20th February 2011 - Wiring Complete

All the wires are in and everything is tied up, tested and working. The panel was deliberately designed to be sympathetic to the generation of the Tailwind but provide good useful information to the pilot. The full specification is from top to bottom and left to right:
Starter engaged warning light
magneto switches
master switch
starter push button
digital compass
vacuum gauge
mode S transponder
tachometer
pilot headset
Airspeed indicator
Trio Easypilot autopilot head (away for service)
Location for Attitude indicator (vacuum plumbing still to be done)
Location for Directional Indicator
Primer
Altimeter
Vertical Speed indicator
Carb Heat control
Carb Temp, Oil Pressure, Voltage and Autopilot engaged warning lights
Multi-function display as described previously
Garmin SL30 Nav/Comm
King KMD150 GPS
Throttle and Mixture controls
Intercom
Oil Pressure and Temperature
Switched breakers for Nav lights, strobes, Fuel Pump and Autopilot
Cabin Heat control
Fuel Gauge
EGT and CHT gauge
Breakers for the Alternator field and Starter solenoid
Loudspeaker switch
Emergency power switch
2 spare 2-1/4" instrument cut-outs
Power outlet
passenger headsets
As can be seen in the pictures, the throttle, mixture and carb heat controls pass directly from the panel through the firewall. They will be final installed through the tubes installed in the fuel tank. In addition the primer lines will also go through the fuel tank. All cables pass over the fuel tank and then route under the floor to the rear of the aircraft or through the firewall as applicable. The routes through the firewall are protected with large grommets which themselves will eventually be protected with stainless steel shields and high temperature sealant in the engine bay.
looking at the firewall from inside the cabin, the main cable bundles are from left to right.
Magneto cables (kept clear of everything else to reduce possible interference), Comm and transponder antenna, instrumentation cables, GPS and Nav antenna cables, Main power lines, switched power lines (e.g. lights, strobes etc.)

14th February 2011 - One more wire and the panel is complete

The panel wiring is now complete with the exception of the wire for the "push-to-talk" for the radio where I'm waiting on more wire to arrive from Steinair. At the bottom left of the panel is the display for the remote digital compass. The aircraft wiring is complete except for cables for the right nav light, the strobe power, the push-to-talk and the remote compass sender.

13th February 2011 - Wiring

Work is progressing on wiring the aircraft. Most of the major cabling is now in and all of the cables through the firewall are in place and the engine and gear mount final installed - no pictures until I've cable-tied it all in!

One bit that is fully cabled in is the information panel I have built for the aircraft. This shows from top left to bottom right:
Switchable time of day or flight elapsed time derived from the GPS
Outside air temperature
System Voltage
Track over ground in degrees true (compare the magnetic track in the GPS display
Ground speed in knots
Carburettor temperature
Alternator charge current

In addition the unit flashes the voltage annunciator slowly for one minute and then illuminates it permanently if the system voltage drops below 12V. If the voltage rises above 15V the annunciator flashes fast warning that the voltage regulation may have failed and the alternator should be turned off.

The unit also controls the carb temperature annunciator which illuminates to show a warning between -5 degree C and +10 degrees when there is possible carb icing conditions. The other annunciators which are not controlled by the system monitor show low oil pressure and when the autopilot is engaged.