For the price of a set of steam gauges, you can
get a Grand Rapids EIS and make your wiring so much simpler. The
remote controls for the EIS are on the switch panel.Whiskey
compass on the top, airspeed on the left and turn and bank on
the right. The vacuum venturi for the turn and bank is on the
aircraft belly, and uses a 1/2" plastic tube to draw the
vacuum through. Without a prop up front to ram extra air through
it, it is a bit lazy. Also, you will need to modify a wrench and
socket to get to the nuts on the outside corners of those two
instruments. They were obnoxious.
Below is the switch panel. It is a Radio Shack project
box, modified to attach to the fuselage via a bracket and a nylon
clamp around a brace.
Also, off to the left is the mount for the strut
that holds the canopy door open. It is a short section of 1/4"
ID thick wall rubber hose, with a length of 5/16" aluminum
tubing attached inside it. Stick a short length of fuel line tubing
on the tip of the aluminum tube, and it will securely prop the
door open without slipping.
Below is a close up of the switch panel, on the
bottom is the master switch, it ties to the Hot Box and activates
the system. It is on the bottom so it will not be accidentally
bumped off. (Or noticed by pesky persons) The red button is the
starter switch. Behind it are the two magneto switches.
This Firestar has switches for radios, strobes,
nav lights, fuel pump, and the big switch back in the far corner
is for the landing lights. The three black buttons are the remote
control buttons for the EIS, since the panel is too far away to
reach them when you have your shoulder harness on. If you order
an EIS from Grand Rapids, tell them you want the remote control
wiring harness.
