Wings Forum

Dave Krall CFII SEL SES · Joined: 14 Mar 2007 Posts: 317 Location: Seattle WA

OK, I've searched the forum and don't find any details on the best routes through the wingribs. Are guys drilling holes or going through those existing in the webs?

Best way to attach cables?

Thanks in advance.

stede52 · Joined: 06 Sep 2007 Posts: 209 Location: Carnation, WA

I'm running mine in the trailing edge wing tub. easy to replace if necessary and you don't need to deal with those wires hanging out of the wing root when painting.

Steve

Dave Krall CFII SEL SES · Joined: 14 Mar 2007 Posts: 317 Location: Seattle WA

stede52 wrote: I'm running mine in the trailing edge wing tub. easy to replace if necessary and you don't need to deal with those wires hanging out of the wing root when painting.

Steve

Steve, you mean the aft wing spar (tube), right?
I thought those could be nice & easy too, but the rivet heads sticking out inside and the edges of the I-beams would be serious wear points for the electrical cables. How would that be dealt with?

scubarider2 · Joined: 28 Jan 2008 Posts: 224 Location: Cleveland, GA

I did the same and ran all wires down the tube. I put the wires inside a tube{hose} and extended it out and around the inside edge to the upside of the door. I just bought the hose {clear} at the hardward store.
I take a look for a picture somewhere.
D

Dave Krall CFII SEL SES · Joined: 14 Mar 2007 Posts: 317 Location: Seattle WA

scubarider2 wrote: I did the same and ran all wires down the tube. I put the wires inside a tube{hose} and extended it out and around the inside edge to the upside of the door. I just bought the hose {clear} at the hardward store.
I take a look for a picture somewhere.
D

Yeah, I was thinking maybe even PVC tube to house the cable. It sure sounds easiest if the wear issue with all those rivet heads doesn't cause problems down the road.

stede52 · Joined: 06 Sep 2007 Posts: 209 Location: Carnation, WA

Yes the aft wing tube. Personally I don't think PVC tubing is necessay probably some plastic corragated wire sheathing should work.
Steve

Dave Krall CFII SEL SES · Joined: 14 Mar 2007 Posts: 317 Location: Seattle WA

stede52 wrote: Yes the aft wing tube. Personally I don't think PVC tubing is necessay probably some plastic corragated wire sheathing should work.
Steve

Well, I'm always looking for the worst case scenario and it often comes to pass. I look inside the wing spars and see those rivet heads sticking up faily high, like 3/16" or more (we used Cherry Max solid core structural pop rivets which may leave more deformed end exposed than the conventional ones do) and it just seems that the thicker the better for the conduit for the cables.

As the rivet heads gradually wear into the conduit material from constant engine vibrations, if it's thick enough, they'll never be able to wear through to the electrical cables.

rgmullins · Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Posts: 86 Location: Cincinnati

I did the same, ran them inside the aft spar tube, mostly because all the planes at the factory were that way when I visited. I gave some thought to stripping the outside jacket off the 3 wire cable to save weight, but like you I was a little concerned about chafing so I left it on.

Dave Krall CFII SEL SES · Joined: 14 Mar 2007 Posts: 317 Location: Seattle WA

rgmullins wrote: I did the same, ran them inside the aft spar tube, mostly because all the planes at the factory were that way when I visited. I gave some thought to stripping the outside jacket off the 3 wire cable to save weight, but like you I was a little concerned about chafing so I left it on.

I've read of that described of as a shielding and wondered if that layer also helps with static reduction from the strobes on the nav or something?

rgmullins · Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Posts: 86 Location: Cincinnati

I don't know for certain, but I would think electrical noise would be blocked by the aluminum spar, at least for the section inside the spar

Dave Krall CFII SEL SES · Joined: 14 Mar 2007 Posts: 317 Location: Seattle WA

We got 3 ten foot lengths of very light, white, 1/2" PVC and it slides in just right, aft of the rear wing spar I-beams, with one glued joint each side and all edges rounded and smoothed.