Lighting

[Dan]

I would like to put position/strobe lights on my Onex. Anyone have any good ideas for connecting them at the wing fold? I realize I'm getting way ahead of myself here but heck part of the fun of building is planning/dreaming. The Onex has already provided hours of entertainment for me and I don't have a single piece of kit in hand.

[Mike53]

Good question Dan.What I personally envision is something that you don't have to physically connect and disconnect each time you cycle the wings but rather a direct plug-in/connection as the wing is dropped into place.The male /female type connector would have to be robust .The connection would have to be just to the side of the hinge pivot as there would be the least amount of play there as apposed to the leading edge or trailing edge. Whether this is doable I have not a clue. :?:
http://www.sonexaircraft.com/images/pro ... d_1154.jpg

[Dan]

You are right Mike. Maybe some sort of bracket spanning a lightening hole on each side and utilizing a trailer lighting 4 pin connector.

[chris]

Maybe something like this could work?

[Dan]

Those look good Chris. Since I weigh 225 I am going to need to watch the final weight but I don't mind giving up a few pounds to safety.

[Mike53]

I got thinking about magnets as the connector and googled it and found this very robust magnetic connector for trucks. Removing the flap door and aligning it on both sides of the wing I think would would be a long lasting solution.No pins to break or bend.The trick would be allowing just enough free movement in /out of the male adapter so that when the wing folded down it would come within a 1/16" of an inch of the female side and the magnet would do the rest and you would connect .There would be so much leverage folding the wing up that the connection would break free almost immediately.
Well that's my story and I'm sticking to it :? or at least until someone tells me it can't be done :cry:
http://equestriannation.tv/MTEZ2011.html

[Andy Walker]

Hmm...I think I'd rather have some type of twist lock connector with some wire slack than a magnetic connector. I might not trust the magnet to stay put under all vibration/load conditions, and I'd worry that those strong magnets might interfere with the compass or other avionics.

[Mike53]

Hmm...I think I'd rather have some type of twist lock connector with some wire slack than a magnetic connector. I might not trust the magnet to stay put under all vibration/load conditions, and I'd worry that those strong magnets might interfere with the compass or other avionics.

While I appreciate your concerns, earth magnets are strong and I doubt very much wether they would ever interfere with the compass,it's just to far away and as to them coming apart trust me If you have ever tried to pry apart an earth magnet along it's axis it can't be done without great force,plus the application I described would not allow it to back out .It would only have 1/16 " play on the male connector so even if it somehow broke free it would only reconnect itself.
The kind of slack required for the wing to pivot would be at least 8 to 10 inches and now when you lower the wing you will have to also watch and make sure it doesn't get pinched.
So for the time being I will not throw out the baby with the bath water :o

[Andy Walker]

Hmm...I think I'd rather have some type of twist lock connector with some wire slack than a magnetic connector. I might not trust the magnet to stay put under all vibration/load conditions, and I'd worry that those strong magnets might interfere with the compass or other avionics.

While I appreciate your concerns, earth magnets are strong and I doubt very much wether they would ever interfere with the compass,it's just to far away and as to them coming apart trust me If you have ever tried to pry apart an earth magnet along it's axis it can't be done without great force,plus the application I described would not allow it to back out .It would only have 1/16 " play on the male connector so even if it somehow broke free it would only reconnect itself.
The kind of slack required for the wing to pivot would be at least 8 to 10 inches and now when you lower the wing you will have to also watch and make sure it doesn't get pinched.
So for the time being I will not throw out the baby with the bath water :o

Sure Mike. I'm just voicing concerns I would have. Not at all saying it would not work or would be inadequate. :mrgreen:

[Mike53]

Hmm...I think I'd rather have some type of twist lock connector with some wire slack than a magnetic connector. I might not trust the magnet to stay put under all vibration/load conditions, and I'd worry that those strong magnets might interfere with the compass or other avionics.

While I appreciate your concerns, earth magnets are strong and I doubt very much wether they would ever interfere with the compass,it's just to far away and as to them coming apart trust me If you have ever tried to pry apart an earth magnet along it's axis it can't be done without great force,plus the application I described would not allow it to back out .It would only have 1/16 " play on the male connector so even if it somehow broke free it would only reconnect itself.
The kind of slack required for the wing to pivot would be at least 8 to 10 inches and now when you lower the wing you will have to also watch and make sure it doesn't get pinched.
So for the time being I will not throw out the baby with the bath water :o

Sure Mike. I'm just voicing concerns I would have. Not at all saying it would not work or would be inadequate. :mrgreen:

In the exchange of ideas,everyone wins.You raised 2 legitimate concerns,one I did not think of, that being interference with the navigation equipment and the Magnetic compass.Thanks Andy.
Mike