Right behind cutting the canopy, I think decisions on Aircraft Electrical Systems may be the scariest part of the project for most of us.  There are no directions to follow, so you have to make a lot of it up for yourself, depending on the options you are installing.

Getting Started 

The Getting Started article explains the steps I went through to plan, organize,  purchase, build, install, and test my electrical system.  The Wire Routing page explains how I ran the wires for my various systems and explains how I dealt with some problem areas.

My Electrical Equipment

In addition to instruments (which I discuss in a separate Avionics section), I also installed the following.  Each of these brings you to a separate page.

• Vans SYSTEM 6 Wingtip and Tail Strobes/Lights
• Vans LL DW 1 Landing and Taxi Lights
• Vans Electric Elevator and Aileron Trim
• Vans Flap Positioning System
• Dynon EFIS
• Digitrak II Autopilot
• Flightcom 403S Intercom
• Terra Comm/Nav/Trans Radios
• MP-3 Setup

Helpful Hints

This is a single article, with a couple of paragraphs on each of the following lessons I learned when building my airplane.  Each of these links brings you directly to the hint selected.

• Electronics That Require Soldering Multiple Pin Terminals
• Label Everything
• Pull the Wires
• Checking Your Work

Trouble Spots

I found these two spots particularly troubling when running wiring for my aircraft electrical systems.  These are all included in a single article, but each link brings you directly to the section selected.

• Bottom of the Gear Boxes
• Aft End of the Main Spar

What I Would Do Differently

Here are some of the main things I figured out while building, but wish I had known beforehand, because I would have done things differently. Perhaps these ideas will help you out as you build your airplane.  These are all sections of a larger single article, but selecting each link will bring you directly to that section.

• Wire the Tail Before Riveting the Turtledeck
• Build a Wiring Panel
• Use Multiple Wire Bundles
• Permanent Labeling
• Mounting the Radio Trays
• Landing/Taxi Wingtip Combo Lights

Tools

These tools really made a difference when building my aircraft electrical systems.  You'll want these, too.  These are all included in a single article, but each link brings you directly to the section selected.

• Soldering Iron Tips
• Wire Strippers
• Crimpers