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Q: What is done to ensure my panel will work properly?

A: Here at Lancair Avionics we strive to make sure your avionics panel, aircraft harness and engine harness will work properly upon installation in your aircraft. To that end, we have developed and implemented a comprehensive test procedure. Click here to read more…

 

Q: Do you know where all that wire is going?

A: Yes! And you will, too. Every panel comes with a detailed technical manual, with all the pin-outs, wiring diagrams, drawings, install manuals, and everything else you will need to know about the building of your panel. We keep a copy for ourselves, too, in case you have any questions.

 

Q: Why does Lancair Avionics recommend putting the radio stack in the middle of my panel?

A: There are several reasons for placing your radio stack in the middle of the panel, depending on the model of aircraft you are building.
 

1. On the Legacy, the panel is designed only for center radio stack mount.

 

a. Also to be considered here is the ability of the canopy to close. Putting the stack too high in the panel will cause interference problems and may make it impossible to close the canopy. It is best to align the top component in the stack with the top edge of the metal inserts.

b. The panel is also designed with a tilt to enable the pilot to see the radios better. This tilt along with the depth of the radios makes the bottom half inch of the stack area unusable for radios.

 

c. The design also needs to encompass the depth of any components in the stack. Many NAV/COM’s and Transponders are over 10 inches deep which relegates them to the middle or lower portions of the stack.

d. Panel mounting of any radios or transponders is possible, but not recommended. These components are not designed for direct panel mounting and cause a whole wealth of other interference and stability problems.

2. The Lancair IV allows more flexibility for the placement, but has its own set of considerations.

 

a. Because of the downward slope of the glare shield, the upper most inch of the panel is not useable for radio placement.

 

b. Placing deeper items like NAV/COM’s and Transponders needs to be done with the nose gear tunnel and the engine blister (Turbine IV’s only) in mind. Locating one of these items too low in the panel can cause interference problems.

 

c. Panel placement is also critical here. Should the builder choose to either tilt the panel or mounting forward of the recommended placement, it is critical that they inform Lancair Avionics so that the appropriate design considerations can be made.

 

d. Locating the stack too far to the left or right of center not only decreases the vertical space available because of the curvature of the panel, but can also cause problems with the inward slope of the fuselage.
 

e. Turbine builders have the added consideration of the engine condition levers possibly interfering with devices placed behind them.

 

3. Finally the most flexibility for placement comes with the ES.

a. Since the ES and the IV share the same basic fuselage the same criteria applies regarding the glare shield and fuselage clearance considerations.

 

b. There is no nose gear tunnel or blister, so the downward placement of deeper components is not an issue.

 

c. Once again placing the panel in the recommended location is paramount, if this is not the case please notify Lancair Avionics.

 

Q: What techniques are best for optimal grounding operation?

A: Proper grounding techniques are paramount to the optimal operation of all systems in your aircraft. Here, we will offer a few suggestions to assist you in properly grounding your systems. It is very important that all grounds go to one common point. Not doing so may result in the introduction of ground loops into your system. This may cause a hum or buzz in your headsets, or cause GPS signals to vary, or make CDI needles wander, among other things. On all instrument panels crafted here at Lancair Avionics there is a ground bus installed one side of the radio stack. All wire shields and power grounds are routed to this bus, thus reducing the likelihood of a ground loop in the panel electronics.

We also attach a heavy gauge wire to the ground block for your convenience. It is important to connect this wire to a known good ground. The bulkhead connector that carries the negative battery through the firewall is a good source of ground for this connection.

If there is any doubt as to the integrity of the engine to panel ground, an ohmmeter may be used to check the resistance. Set your meter to "ohms x1" range and connect one lead to the engine block, and the other lead to the panel ground. You should read a very low value, the less the better. Anything more than an ohm is not good. You should be aware that inexpensive meters generally don’t do low resistance very accurately, so it’s a good idea to check its capability by connecting the leads together and observing the reading. You may then take that value into account when you measure the engine to panel resistance.

Getting good grounds on conventional metal aircraft is generally not a problem. But for high performance Lancair Aircraft constructed of advanced composite material, the extra effort to ensure good grounds will pay off in reliable operation of your aircraft systems.