Sonex lights and wire choice

Discussion of aircraft electrical system design, construction, and problems.

Re: Sonex lights and wire choice

Postby DCASonex » Sat Dec 19, 2015 10:02 am

Bryan Cotton wrote:Hi all,

I bought some 1/4" OD poly tubing at Lowes Depot, <$4 for 25'. It fits right into the tooling holes in the ribs and would hold either a twisted pair (LED landing lights) or twisted triple (LED nav and strobe) 20 or 22 gauge wire. In Mike's picture above, he mounted his gaugepods forward of the spar. At the gaugepods site, they mount behind the spar. Any thoughts if one is better than the other? If I mount behind the spar, I would use the forward tooling hole in the aft rib for the nav/strobe lights. For the landing lights, I would run a tube/wire in the aft hole of the forward ribs.

For landing lights I have the fresh aero units with the Sonex installation kit. In their pictures it shows the nav light forward of the spar. I bought these from Dennis on the Sonexbuilders classifieds. They seem like really nice and reasonably priced units.
http://www.freshaero.com/tlrlight.html

For nav light mounts I have the gaugepod units.
Picture from their site:
Image

If I can't get confirmation that I will get approval to fly at night with non-TSO lights I will probably buy Whelen Orion 650's:
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/pages/el/ ... series.php

Any thoughts on this plan?
DCASonex
 
Posts: 900
Joined: Mon Sep 12, 2011 8:04 pm
Location: Western NY USA

Re: Sonex lights and wire choice

Postby Sonex1243 » Sat Dec 19, 2015 10:27 am

I ran my Lowes aviation department wire conduit through the forward rib tooling holes for the wing tip and light LED's. I think I will ultimately mount my gauge pod / AERO LED's behind the main spar, to do so, I drilled a small hole and installed a grommet in the tip web for the shielded three wire to pass through. On the inboard end, I spiral wrapped the wires from the conduit end to the connector.

Image
Image
Image
Ken S
SONEX #1243 N424SX (reserved)
Tail complete, wings done
Fuselage on gear
Jab 3300 received!
Sonex1243
 
Posts: 310
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2015 4:59 pm

Re: Sonex lights and wire choice

Postby Sonex1243 » Sat Dec 19, 2015 10:38 am

Any thoughts if one is better than the other? If I mount behind the spar, I would use the forward tooling hole in the aft rib for the nav/strobe lights. For the landing lights, I would run a tube/wire in the aft hole of the forward ribs.

I had seen some comments to use the forward rib holes, only because using the aft rib holes puts your wiring run on the same side with the flap and aileron control pass through the fuselage making it difficult / troublesome to disconnect everything when / if you ever remove your wings. my quick .02c.
Ken S
SONEX #1243 N424SX (reserved)
Tail complete, wings done
Fuselage on gear
Jab 3300 received!
Sonex1243
 
Posts: 310
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2015 4:59 pm

Re: Sonex lights and wire choice

Postby Bryan Cotton » Fri Jan 08, 2016 11:18 pm

All,
I am thinking of leaving the strobes on all the time - no switch, just a breaker. The thought would be an aid to remember the master switch. Any issues drawing 2A on the ground for strobes when alternator output is low?
Bryan Cotton
Poplar Grove, IL C77
Waiex 191 N191YX
Taildragger, Aerovee, acro ailerons
dual sticks with sport trainer controls
Prebuilt spars and machined angle kit
Year 2 flying and approaching 200 hours December 23
User avatar
Bryan Cotton
 
Posts: 4956
Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2013 9:54 pm
Location: C77

Re: Sonex lights and wire choice

Postby SonexN76ET » Sat Jan 09, 2016 12:59 am

I have a red LED beacon on my turtle deck that is on whenever the master switch is on. It signals to people in the areas that the aircraft is in operation and reminds me that the master is still on if I forget to turn it off. It only draws about .1 amps.

I would be reluctant to have a 2 amp light system drawing power all the time. When an AeroVee is idling it is not putting out any alternator current. I don't think it starts charging until you are at 1900 rpm. Even with a fully charged battery, if I have a long taxi my low voltage light starts blinking while making my radio calls announcing my takeoff. While taxiing, my mode C encoder is warming up, I have the engine monitor on, and the radio is on as well as my iPAD and ILEVIL AW. So, plan for ways to minimize your electrical demands during warmup and taxi taking into account the minimal alternator output at low rpm.

I have the Whelan Orion system too. It works great! I have it on a separate switch.

