Avionics Panel- Harness Adjustment, install, and re-work

RV14 Build February

Avionics Panel

This section takes a LONG time since there isn't plans you have to figure it out and execute all on your own. After getting all the subpanel in I laid in the wiring harness to look how it fit. Then I decided I didn't like it so I went to work on moving wires.

First I moved all the power wires so the exited the main bundle closer to the middle, I actually made it to close to the middle and had to deal with a slight prop cable interference later on. But moving wires meant some got longer some got shorter, so now I had to re-terminate all of them to be even.

I might not have done this had I known how much work it was going to be, but not like I have the FWF kit to work on.

I decided to run the wires up the middle, there were down the edge near the bus bar interconnect, but I already notices some chafing.

During the first test fit I noticed the main power mounting point contacted the airframe, obviously this isn't good.

So I tried to bend the bus bar to clear it, but its just too close for comfort.

I decided to flip the top busbar and make another interconnect.

Finished to the new part, just need a longer screw now and all set to go.

After I moved the power wires I moved all the grounds to exit the harness in front of where the main ground bus will be. Sorry no picture of that. Then I decided I was going to mount the main harness on a rail behind the subpanel with cushion claps. I just needed to make the rail and mount it. Mostly I eyeballed where it was going to go and then drilled the mounts. Then I eyeballed where I thought I wanted claps and removed the bar and drilled and installed nut plates.

I installed the harness on the rail first and then slid everything into place. The rail gets mounted on either side with AN3 bolts.

Installing the rail mounting brackets.

rail installed with the mounting brackets.

Routing all the wires through the cushion clamps and seeing what Im working with for lengths.

Since the grounding block needed to be mounted on the firewire I decided to do all the firewall stuff at once. Starting with a doubler for the avionics relay and main power in bus.

Then I made a doubler for the ANL and shunt. I didn't install this yet because I want to wait till I have the relays so I know the location is good.

About where it will go on the firewall.

I'll use nutplates to mount the units.

Then I located and drilled the mounting holes for the grounding block.  I put this close to the battery so I can easily connect it to the negative for a very low resistance ground.

Grounding block on the inside of the firewall.

Now I laid out the rest of the harness to check final fit and started to terminate wires. Beginning with the grounds.

Trimming, terminating, heat shrinking.

lots of work but worth it.

Next I decided to really make some work for myself. I didn't like how long the common fuselage harness was so i cut and repinned all 4 of the connectors.

I bought new connectors so as I cut a wire I could re-pin it and use the old as a template on what hole it went into. Worked really well.

This was before I figured out to use the old connector as a template. I was repinning and then using the heat shrink labels and the plans to re install the pins.

So much work but the finished product I think looks great and there isn't a bundle of wire for no reason behind the tunnel now.

Another view with the CB panel out of the way.

When I was redoing the power wires I accidentally pulled the power wire for the IBBS through the harness tight. Well I hate how it looks so I cut and trimmed all the wires in the connector.

The IBBS after trimming. The CPC connector goes to the light switches in the middle of the panel. I have it moched in for now. I need to replace the end with a flange panel mount the will screw into the panel.

Cleaning up the wires for the MFD and the usb charger. I just used adhesive backed flush mount zip tie mounts for this.

Avionics Panel 43.0 Hours