---------------------------------------------------------- AeroElectric-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Mon 02/23/15: 11 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 08:12 AM - Re: Failing over voltage module (Robert L. Nuckolls, III) 2. 09:25 AM - Non-switchable devices (Ralph E. Capen) 3. 09:53 AM - Re: Non-switchable devices (Bob McCallum) 4. 10:04 AM - CAD Software Pirep (Tim Olson) 5. 10:11 AM - Re: Non-switchable devices (Justin Jones) 6. 11:29 AM - Re: Non-switchable devices (Justin Jones) 7. 11:39 AM - Re: CAD Software Pirep (Werner Schneider) 8. 01:12 PM - Re: Failing over voltage module (Rob Henderson) 9. 01:45 PM - Re: CAD Software Pirep (Robert L. Nuckolls, III) 10. 04:25 PM - Re: CAD Software Pirep (Eric M. Jones) 11. 08:23 PM - Handheld transceiver alternate antenna (John) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 08:12:33 AM PST US From: "Robert L. Nuckolls, III" Subject: RE: AeroElectric-List: Failing over voltage module At 00:10 2015-02-23, you wrote: >Bob >Thanks for taking a look at it. >The breaker has not tripped since I removed the OV , it's been about >an hour of flight time since removal. Previously the breaker would >trip after a few minutes. >Yes I can wait for the new model. If wired per Z-24, and assuming the alternator is OFF at power-up, then the ov module is not even in the circuit . . . I'm pondering the original fault report. You said that it trips battery-only . . . I presume that this occurs instantly at power-on. Do I correctly assume that the alternator switch is already on before the battery switch? Bob . . . ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 09:25:59 AM PST US From: "Ralph E. Capen" Subject: AeroElectric-List: Non-switchable devices I have a number of devices without a built-in 'off' switch that I would like to segregate and control with a single switch or relay. They are currently activated when the master is turned on...fuel gauges, altitude encoder, trim indicators, and other similar items. They are already separated to their own mini fuse block. Here's my question: Power the mini fuse block with a switch or with a switch controlling a relay...or don't bother? Works pretty well as is - just thinking that I should have full-power-available to crank the engine till it starts. Anyone out there fixed this and how? Or is it a non-problem - looking for complexity? Ralph Capen ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 09:53:37 AM PST US From: Bob McCallum Subject: RE: AeroElectric-List: Non-switchable devices The minuscule amount of power drawn by the items you mentioned are a comple te non-issue. Don't add a single point of failure. Bob McC > Date: Mon=2C 23 Feb 2015 12:24:21 -0500 > From: recapen@earthlink.net > To: aeroelectric-list@matronics.com > Subject: AeroElectric-List: Non-switchable devices > ink.net> > > > I have a number of devices without a built-in 'off' switch that I would l ike to segregate and control with a single switch or relay. > > They are currently activated when the master is turned on...fuel gauges =2C altitude encoder=2C trim indicators=2C and other similar items. > They are already separated to their own mini fuse block. > > Here's my question: > > Power the mini fuse block with a switch or with a switch controlling a re lay...or don't bother? > > Works pretty well as is - just thinking that I should have full-power-ava ilable to crank the engine till it starts. > > Anyone out there fixed this and how? Or is it a non-problem - looking fo r complexity? > > Ralph Capen > > > =========== =========== =========== =========== > > > ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 10:04:36 AM PST US From: Tim Olson Subject: AeroElectric-List: CAD Software Pirep Hey all, I have no tie to this group or product...but it's something I ran across while looking to do my panel layout and I'll use it for migrating my RV-10 electrical layout to my RV-14 plan also. I figured it's worth telling you all about since CAD is a topic that comes up here often. I found and used an app call QCad. http://www.qcad.org/en/ It's an open source CAD app that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. I myself use it on both Linux and Windows and have found it basically flawless. I'm a big fan of open source. It's nice to be able to try products and pay where and when you get a benefit. QCad is free to download and use, but some of the "pro" features time out after 15 minutes I think. But you can still use them for the first few minutes every time you start the app. I used it that way for a couple days until I knew it was a good product. Then I purchased the "pro" version. The website sells it in euros, but at the top of the screen you can change to other currency and the current price is $38.74 in USD. For CAD software, that's a bargain, so I gladly paid it. Being open source they also have a community forum and when I had a question, I tried the forum and was shocked that I got an answer almost right away. So it's nice to have free support as well. At any rate, I just thought it would be something that may help some of you, so I wanted to pass it along. To show my ignorance, there is something I haven't yet figured out. This is a "2D" CAD program. Everything I've done has been 1 layer so far. But, I have opened CAD drawings in the app that were drawn in "3D". So I'm not sure how you define software as 2D or 3D... Years ago I used CAD software in school and could project lines in a Z axis. I at least *think* you can do that in this app. (I haven't tried) But it at least appears you can work in 3D. I don't know if you can change perspectives though. So perhaps 3D just means you can rotate and move objects around? It's definitely not solid modeling CAD software though. But, it does seem perfect for panel layouts and electrical plans. Tim ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 10:11:32 AM PST US From: Justin Jones Subject: