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Old 03-16-2014, 11:37 AM
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Instrument panel third and hopefully last generation

One of this off-season's projects was a third run at an instrument panel. The idea began with MMI's panel enclosure, a considerable improvement over my home built fiberglass fabrication and once the EWDS became a reality I knew I wanted to (had to) incorporate it.

So here it is. Improvements over the previous version are:
  1. As said, new MMI enclosure. Besides the clean look, the sloped bottom ledge for water drainage sealed the deal for me. My fabrication didn't have the slope and therefore always had a puddle there.
  2. EWDS. Goes without further elaboration.
  3. The keyswitch is gone in favor of a booted ign toggle switch and a booted starter button.
  4. Except for the tachometer, new gauges. Mine were 1977 originals so they were looking pretty tired. Joe linked the Isspro aviation style gauges a while back and I fell in love with the 240° needle sweeps. Can't have the new EWDS sitting next to old, tired, ugly gauges now, can we?
  5. The previous panel wiring had crimped terminals. I took my time with this version so all terminals are crimped, soldered and heat shrinked (heat shrunk? I dunno).
  6. The plug connection for non-vital circuits showed the beginnings of corrosion. Now replaced, it has dielectric grease inside.
I kept the previous Plexiglass terminal strip deck, couldn't think of a way to make it better. The project is also a comment on how much stuff fits into the MMI large recess.
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Last edited by ndutton; 03-19-2014 at 01:49 PM.
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Old 03-16-2014, 11:41 AM
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Wow

Wow, very nice job Neil. Nicely done!
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Old 03-16-2014, 11:53 AM
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"Wow"

Neil, Absolutely excellent work. If there was one thing that I would add, it would be a "blackout" cover to keep those gauge "colors" from fading while not in use.
Tom
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Old 03-16-2014, 11:55 AM
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Good point Tom. I'll speak with my canvas lady.

Thanks Mo.
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Old 03-16-2014, 12:04 PM
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instrument panel

Wow!!!!! I think I have a bad case of instrument panel envy
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Old 03-16-2014, 12:25 PM
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Instrument Panel

FWIW, here a modification made of clear polycarbonate, engraved and painted on the backside. Literally bullet proof.
ml
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Old 03-16-2014, 12:32 PM
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Nice set up, Neil. Good to see you lost the key switch; those things are a constant source of trouble.
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Old 03-16-2014, 12:37 PM
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Yeah Scuppers, I remembered your work. Very nice.

Hanley, I used to replace my keyswitch bi-annually due to internal corrosion. No more. We'll see how long these booted switches last. Longer I hope. That's the reason for the boots.
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Old 03-16-2014, 05:41 PM
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Really nice looking panel.

My only nit-pick is that the color coded "normal" ranges (temp & oil) aren't perfectly appropriate for the A4. I'm guessing that it's not possible to open the gauges up to fix this. C'est la vie.
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Old 03-16-2014, 06:46 PM
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Actually the gauges are easy to open up but I didn't feel much like redoing the artwork. You get what you get, life's a compromise.

Frankly, except for the oil pressure the green ranges aren't bad.
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Had my hands in a few others
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Old 03-16-2014, 11:47 PM
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You were on the Apollo program were you not Neil?

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Old 03-17-2014, 04:27 AM
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This is very very
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Old 03-17-2014, 08:41 AM
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Red face Panel envy

Scuppers, where did you get that panel. I just redid mine lst year and cut a new piece of wood out for the stock look. I did not redo the Ericson logo though. I have E35-MKII # 174 a 70 launched in Nov of 69 I was told and still with the original A-4 ticking away.

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Old 03-17-2014, 12:21 PM
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Panel discussion

Quote:
Originally Posted by ndutton View Post
[*]The previous panel wiring had crimped terminals. I took my time with this version so all terminals are crimped, soldered and heat shrinked (heat shrunk? I dunno).
It should probably read: [The previous panel wiring had crimped terminals. I took my time with this version so all terminals are crimped, soldered, and heat-shrinked]

In the Chicago Man. of Style, series commas include one before the word "and" for the last item in a list.
In A.P. style, I think you can drop the last comma.
Also heat-shrunk is a compound modifier, so hyphenate.

As to shrinked, shranked, shrunk, not a clue.

Oh, the panel? Sweet!
I want mine to look just like it

Rus
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Last edited by lat 64; 03-17-2014 at 12:25 PM.
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Old 03-17-2014, 06:25 PM
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Although it was a looooong time ago, when I was taught grammar in elementary school and preceded the last item in a list and it was never preceded by a comma. Maybe it's another California thing.

