Strobe power supply location

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 6:19 pm

I found out that my strobe wires aren't going to be long enough to keep the power supply where I had it (behind the baggage bulkhead). So, I'm wondering if there is any problem with locating it here-

I would make a cover for it, and be sure to keep the high voltage wires to themsleves.

Does anyone see problems?

Post by **bullojm1** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 8:34 pm

Chad-

If you go with a FI engine, the AFP fuel pump and filter will interfere here. Plus you got to feed three fat wires through the F-704 web. Why not make an access panel and put it under the baggage bulkhead?

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 9:36 pm

FI won't be an issue since I'll be carb'd...I may be able to use another hole thru the 704. I read somewhere in the 24 years of the RVator that with Van's blessing, another hole or two was allowed, but the location needed to be approved. That would solve the wire scrunch thru one hole. I'm gonna email Gus tomorrow to see...

As far as putting it under the baggage floor...I don't want to cut the holes and put in nutplates. I'm doing everything I can to avoid nutplates wherever I can...hate 'em.

Third, it doesn't weigh much, but anything mounted forward will help the CG.

painless · Post by **painless** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 9:56 pm

Chad:

Not sure of any mechanical/electrical factors, but ergonomically speaking, I would try to leave that area free of anything if you can. Your manual elevator trim cable may interfere with where you currently have the power supply located, and if you move it forward more, you might tend to kick it with your feet. That cable needs to have a significant arc to it to make the bend from facing forward to facing rearward. More than you would think.

Just a thought.

Post by **bullojm1** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 10:50 pm

cjensen wrote:FI won't be an issue since I'll be carb'd...I may be able to use another hole thru the 704. I read somewhere in the 24 years of the RVator that with Van's blessing, another hole or two was allowed, but the location needed to be approved. That would solve the wire scrunch thru one hole. I'm gonna email Gus tomorrow to see...

Chad-

FYI, Checkoway needed to do the same thing. Here is a link to his builders log where he poked his hole: http://rvproject.com/20030826.html

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 11:34 pm

painless wrote:Chad:

Not sure of any mechanical/electrical factors, but ergonomically speaking, I would try to leave that area free of anything if you can. Your manual elevator trim cable may interfere with where you currently have the power supply located, and if you move it forward more, you might tend to kick it with your feet. That cable needs to have a significant arc to it to make the bend from facing forward to facing rearward. More than you would think.

Just a thought.

Yeah, I had thought of this as well. I will more than likely move it more toward the pedals due to the arc of the trim cable. I did check the trim cable in relation to the strobe supply, and it is close. The power supply is just sitting there, no holes have been drilled yet.

I can see the cover for it getting bumped now and then, but I think I can position it just between the arc of the trim cable, and the rudder pedals so as not to interfere all that much. We'll see...

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 11:36 pm

bullojm1 wrote:Chad-

FYI, Checkoway needed to do the same thing. Here is a link to his builders log where he poked his hole: http://rvproject.com/20030826.html

Thanks for the link Mike! That pretty much saves a call/email to Van's!

JOHN TIPTON · Post by **JOHN TIPTON** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 6:47 am

Hi Chad

I presume you bought pre-made cables, so what length would have been ideal

Best regards - John

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 9:30 am

JOHN TIPTON wrote:Hi Chad

I presume you bought pre-made cables, so what length would have been ideal

Best regards - John

Well, to get the power back to here, where I did have it installed-

-I figured I would need 18' MINIMUM to get the wing strobes power. Mine were pre-made at 15'.

smithhb · Post by **smithhb** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 10:29 am

Weird, my pre-made strobe wires are 20'...

Why can't you just purchase longer strobe cables?

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 10:32 am

I can, I just don't want to pull them out of the wings, and run 'em again. This seems easier to me.

smithhb · Post by **smithhb** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 10:45 am

Geez, pulling two cables through conduit would take maybe 5 minutes, tops. You can use the old cables as your "pull string", wala!

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 12:50 pm

Well, I'd also like to keep things forward since the 7 tends to be tail heavy...plus I've already pulled the angles out of the baggage bulkhead, so those would have to be redone now.

I actually like this location better for servicability anyway...

Wicked Stick · Post by **Wicked Stick** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 1:10 pm

Chad,

Why not trade the 15's in for 20 footers.. then you can leave it back where you had it. I swapped two of the three 15's I had for 20's on my order. You could always order just the wire and put on the molex ends yourself too.

Post by **bullojm1** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 1:38 pm

cjensen wrote: I actually like this location better for servicability anyway...

What serviceability does the strobe power supply need? Put it in and forget about it! JUST GET THE LONGER CABLES CHAD!!!!!!!!!!! You're only talkin $13 for a 25' cable. That's worth it just to move on and not worry about it!

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 2:35 pm

Okay...forget I asked. All I wanted here was to see if there was any reason MECHANICALLY or ELECTRICALLY that I should not put it here. I wasn't asking for an argument on whether or not to put it here for aesthetics or impeding on cabin room. Guess I should be a little more clear next time...

I'm not quite sure I understand what the big push is for me to put it back where I had it...all the structure back there has been taken out, so it's not going back there. Bottom line, I don't want it back there.

I've had several people email to say this location is fine, other than it does take up space. Done deal.

smithhb · Post by **smithhb** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 3:22 pm

Chad, seriously, I can't imagine why you would want to take up high dollar real estate with a "wire and forget" item. Also, I might be concerned with having high power strobe transformer inches from my fuel valve...

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 3:59 pm

smithhb wrote:Chad, seriously, I can't imagine why you would want to take up high dollar real estate with a "wire and forget" item. Also, I might be concerned with having high power strobe transformer inches from my fuel valve...

Again, I'm NOT concerned with the space this little thing is going to take up. It's going to take up LESS space than a cover for an FI fuel pump would...

Inches from the fuel valve? More like a foot or better (it's not sitting in it's final location, just sitting there for the pic), and they will both be in completely separate boxes.

Nothing electric is wire and forget...

Sure *sparked* up something here, huh!?

RV7Factory · Post by **RV7Factory** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 6:40 pm

cjensen wrote:All I wanted here was to see if there was any reason MECHANICALLY or ELECTRICALLY that I should not put it here. I wasn't asking for an argument on whether or not to put it here for aesthetics or impeding on cabin room.

Chad, it will be in MY way, please buy the longer cables!

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 6:48 pm

I'm going to buy the longer cables, AND install in the cabin!

How 'bout them apples! [Where's the happy face eating apples emoticon?]