December 31, 2007 - Tail Light
|
|
I finally got around to addressing an area that I think is one of
the most commonly asked questions: how do you run the strobe and nav
light wires to the rudder.
In the same issue of the RVator that addressed the static tube - F-705
bulkhead issue, they had advice for running wires to the rudder.
Again, I shamelessly followed it.
I drilled a 3/8" hole just outside the Vertical Stabilizer. If I
ever have to remove the vertical stabilizer -- not that I think I'll have
to -- I won't have to cut the wires. I don't have the real
estate to put a snap-bushing in; I'll have to wrap something around
the wires to protect them.
|
|
|
|
|
Now with the strobe bundle and
nav lgiht wires running through.
|
|
|
|
|
I drilled this hole in the aft deck
for the elevator trim wires. The wires will then run through
that hole you see in the horizontal
stab.
|
|
|
|
|
Another famous
issue is how to connect the elevator trim wires to the very thin servo
wires. I like using the little D-Sub pins, with heat shrink over the
top to keep the male/female pins together. I crimped the female ends
to the five servo
wires. |
|
|
|
|
Here's my tail strobe/nav light,
ready for mounting to the rudder fiberglass
bottom.
|
|
|
|
| I had previously
built up the fiberglass mounting area with epoxy mixed with cotton flox --
again, years ago. I used the light to match-drill the two mounting
holes. |
|
|
|
| The rudder bottom
tip. |
|
|
|
|
I inserted the two
screws into the nut, then used the industrial-strength RTV sealant to
secure the nut -- make it "blind". The tail light probably costs
$100+; I sincerely do not want it dropping off the plane. |
|
|
|
|
The co-pilots stick has a
significantly smaller diameter than the pilot's. I wrapped duct-tape
around the top of the stick so that the grip would stay on. I'm also
going to put a little RTV sealant in there when I'm sure it doesn't have
to come off anymore. I also crimped some handshake terminals to the
PTT wires. The co-pilots stick is removable; hence the handshake
terminals.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|