December 2, 2007 - Autopilot, Panel Light, Flap
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I decided to try a new method and knock out systems one by
one. I started with the Autopilot. I cut some black,
brass screws to the correct length -- very short for the Pictorial Pilot
-- and secured the instrument to the panel. In the beginning, I had
not realized I needed a switch for the autopilot, thinking it had an
on-off knob. When I finally got around to examining the wire
diagram, I realized it needed a switch. So I got one and installed
it. I ran the power circuit wires -- power wire from bus to switch,
another power wire from switch to instrument, and a ground wire from
instrument to ground. I had run the wire bundle from instrument to
wing servo previously.
I'm not going to power up the autopilot until I have the servo
connected. There's a big warning in the instructions about damaging
the instrument if there is a short in the servo wires.
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With the autopilot complete, I turned
my attention to the Panel LED light strip and dimmer. First task was
to mount the Dimmer circuit board. The center subpanel, aft side,
seemed the best spot. I'll be able to access this area easily when
the canopy is
open.
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| Head-on
view, looking
forward. |
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| Next I
soldered up the Panel lighting switch. I used a mini-switch.
No particular reason; I just felt like trying something different. |
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| I ran and
attached all the wires. Other than the power wire from the Main Bus
to the on-off switch, all the other wires go to the Dimmer circuit
board. My panel light is a blue LED strip I bought from Stein
Air. After a few adjustments due to user error, I flicked the switch
on, and turned the dimmer knob clockwise, and ... I had
light! The dimmer worked like a champ as well. |
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| You can see the
LED lights reflecting off the center subpanel. |
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Finally, it was time to finish the
Flap circuit. It was already pretty much operational. I just
had to reverse the two flap motor wires at the switch to get the flaps
working in the right direction. Switch up - flaps up, switch
down - flaps
down.
Big day today. Finished the
autopilot, panel lighting and
flaps.
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