure.

Maybe I'm naive, but Mr. Boeing has trained us all to think alike and I think it's good avice.

Blade fuses do the job.
 

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I have the identical fuse blocks in my tip up RV-7. My DAR asked me about inflight fuse replacement and we had the conceptual discussion identical to the above (I'm airline too). He squirmed a little bit and finally said "I'll bet you could reach under there and get at a fuse in flight." I said "yep, I'll bet I could." The right check mark went in the right little box on his list, and on we went. I have CBs for the PMags and alternator field, and nothing else. No equipment on the plane I'm willing to start a fire to get back.
 
I am with Nick on this one. Use fuses and if one blows, figure it out on the ground. Several years ago, I experienced an electrical fire in my -4. I was fat dumb and happy flying over the middle of nowhere Arkansas on a beautiful clear day when in an instant, I was overwhelmed by an electrical burning smell/smoke as I saw my volt and ammeter going crazy. I shut off the battery and alternator and everything stopped. Looked at my IPad and found the nearest airport and landed uneventfully. The beauty of GPS with battery powered device (IPhone/IPad/Android) is you can navigate anywhere without ships power. So the moral to this is that I don’t believe there is a reason to reset a CB or change a fuse in flight and risk a fire. If you fly IFR, then then your EFIS battery backup should be sufficient to get you into VMC. It turned out that my voltage regulator crapped out. It was tied to a CB but for whatever reason, it didn’t trip. One caveat; I have an O-360 with EMags that are self generating. I am not sure what the effect of no power would be on a fuel injected engine.

Zem
 
Here’s the panel on the -4 I bought last year. The late 80’s vintage definitely shows. I added the JPI and the empty tray used to be a Narco Comm that had the tuning gear break. I’ve been brainstorming how to do something more modern without cutting but I suspect I’ll end up getting a new blank cut when I finally upgrade.
 

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brainstorming how to do something more modern without cutting

Well, good friend Marcel upgraded his -4 with a very similar lookin panel I built, as u rightly say, in the 90’s... with dual G5s, sensors, AV-20, and, gotta say, looks pretty :cool:
 
Well, good friend Marcel upgraded his -4 with a very similar lookin panel I built, as u rightly say, in the 90’s... with dual G5s, sensors, AV-20, and, gotta say, looks pretty :cool:

It’s something I’ve considered as a stop-gap until I’m ready to tackle the panel as a full project. Cutting out the top row of 3” instruments gives room for two G5s or two GRT Minis side-by-side. Since the EDM displays RPM I can ditch the mechanical tach in favor of the MGL navcom. Add in a heated pitot and it would appear to be a very budget conscious IFR legal panel.
 
still work in progress what do you think

I am trying to get some more leg room, a Garmin 660 , an MGL ems2 and MGL FF as well as the av30, so the panel is angled in but, I still have to figure out the top lid support in front of the canopy
 

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Nice backup Airplane

Saw the tail of your 195. Nice hangar mate. I’m building a 4, but have a 195 I’ve owned for 30+ years sharing the hangar.
 
Panel Upgrade



I recently updated my 2002 panel. Replaced my Rocky Mountain Instruments EMS/Altimeter and Microair Transceiver/Transponder with Dynon Skyview HDX and Garmin 175 GPS. And, since I was at it, I added a smoke tank. :)
 
Dynon Transponder

I went with full Dynon system, including transponder. It’s controlled thru the HDX display. Pretty seamless.
 
Don't credit me. I bought it this way. But it was nicely completed. Simple, clean.
 

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same story for me

I am also replacing my 2004 Rocky Mountain Instruments with a Dynon package. For back up Airspeed/Altimeter, going with the uAvionics AV-30E. By by steam gauges though I'll miss them!
Thanks for the photo
Mike in Boulder
 
I guess I’m old school (43 yrs driving planes), I’m in the middle of redoing my 4 panel using 2x AvMap Ultra’s & the rest round dials. I fly full glass for a living, never liked full glass so don’t want it in my fun plane👍

CBBBCA93-B47F-46F6-BB81-09695CD0F15A.jpeg
 
heres my upgrade

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this one has been a lot of work. isolaated Carbin Fiber. all new Wiring harnes and complete electrical system. All Garmin, and everything is flush mounted. Im a little past this point but the AC is in storage while im away for work.
 
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