Just bought a 7AC with 65hp cont. No ele system. I know someone has
put in a Com raido with intercom and GPS that is powered by a gel cell battery charged by trickle charger when not in use. Tell me how to do this and brands of raido and intercom? Have a Garmin 195 GPS. Where to mount everything? Thanks for any help anyone can provide.
Com raido for 7AC
I have a gell-cell battery (12 amp hr, I believe) mounted in a box under the front seat, with a split power plug (lighter plug) connected to it. I use a Garmin GPS 3 and a JRC hand held. Both seem to work very well and draw very little current as it takes very little charge to bring them back. Other have mounted the battery in a box between the front rudder pedals. I never really liked that location as it's right under the gas tank.
You also need to be sure you have sufficient clearance if it's under the front seat to prevent "shorting" things out. I've also seen the battery mounted behind the rear seat. Big problem is getting a 337 on the thing, but it has been done.
You also need to be sure you have sufficient clearance if it's under the front seat to prevent "shorting" things out. I've also seen the battery mounted behind the rear seat. Big problem is getting a 337 on the thing, but it has been done.
In addition to the above, I should also mention that if you have unshielded ignition harness, there gets to be a lot of ignition noise (static) that interfers with hearing the radio. It's not impossible, but irritating. After I installed a new engine with Slick mags and harnesses the reception increased a hunderfold over my old unshielded Bendix system.
I have an outside antenna which is hooked to my JRC hand held and I would say that the reception is equal to the installed radio (Terra 720) in my Cherokee.
I have an outside antenna which is hooked to my JRC hand held and I would say that the reception is equal to the installed radio (Terra 720) in my Cherokee.
Agree with Mike's info above. One thing is that a external antenna helps a great deal but there some people installing antenna's inside the fuselage tailcone area that work just as good and cannot be seen from the outside.
Will try to get someone who has done this to post the details.
Also, I use a KX-99 or Terra 720 handheld in my Aeronca and connected to an external antenna it works excellent.
JoeA
Will try to get someone who has done this to post the details.
Also, I use a KX-99 or Terra 720 handheld in my Aeronca and connected to an external antenna it works excellent.
JoeA
If anyone is interested to see how I mounted my comm antenna inside the fuselage during restoration, e-mail me for pictures.
I am still using an unshielded ignition system with Bendix mags on my A75 and the reception through my Icom is just fine. Not perfect, but the antenna location made a huge difference, plus no one can tell it's there!
Randy
I am still using an unshielded ignition system with Bendix mags on my A75 and the reception through my Icom is just fine. Not perfect, but the antenna location made a huge difference, plus no one can tell it's there!
Randy
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LOWELL
HAND HELD RADIO/GPS
Lee, I have a 195 that I mounted on the top Rt. of the panel (ball mount
type) and a Sportys 200 hand held radio mounted in the center of the
panel. I had to go to a outside antanna due to the radio was picking up
stuff off the GPS. Antanna is mounted on the bottom of the boot cowl,
bent wire type. I got a 12V-5amp battery (sealed type) mounted under
the front seat with push-on wire fittings and 5 amp inline fuse. The radio
uses approx. 250 milamps also the GPS-195 draws about the same. I remove the battery and antanna for the Annual Insp. I don't care to
cut the paper work (337). The battery I got from "Batteries Plus". I have
a Intercom, two place, that is mounted over the two seats on the left
wing route area. With head sets and a push-to-talk mounted by the
left front throttle makes things easy. Hope this helps.
type) and a Sportys 200 hand held radio mounted in the center of the
panel. I had to go to a outside antanna due to the radio was picking up
stuff off the GPS. Antanna is mounted on the bottom of the boot cowl,
bent wire type. I got a 12V-5amp battery (sealed type) mounted under
the front seat with push-on wire fittings and 5 amp inline fuse. The radio
uses approx. 250 milamps also the GPS-195 draws about the same. I remove the battery and antanna for the Annual Insp. I don't care to
cut the paper work (337). The battery I got from "Batteries Plus". I have
a Intercom, two place, that is mounted over the two seats on the left
wing route area. With head sets and a push-to-talk mounted by the
left front throttle makes things easy. Hope this helps.
Lowell,
Someone can correct me if I am wrong but do not believe that equipment not mounted in the aircraft need a 337 form filled out for the FAA. Many people do this and for the same reason you do.
Am doing the same thing with my handheld radio and GPS with a portable battery to suppliment their endurance.
Fly safe!
Joe A
Someone can correct me if I am wrong but do not believe that equipment not mounted in the aircraft need a 337 form filled out for the FAA. Many people do this and for the same reason you do.
Am doing the same thing with my handheld radio and GPS with a portable battery to suppliment their endurance.
Fly safe!
Joe A
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LOWELL
HANDHELD RADIO'S, ETC.
If the power for "Handheld Radio's, GPS, Etc." comes from the Aircraft
power system, the FAA does not consider it a portable unit and you will
need a 337. If you have units with selfcontained power and easly removed
you should be OK. By using a storage battery (under the seat) for power
you might get into a gray zone. IA's and the different FAA offices thruout
the country have the same set of books.....but different views! By removing the storage battery, etc. at the Annual, you might save yourself
a lot of greef. The biggest problem during an Annual Inspection is
PAPER WORK. Items installed by the present owner and/or past owner.
Today, it has become more and more diffecult to get a FAA person to
work with you.....most want a 8110-3 report from a DER.....more money,
more time. A little tip from one who has done that and been there. The
best thing to do is ASK the local FAA before you start. Most I've found
will work with you/help steer you in the right direction. If he won't, just
leave him out of your WILL!!
power system, the FAA does not consider it a portable unit and you will
need a 337. If you have units with selfcontained power and easly removed
you should be OK. By using a storage battery (under the seat) for power
you might get into a gray zone. IA's and the different FAA offices thruout
the country have the same set of books.....but different views! By removing the storage battery, etc. at the Annual, you might save yourself
a lot of greef. The biggest problem during an Annual Inspection is
PAPER WORK. Items installed by the present owner and/or past owner.
Today, it has become more and more diffecult to get a FAA person to
work with you.....most want a 8110-3 report from a DER.....more money,
more time. A little tip from one who has done that and been there. The
best thing to do is ASK the local FAA before you start. Most I've found
will work with you/help steer you in the right direction. If he won't, just
leave him out of your WILL!!
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HAC
COMM RADIO IC A200
I have mounted an Icom A200 comm radio right under the panel and centered from side to side. I bought some aluminum angle stock, one half inch on a side, and make up a mount for the radio rack. The angle stock is rivited to the radio tray so that the front piece nests with the lower cross tube right under the panel. I used hose clamps to hold it to the tube. The rear angle is positioned so that it mates/nests with the angle tube running from the left side of the lower panel over to the front right side of the fueslage near the firewall. Again I used hose clamps to hold it in place. Net result is that the radio is held in place without drilling any holes. the wiring is then run over to the front right side of the cockpit near the firewall and then down along side the boot cowl and under the floor boards. I installed some aluminum jack holders for the head phone jacks bor the back seat and also for the pilot. The jack holder for the rear seat was mounted on the real panel that covers the front of where the baggage canvas is located and it is on the right side.
The pilots head phone jack holder is mounted down below the front throttle location and far enough down so as not to interfer with anything and yet keep the head phone cords from getting in the way of the rear left rudder peddle.
I mounted an intercom on the right side near the door opening and again right under the panel. I made up a bracket and attached it to the metal strap that is behind the tube and where the hand brake would mount.
Net result is all the wires are burried and it looks very neat. The Icom A200 is only about an inch thick and I still have over one inch of clearance between the top of the front stick and the bottom of the radio.
I have some pictures and as soon as I find out how to post them I will.
One final thing is I have a gel cell battery that I mount right behind the pilots seat and in front of the rear stick. I have flown for several years with it mounted there and strapped to the front seat so that it will not move.
The pilots head phone jack holder is mounted down below the front throttle location and far enough down so as not to interfer with anything and yet keep the head phone cords from getting in the way of the rear left rudder peddle.
I mounted an intercom on the right side near the door opening and again right under the panel. I made up a bracket and attached it to the metal strap that is behind the tube and where the hand brake would mount.
Net result is all the wires are burried and it looks very neat. The Icom A200 is only about an inch thick and I still have over one inch of clearance between the top of the front stick and the bottom of the radio.
I have some pictures and as soon as I find out how to post them I will.
One final thing is I have a gel cell battery that I mount right behind the pilots seat and in front of the rear stick. I have flown for several years with it mounted there and strapped to the front seat so that it will not move.
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jackshulerdds
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2004 17:07
- Location: Londonderry, NH 03053
- Contact:
I too am puzzled. When I picked my champ up a few months ago, I had new slick mags (shielded) placed in my 65hp engine. I can RECEIVE perfectly on the Icom 23 which is suction mounted on the panel in front of me. But my TRANSMISSIONS are often garbled with static.
I have a Garmin 95GPS sitting about 10 inches away sitting up against the gas guage. Since the Champ was rebuilt to be as much like the original as possible, I hate to put an outside antenna on it. (I do NOT have shielded plugs).
Randy, if you could mail me the pics of how you "hid" your antennae, I would sure appreciate it. Any other ideas? Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.
Doc
jackshulerdds@verizon.net