Over the past few days I’ve finalized all the circuits and inputs to the AG6 warning annunciators.  During my inventory of those, to simplify the wiring, minimize power connections, and optimize flight information management, I’ve decided to pull the carbon monoxide alarm reporting off the AG6 and swap it for the fuel pump, which is currently just an indicator light.

Why?  Well, the CO meter already reports via RS-232 to the HXr EFIS, which is of course part of the warning annunciation system.  It also requires a connection via a resistor to a power bus (unlike the fuel pump), so the swap is on.

As for the fuel pump, the AG6 can use the signal input as both a simple pump ON indication as well as a time-delayed flashing red warning if the fuel pump is left on and needs turned off.  With using the exact same wire for either indicator light or AG6 screen, I find that much more useful than just an “ON” indicator light.

Meanwhile, the indicator light slot left open by moving the fuel pump up to the AG6 will now be utilized to report the Autopilot Servos Disconnect & Pilot Controlled Steering (PCS) function when that button is pushed on the control stick.

All this of course took a couple of days to figure out, and I do have a multi-question email to Rich, the guy who designed the AG6, for some assistance on the respective AG6 units’ reprogramming.

I also finished installing the Tri-Paragon’s top right shelf relay deck plate, which involved drilling out the screw holes and installing a good bunch of platenuts.

Here we have the Tri-Paragon relay deck installed, with the initial two heavy duty relays installed.  One of these relays will be pressed into service for the StarLink Mini versus Heat component power feed (can’t have both powered at the same time due to excessive current draw).  The other/second relay is a spare… both of these mounted before the relay deck plate was secured in place since I didn’t use platenuts on these.

However, through the magic of platenuts at the other 2 relay positions, if need be I can easily add up to 2 additional heavy duty relays… but will leave them out unless called for.  Obviously left off for now for weight reduction.

I then spent a good little bit working on a multi-faceted circuit that involves the canopy latch internal lock:

… the JB Wilco canopy & gear warning module:

And a feed to one of the AG6 Warning Annunciators:

In lieu of using a heavier duty DPDT relay for these circuit machinations, I decided to use 2 of the lighter duty relays on the 4-relay board I was testing this past week.

Relay 1 is controlled by the canopy latch internal lock that remotely controls micro-switch sw085 on/off, which is wired to the Relay 1 control input.  Relay 1 sends power to the AG6 circuit that annunciates a red “CANPY OPEN” screen (opposite the green “CANPY CLOSD” AG6 screen seen above) OR sends power to control Relay 2 when activated.

Relay 2 controls input into the JB Wilco module, connected both via straight off the relay terminals and through a throttle quadrant mounted micro-switch.

Once I confirmed the 2-pair relay circuit logic was good, I mounted the 4-relay board onto the Tri-Paragon relay deck.

In other news, I ran out of ground points on the Tri-Paragon and in the panel area, so I ordered a few solder-cupped 15-socket D-Sub connectors.  To allow me to easily mount the combined pair of DB15 connectors, I started whipping up a mounting bracket for them, spending 5-10 minutes every hour or so to do a little bit more on this side project.

Here is the initial bracket wall test fit with the D-Sub connectors… fit like a glove!

I then created the top piece that fits around the Female (pins) side of this contraption.  Again, a nice tight fit, with the D-sub pin holes showing (pic 1).  And then with the initial bracket body sides slid into place (pic 2).

And then the back side of the bracket, which will also get enclosed and mount against the vertical plate of the Tri-Paragon when all is finished.

Starting tomorrow, and lasting for the next 2-4 days will be a Nor’easter hitting us, with a LOT of wind, snow and freezing weather… so I will most likely be doing some panel avionics refresher training to brush back up on my GRT HXr & Mini EFISs, GNS-480 GPS navigator, Pro-Pilot autopilot, etc.

Still… pushing forward!