Re: AeroElectric-List: Non-switchable devices Ralph, I'm sure you will get some feedback asking why you want to turn those devices off so I will skip that part. Beechcraft uses a relay (for avionics master) that when powered, holds the contacts open. It's a little backwards thinking but when the avionics master switch is in the "off" position, the relay is powered and opens the circuit. When the avionics master switch is in the "on" position, the relay is not powered and closes the contacts allowing electrons to flow. It is a spst or spdt nc relay like this one pc795-1c-c-12c-rn-x ( http://www.waytekwire.com/manf/141/PICKER-COMPONENTS/ ) It's a fail safe design. Hope this helps Justin. > On Feb 23, 2015, at 08:24, Ralph E. Capen wrote: > > > > I have a number of devices without a built-in 'off' switch that I would like to segregate and control with a single switch or relay. > > They are currently activated when the master is turned on...fuel gauges, altitude encoder, trim indicators, and other similar items. > They are already separated to their own mini fuse block. > > Here's my question: > > Power the mini fuse block with a switch or with a switch controlling a relay...or don't bother? > > Works pretty well as is - just thinking that I should have full-power-available to crank the engine till it starts. > > Anyone out there fixed this and how? Or is it a non-problem - looking for complexity? > > Ralph Capen > > > > > > ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 11:29:07 AM PST US From: Justin Jones Subject: Re: AeroElectric-List: Non-switchable devices I should clarify the statement. The relay that Beechcraft uses is not physically like the one listed. The Beechcraft relay is much larger and heavier. Electrically it is similar in function. Justin > On Feb 23, 2015, at 09:10, Justin Jones wrote: > > > Ralph, > > I'm sure you will get some feedback asking why you want to turn those devices off so I will skip that part. > > Beechcraft uses a relay (for avionics master) that when powered, holds the contacts open. It's a little backwards thinking but when the avionics master switch is in the "off" position, the relay is powered and opens the circuit. When the avionics master switch is in the "on" position, the relay is not powered and closes the contacts allowing electrons to flow. It is a spst or spdt nc relay like this one pc795-1c-c-12c-rn-x ( http://www.waytekwire.com/manf/141/PICKER-COMPONENTS/ ) > It's a fail safe design. > > Hope this helps > > Justin. > > >> On Feb 23, 2015, at 08:24, Ralph E. Capen wrote: >> >> >> >> I have a number of devices without a built-in 'off' switch that I would like to segregate and control with a single switch or relay. >> >> They are currently activated when the master is turned on...fuel gauges, altitude encoder, trim indicators, and other similar items. >> They are already separated to their own mini fuse block. >> >> Here's my question: >> >> Power the mini fuse block with a switch or with a switch controlling a relay...or don't bother? >> >> Works pretty well as is - just thinking that I should have full-power-available to crank the engine till it starts. >> >> Anyone out there fixed this and how? Or is it a non-problem - looking for complexity? >> >> Ralph Capen > > > > > ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 11:39:04 AM PST US From: Werner Schneider Subject: Re: AeroElectric-List: CAD Software Pirep Good Pirep for that program need to look into it once, open source rocks definitively :) Having worked close to 10 years in 2D/3D modellers its not about 2 or 3 axis. A 3D program does work with solid bodies and can calculate intersection and curves out of these 3D volume bodies so that is much more complex and needs a lot of calculating power :) You can export from a 3D modeller the bodies but then the description is no longer in terms of bodies instead lines and points. Thanks Tim Cheers Werner On 23.02.2015 19:03, Tim Olson wrote: > > Hey all, > .............. > > I found and used an app call QCad. http://www.qcad.org/en/ > It's an open source CAD app that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. > I myself use it on both Linux and Windows and have found it > basically flawless. > ........... > To show my ignorance, there is something I haven't yet figured out. > This is a "2D" CAD program. Everything I've done has been 1 layer > so far. But, I have opened CAD drawings in the app that were drawn > in "3D". So I'm not sure how you define software as 2D or 3D... ________________________________ Message 8 _____________________________________ Time: 01:12:32 PM PST US From: "Rob Henderson" Subject: RE: AeroElectric-List: Failing over voltage module Bob The alternator is wired per the attached drawing The OVM trips maybe 5 to 10 minutes after engine start. Just turning on the DC Master switch without the engine running caused the OVM to trip the breaker after a few minutes, a few times. -----Original Message----- From: owner-aeroelectric-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-aeroelectric-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Robert L. Nuckolls, III Sent: Monday, February 23, 2015 8:11 AM Subject: RE: AeroElectric-List: Failing over voltage module --> At 00:10 2015-02-23, you wrote: >Bob >Thanks for taking a look at it. >The breaker has not tripped since I removed the OV , it's been about an >hour of flight time since removal. Previously the breaker would trip >after a few minutes. >Yes I can wait for the new model. If wired per Z-24, and assuming the alternator is OFF at power-up, then the ov module is not even in the circuit . . . I'm pondering the original fault report. You said that it trips battery-only . . . I presume that this occurs instantly at power-on. Do I correctly assume that the alternator switch is already on before the battery switch? Bob . . . ________________________________ Message 9 _____________________________________ Time: 01:45:00 