As a hint as to how long ago it was, the ice cream vendor working the streets in our tract of homes did so in a horse drawn wagon. Absolutely true.
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Old 03-17-2014, 07:33 PM
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Hmmm..nice work Neil. When I incorporate the EWDS system, I guess I'll have to modify my brownie pan pod.

I went with a new cole-hersee switch a few years ago, but the key is a pain & I've already had trouble with it, and although not weather proof, I do have a hinged plexi cover that keeps most of the rain and saltwater out. I am going buttons/switches this time, and I REALLY like those long sweep gauges!

Glad someone like Neil is around to blaze the trail for us..

Neil, my grammar school taught me no comma before the and, but it is apparently creeping back in as acceptable. Russ ain't the first one to comment on that.
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Last edited by sastanley; 03-17-2014 at 07:35 PM.
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Old 03-18-2014, 02:43 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 67c&ccorv View Post
You were on the Apollo program were you not Neil?

Is this true?
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Old 03-18-2014, 07:52 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HalcyonS View Post
[Regarding a rumor of my involvement in the Apollo program] Is this true?
No, I was a teenager during Apollo. My Dad on the other hand was involved as an employee of McDonnell-Douglas.

67c&c was having a little fun.
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Old 03-18-2014, 02:13 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ndutton View Post
No, I was a teenager during Apollo. My Dad on the other hand was involved as an employee of McDonnell-Douglas.

67c&c was having a little fun.
I ask because the builder of my boat was an Apollo program engineer - the custom SS work was done in the NASA shop. Needless to say its quite good quality
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Old 03-19-2014, 12:53 PM
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I am pleased to report the new aircraft gauges are compatible with my existing sensors. After installation the engine roared to life and all gauges read normally. The gauges behaved as if they're damped, smooth needle swings rather than jerky, jittery motion.

There was one glitch due to a switch mismarked in the packaging but it was a simple diagnosis and an even simpler fix. Following Tom's advice I've decided to make a blackout insert with left over panel face material rather than going with a canvas cover.
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Old 03-19-2014, 01:54 PM
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FYI: Many A4s had 80 PSI oil pressure gauges. The new gauge on the old sensor will be reading a little high. 40 PSI really would be 50 on the gauge, 80 really would be 100 on the gauge
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Old 03-19-2014, 02:20 PM
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I suppose if I wanted to dial it in I could get a lot more elaborate but the new gauges read the same as the old ones, guud enuf for me. I don't even know for sure how accurate the old ones were. If this were an airplane or a heart-lung machine I'd feel differently.
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Last edited by ndutton; 03-19-2014 at 02:37 PM.
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Old 03-20-2014, 11:29 PM
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joe_db..Since I've moved to the non-MMI oil-filter unit, I've noticed that sometimes my oil pressure is at 60PSI or so at start up. It settles in around 40, but just like any other engine, I can see that a 80 PSI gauge would be expected since we all want 40-ish at 2000-ish cruise.

Don't you always want your gauges in the middle at normal?
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Old 03-21-2014, 09:39 AM
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I too have noticed the Indigo oil filter allows wider swings than the original system. I think this is caused by cold thick oil having to make it from one end of the engine to the other and through a filter and two hoses to bleed off pressure. I have a future plan to put my old spring and ball regulator back in the engine one day and set it for 50 and the remote filter for 40. Not a real big deal, but I like these experiments and I think it might damp these excursions.

As for the gauge, the orginal and most replacements have about a 90 degree arc for the needle to move in. The Chief Aircraft gauges move 270 degrees, whcih gives you a lot better visual resolution.


If I ever get one of these I might get my graphic artist buddy to move the green arc down to about 30 and put another yellow arc from about 60 up to 90.

Hey MM! Product opportunity for you! Get these gauges and have them marked with A4 appropriate ranges


Quote:
Originally Posted by sastanley View Post
joe_db..Since I've moved to the non-MMI oil-filter unit, I've noticed that sometimes my oil pressure is at 60PSI or so at start up. It settles in around 40, but just like any other engine, I can see that a 80 PSI gauge would be expected since we all want 40-ish at 2000-ish cruise.

Don't you always want your gauges in the middle at normal?

Last edited by joe_db; 03-21-2014 at 09:45 AM.
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Old 03-21-2014, 12:12 PM
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The reason the original oil relief system shows steadier readings is that the relief valve is closer to the oil pump and the gauge (sender) itself is also closer to the pressure source. In any system where relief (and sensing) is remote the variations will be wider. I have two oil pressure gauges; one is fed from the port right above the old oil relief valve location, the second is at the pump that moves oil thru the filter and cooler and is also near the (new) relief port. Remember, oil pressure varies widely in the dynamic system. Until full warm up I can have a 20-30 psi variation between the two gauges, but they stabilize at 35-40 psi within 5 psi of each other at cruise rpm.
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