Skyview Avionics Installation, Part 2

The avionics install is continuing to progress very slowly with the power distribution layout almost complete.

In the picture below, you can see the power bus (mounted above the ADS-B transceiver) with its two independent feeds - from the battery only on the nearside and the alternator on the far side.  Immediately to the right of the power bus is the 6 fuse block mounted into the top of the center instrument panel.

And the pictures below show the same set up from other angles.

Of interest below is the ignition/start switch panel, in the lower left hand corner of the instrument panel. The two wider rocker switches at the top are the Master switches.  The switch on the left actually doubles as a start enable and a battery (only) master switch.  The switch on the right is the more conventional alternator master switch.  The two masters are there for redundancy such that the power bus can be independently powered by either one.  The battery master switch doubles as a start enable switch so that the starter cannot be unintentionally activated when the engine is running.  This was a necessity as the engine start switch is on the index button of the pilot's control grip.  You can imagine the fun that Murphy would have with that.  The start enable switch is also there to prevent starter current from running through the power bus and destroying component in the unlikely event of a battery contactor failure.

The second tier of three rocker switches are, from left to right, the ECU selector switch (either computer 1 or computer 2), fuel pump 1 and fuel pump 2.  So there you have it - the ignition panel of the Viking engine.

 

There is a rat's nest of wires that is already forming behind that switch panel....and its not yet complete.  See the lower portion of the picture below.  You will note the primer missing around the four holes on the instrument panel deck - this is where the Van's AV-50000A control module picks up ground from its mounting screws.

It is now time to plumb the manifold pressure input lines to the ECU. A couple of snips and the norprene lines are slipped on to the barbed fittings of the ECU.

As dictated by the power distribution wiring schematic (not shown), a secondary fuse panel was required.  This was mainly due to some of the differences between the Viking fuel injected engine and the Rotax carbureted engine.  In the shot below, the five fuses are for the ECU power, the two fuel pumps, the start circuit and the heater.  There is one unused slot.

A clearer perspective of the location of the auxiliary fuse panel, located above the comm and the "stock" RV-12 main switch and fuse panel (not yet installed).

As a bit of finality prior to the first engine start, the battery was hooked up to the contactor and grounds and a bit of integrity checking of the power distribution was performed.  All passed (I think) with flying colors.

Next stop on the avionics agenda is the first engine start!!!!!