PM PST US From: "Robert L. Nuckolls, III" Subject: Re: AeroElectric-List: CAD Software Pirep At 12:03 2015-02-23, you wrote: Hey all, I have no tie to this group or product...but it's something I ran across while looking to do my panel layout and I'll use it for migrating my RV-10 electrical layout to my RV-14 plan also. I figured it's worth telling you all about since CAD is a topic that comes up here often. I found and used an app call QCad. http://www.qcad.org/en/ It's an open source CAD app that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. I myself use it on both Linux and Windows and have found it basically flawless. I'm a big fan of open source. It's nice to be able to try products and pay where and when you get a benefit. QCad is free to download and use, but some of the "pro" features time out after 15 minutes I think. But you can still use them for the first few minutes every time you start the app. I used it that way for a couple days until I knew it was a good product. Then I purchased the "pro" version. The website sells it in euros, but at the top of the screen you can change to other currency and the current price is $38.74 in USD. For CAD software, that's a bargain, so I gladly paid it. I looked over the features at http://tinyurl.com/pljydv8 . . . note that features in italic are Pro version only. If you want to suck in any of the .dwg files from my website, you'll want the Pro version. To show my ignorance, there is something I haven't yet figured out. This is a "2D" CAD program. Everything I've done has been 1 layer so far. But, I have opened CAD drawings in the app that were drawn in "3D". So I'm not sure how you define software as 2D or 3D... The term 'layers' in the context of CAD programs refers to the assignment of elements to "layers" which may be visualized as pages stacked on top of each other . . . totally transparent except for what drawing elements are on them. You can turn layers on/off at will . . . elements on off layers disappear and cannot be edited until you turn the layer back on. Years ago I used CAD software in school and could project lines in a Z axis. I at least *think* you can do that in this app. (I haven't tried) But it at least appears you can work in 3D. I don't know if you can change perspectives though. So perhaps 3D just means you can rotate and move objects around? The closest this program comes to 3D is the isometric drawing mode which is a quasi 3D . . . used extensively in catalog drawings and exploded view assembly drawings. A process that is easy to learn and quite useful. The 'solid' drawings in the 'Connection are isometrics I did in AutoCAD . . . Emacs! It's definitely not solid modeling CAD software though. Correct. While it supports layers, it's a 2D program. But, it does seem perfect for panel layouts and electrical plans. Agreed There's another free program called NanoCAD http://tinyurl.com/pqw35rw Very powerful clone of AutoCAD. If you're already familiar with driving autocad, the transition into nanocad is smooth and painless. Bob . . . ________________________________ Message 10 ____________________________________ Time: 04:25:27 PM PST US Subject: AeroElectric-List: Re: CAD Software Pirep From: "Eric M. Jones" (partial repost) "It's the stingy guy who pays the most" --Click and Clack Trying to get the cheapest (or free) software is unlikely to save anything. Ebay has full boxes of recent versions of TurboCAD or DesignCAD with manuals and disks and support and users forums AND FREE SHIPPING for $10. Grab one. I used to work at a company with a horribly expensive CAD program (Cadra)...$3K/SEAT++++. And if you wanted, let's say, a font, oh that's $$$$ more per SEAT. And they held tutorials for $$$$. Cheeze.... Telling them they were crazy never made me popular. I was always converting files and doing special jobs using DesignCAD. Furthermore tiny little DesignCAD had a tiny button marked 3D...and that big CAD program could only dream about having a 3D capability. Now of course Cadra has vanished. TurboCAD is similar and better in some areas. Some users do some things in DesignCAD and other things in TurboCAD on the same drawing. Amazing. DesignCad is a true 2d/3d program see attached solid model of my switch guard. But you can buy copies of Solidworks on Ebay for cheap. It in in some ways more up-to-date. -------- Eric M. Jones www.PerihelionDesign.com 113 Brentwood Drive Southbridge, MA 01550 (508) 764-2072 emjones(at)charter.net Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=438632#438632 Attachments: http://forums.matronics.com//files/pdm_012_solid_model_dwg_105.jpg ________________________________ Message 11 ____________________________________ Time: 08:23:42 PM PST US From: John Subject: AeroElectric-List: Handheld transceiver alternate antenna Is there an efficient, elegant way to connect an external aircraft comm antenna to a handheld radio in the event of failure of the panel-mounted radio that the antenna is connected to? I know that I could run the cable within reach of the pilot, with connectors inline to break the connection to the panel and connect to the handheld unit. That's what I did on my first homebuilt. However, I envision a panel-mounted male BNC connector that could possibly be used to connect the handheld without physically disconnecting the failed radio, providing that radio is switched off. If this is possible, I'm wondering if some kind of antenna switch or splitter would be necessary. I'm talking about the antenna only serving one radio at a time. This is very possibly a dumb question. Thanks in advance for any replies! / / ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message aeroelectric-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/AeroElectric-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/aeroelectric-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/aeroelectric-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.