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Dynon EFIS

I installed the Dynon D10A Electronic Flight Information System (EFIS) in my RV-8.  Since all of their EFIS systems use the same components, this discussion would apply to them as well. 

There are three main components to install.  The main unit itself goes in the instrument panel, the remote compass needs to be mounted somewhere away from magnetic interference, and the outside air temperature (OAT) probe should not be mounted in direct sunlight.  Then they all need to be connected electrically.

The Main Unit

Dynon bracket from behind panelI purchased the flush-mounting bracket from Dynon to mount the unit in the instrument panel.  Because the edge of the hole will show, I spent a lot of time smoothing the hole and making it just big enough for the unit to slip through.  Then I slipped the unit into the hole and put the mounting bracket on from behind to get the exact location of the mounting-bracket holes.  Then I drilled holes for the screws that hold the bracket to the instrument panel.  After everything was primed and painted, I screwed the bracket to the back of the instrument, then screwed the bracket to the panel.  The only down side to this setup is that I can’t pull the instrument out without reaching behind the panel.  Either I unscrew the bracket from the front and pull everything out from behind, or I have to reach behind to unscrew the instrument, then I can pull it out the front.

Remote Compass

Remote compassThere are two main spots I have seen remote compasses mounted—either in a wing tip, or in the aft end of the fuselage.  I decided to place mine in the fuselage behind the baggage compartment.  

I had purchased a mounting kit from Dynon for the remote compass, but would not do that again.  I would just make the bracket myself out of scrap aluminum.  The best part of the kit was that it had all the non-magnetic hardware.  I used an extra piece of AA ¾ X ¾ across the fuselage, and a triangle piece of .032 aluminum as a gusset.  Because I had the bracket from the kit, I used it on the other side to secure the aluminum angle and hold the remote compass.  I riveted all these parts into the fuselage.

Remote compassI used non-magnetic screws and nuts to hold the remote compass to the bracket with washers where needed to shim a side.  It took a little doing to get the remote compass aligned with the main instrument.  They need to be parallel in all three planes.  I measured from the F-808 bulkhead aft to the front of the remote compass on both ends to ensure it was aligned with the yaw axis the same as the instrument.  I used a digital level to check “pitch” and “roll.”  The hardest one to measure was the pitch of the instrument.   I tried to measure the instrument itself, but it’s round shape made it hard to get a good reading, so I measured the face of the instrument and the panel (which were the same) and then added 90°.

Because it was there, I used the aluminum angle cross piece to support the static lines.  But I’ll cover that in the pitot/static article.

OAT

OAT probeI wanted to find somewhere out of the direct sun that would cause little drag for the Dynon OAT probe.  I decided that below the horizontal stab would be the best place.  The OAT plugs into the remote compass.  Since I was planning on mounting the remote compass behind the aft baggage compartment, this made the wiring a lot easier.   A simple hole in the fuselage was all that was required for the OAT probe.

Wiring

I ran the wire bundle from the main instrument to the remote compass down the left gear box, below the floor, and through the tubing and bulkheads as required.  I ran the one wire bundle for the OAT through the conduit along the left side of the fuselage forward to the remote compass.  The lines provided were way too long for me to just leave them, so I cut them to the correct length.  Then I crimped new tips onto each wire and pushed them into the d-sub connector for the remote compass.  

Because I had already installed the turtle deck, I had to do all this work from the inside of the tail instead of leaning over the side.  This was no fun.  Wire as much as you can before you put on the turtle deck.

 



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