Jake
Last edited by SonexN76ET on Sat Jan 09, 2016 1:04 am, edited 1 time in total.
Sonex Tri Gear, Rotax 912 ULS, Sensenich 3 Blade Ground Adjustable Propeller
MGL Velocity EMS, Garmin GTR 200 Comm, GTX 335 ADS B Out Transponder
ILevil AW AHRS & ADS-B In, UAvionix AV20S
200+ hours previously with Aerovee engine
Sarasota, Florida
User avatar
SonexN76ET
 
Posts: 490
Joined: Tue Aug 27, 2013 2:39 pm
Location: Atlanta

Re: Sonex lights and wire choice

Postby wlarson861 » Sat Jan 09, 2016 1:03 am

Sonex1243 wrote:Any thoughts if one is better than the other? If I mount behind the spar, I would use the forward tooling hole in the aft rib for the nav/strobe lights. For the landing lights, I would run a tube/wire in the aft hole of the forward ribs.

I had seen some comments to use the forward rib holes, only because using the aft rib holes puts your wiring run on the same side with the flap and aileron control pass through the fuselage making it difficult / troublesome to disconnect everything when / if you ever remove your wings. my quick .02c.


The opening into the fuselage is only in front of the spar. If you run wires in the aft ribs you will have to create an opening to run the wires into the fuselage and the wires will have to cross the spar tunnel to get to the panel switch, power and ground. I ran mine through grommets in the aft tooling hole in the nose ribs to a Molex connector so I can unplug the wires and remove the wings.
Bill Larson
N861SX
Sonex, polished, tail wheel, Generation 4 Jabiru 3300
wlarson861
 
Posts: 497
Joined: Wed Dec 05, 2012 11:41 pm

Re: Sonex lights and wire choice

Postby gammaxy » Sat Jan 09, 2016 1:10 am

I think with the PC625 you should be fine. I think you should only count on the alternator as a source of power in flight, though, and realize it takes about 15 minutes to recharge the battery. I get pretty much the same effect by never turning off my EFIS except with the master switch, but could just as easily choose to never turn off the strobes and get the same effect.
Chris Madsen
Aerovee Sonex N256CM
Flying since September 2014
Build log: http://chrismadsen.org
gammaxy
 
Posts: 593
Joined: Wed Sep 04, 2013 9:31 am

Re: Sonex lights and wire choice

Postby DCASonex » Sat Jan 09, 2016 10:15 am

Bryan Cotton wrote:All,
I am thinking of leaving the strobes on all the time - no switch, just a breaker. The thought would be an aid to remember the master switch. Any issues drawing 2A on the ground for strobes when alternator output is low?


Might depend on engine and its alternator. many do not charge at ground running RPMs. Also there may be times when just want to turn off that strobe. They are bright, and can be annoying. Toggle switch type breakers fill both roles.

I an avionics have a sub-master switch and when that is off the panel with its otherwise bright display on GRT Sport SX, goes dark, but master switch can still be on. Killed one battery that way. Fixed by adding a small 5 mm dia. 12 volt LED panel light from RS wired across that avionics master switch. the Sport SX, and other devices that are always on with that switch provide an adequate ground path to shine that LED as a nice bright reminder that master switch is on, but it turns off when avionics switch is turned on so as not to be a distraction when flying. No more dead batteries.

David A. Sonex TD
DCASonex
 
Posts: 900
Joined: Mon Sep 12, 2011 8:04 pm
Location: Western NY USA

Sonex lights and wire choice

Postby Sonex1517 » Sat Jan 09, 2016 12:02 pm

Bryan Cotton wrote:All,
I am thinking of leaving the strobes on all the time - no switch, just a breaker. The thought would be an aid to remember the master switch. Any issues drawing 2A on the ground for strobes when alternator output is low?


Bryan

I wired my BeLite fuel gauge to be always on instead of strobes or a beacon. It is a low current draw, in my panel, and is basically an idiot light. I know to look at it when I close the canopy to ensure I did not leave the master on.

I also made a switch guard for my master with a hole on each side. I put my canopy latch pin in that hole. It does two things. It reduces the chance of the master being turned on by accident, and it reminds me the master is off. I know if the pin is in the switch is off. If the pin is out I need to check.


Robbie Culver
Sonex 1517
Chicagoland
N1517S
Robbie Culver
Sonex 1517
Aero Estates (T25)
First flight 10/10/2015
325+ hours
Jabiru 3300 Gen 4
Prince P Tip
Taildragger
N1517S
User avatar
Sonex1517
 
Posts: 1649
Joined: Fri Jun 03, 2011 10:11 am
Location: Chicagoland

Re: Sonex lights and wire choice

Postby Darick » Sat Jan 09, 2016 10:55 pm

When its uncomfortably cold in my garage I work on the panel layout. My current wiring scheme is to use a keyed off/on switch for the master switch. So if I have the key in my pocket I know everything is off. So far I can't see a down side to this arrangement. Any thoughts on this?
Darick Gundy
Sonex #1646
N417DG
Taildragger, Aerovee, center stick, Prince P-Tip Prop
MGL E1, F2, V6 radio, Sandia Xponder, Reserve lift indicator (AOA), iFly 520
First flight! 10/21/2017
User avatar
Darick
 
Posts: 496
Joined: Mon Aug 05, 2013 9:39 pm
Location: PA

PreviousNext

Return to Electrical System

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests