So last night I did the final instrument panel mounting, which means to take it off from now on is a huge problem. Today I'm showing my build sensei how great everything works and...... no beacon power. He asks me a couple questions, I get out my schematics, figure out where power is coming to-from, show him and trace it. First time really using a voltmeter to solve a problem so he gives me some guidance because I'm nervous and don't want to fry everything so close to being done.
Start at the power buss, power is Ok. Feel under the dash, nothing obviously loose but nothing shocks me so that's a win. Send a borescope up behind it and it looks like everything it attached, but I can't get a probe to the switch to see if there's power so I have to undo the switch, drop it out and a wire is missing. Ok, no broken terminal, feel around and find the wire hanging loose. Gently extend the switch and the loose wire out, reattach it, YAY! Put it all back together, still works.
Sorry for sharing, but electrical is my Achilles Heel, and I know I didn't exactly have and fix a major problem and solution. But to a guy who has spent the last 4? 5? 6? years redoing his system, having a problem literally the first day and finding out what was wrong and fixing it... Thanks to everyone who has helped me over the years with advice.
Things learned:
All the time I spent writing up the electrical diagram paid off.
I should have made the service loop/slack bigger.
Yes, a blade terminal would have not come off, but they're also a real pain to get off.
Is there a thread sealant for screw-type terminal switches?
(no the beacon is not mounted in the cockpit, I had to take the fairing it's mounted to off to hook something up. The service loop at the beacon is long enough to let it hang that far down.)
Start at the power buss, power is Ok. Feel under the dash, nothing obviously loose but nothing shocks me so that's a win. Send a borescope up behind it and it looks like everything it attached, but I can't get a probe to the switch to see if there's power so I have to undo the switch, drop it out and a wire is missing. Ok, no broken terminal, feel around and find the wire hanging loose. Gently extend the switch and the loose wire out, reattach it, YAY! Put it all back together, still works.
Sorry for sharing, but electrical is my Achilles Heel, and I know I didn't exactly have and fix a major problem and solution. But to a guy who has spent the last 4? 5? 6? years redoing his system, having a problem literally the first day and finding out what was wrong and fixing it... Thanks to everyone who has helped me over the years with advice.
Things learned:
All the time I spent writing up the electrical diagram paid off.
I should have made the service loop/slack bigger.
Yes, a blade terminal would have not come off, but they're also a real pain to get off.
Is there a thread sealant for screw-type terminal switches?
(no the beacon is not mounted in the cockpit, I had to take the fairing it's mounted to off to hook something up. The service loop at the beacon is long enough to let it hang that far down.)
Attachments
Last edited:
