Wiring conduit hole mistake?

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 12:16 pm

i see now after the fact that i've drilled my conduit holes in the ribs, that vans recommends using the lower portion of the main rib aft of the first lightening hole for the conduit. i drilled mine in the top part of the rib...

anybody have anything to say about this? is this a rather large mistake that i've commited?

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 3:13 pm

i'm actually not going to worry too much about this. if i need to make a provision to get the wires in to the fuse later, i will.

you're thoughts are still welcome though!

prestwich · Post by **prestwich** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 6:04 pm

Chad,

I think the best thing for you to do in this case, is spend most of your time flying inverted. That will put the wiring where it belongs.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 6:08 pm

hadn't thought of that! that'll work! i just won't tell my wife that's how we'll have to fly!

Lorin Dueck · Post by **Lorin Dueck** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 6:28 pm

Chad -

You may have a small problem

Look at the ribs under the seat and make sure your wiring is not coming outside of them.
If you are - you will need to change the location of where you run your wires into the fuselage.
My suggestion is put the "jog" in the wing (for example, between the 1st & 2nd inner ribs).
This will make it much easier to line up and route the wires.
I'm not there yet, but in looking at the plans - there does not seem to be a lot of room.

Good luck!
Lorin D
9A wings
N194LD reserved

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:13 pm

My 2 cents...

Pro's:

You can rivet the entire top skin without the possibility of the conduit interfering with the bucking process.

Con's...

What Lorin said, I guess. Give it due diligence and if you are unhappy with it's location relative to the fuse, put the "jog" between rib 4 & 5 where you have more room to make a more gradual offset. This will make it easier to install the wiring especially when the plane is done and changes need to be made.

Soooo, maybe leave it where it is and check into the location relative to the fuse connection.

CJ

Lorin Dueck · Post by **Lorin Dueck** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:57 pm

CJ is right!
If you need to move the location of the wiring holes, and all things being equal -> it is best to make the bend radius as large as possible (my suggestion was based on minimizing rework).
Besides you can always claim the extra holes are for "lightening purposes!!"

Lorin D
9A Wings
(N194LD reserved)

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 12:15 am

thanks guys. dan c basically gave me the same bit of advise today. i'm gonna leave it for now, and i know i'll have to "jog" it or "S" curve the run later to get it in the fuse in the right spot.

the worst part about this is that i did it on purpose without looking ahead to see where they would enter the fuse.

oh well, live and learn. dan did the same thing except he put his in front of the lightening hole instead of behind where mine are, so i know it can be done without major headaches later. maybe a small headache...

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 12:04 pm

after thinking about this overnight, what would be the harm in making another set of holes in the proper location? since the holes i've already drilled are round, i wouldn't think i'd be getting in to any trouble structurally with the ribs. it means more time on the ribs, obviously

how 'bout some thoughts on that?

i ordered the safeair1 pitot kit this morning and i still have to make those holes the proper size, so a little more work is coming anyway...

JohnR · Post by **JohnR** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 11:12 pm

Chad, I was going to suggest that but thought maybe it was a bad idea. I wouldn;t think it would be a problem but it might be a good question for Vans. If they say go look on the bright side, your plane will be a little lighter!

At least the wiring holes don't take very long.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 11:34 pm

yeah, i called builders support this afternoon, and ken told me to just drill holes on the bottom on the four inboard ribs. this will allow enough room between #4 and #5 to jog the conduit down and still let the wires through easily. problem solved, and i've already done the work. i'm with you john...glad they don't take too long!

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 1:01 am

And seriously, I wouldn't worry about drilling another set of holes in the right places. I think the structural integrity lost would be so small as to be unmeasurable. If you can make the jog work then go for it. Just be sure to run some pull cord along with your wires in that conduit to make it easier to put more wires in later if need be.

I put the pull string in my conduit. I guess that's just the "computer network guy" in me.