Transponder Installations

[EDGEFLY]

I would like to ask for a little redirection of emphasis on this thread, if I could. My original request for information was to attempt to get information from Chief owners/operators about functioning transponder configurations they have installed in their aircraft. Specifically, I wanted to get photographic record of how these installations were made and which equipment was used for them. Thus far, Bob has a Chief which has a Becker unit installed but we have had some difficulty with posting photography here. It is relatively expensive. There are at leas two other new equipment manufacturers with similar footprints (and ) prices. Sam discussed a rack mount in a Champ and since he also had photo problems, I asked and he sent to my personal E-mail pics of what he has. I followed up with him but haven't gotten a second round response yet. I am negotiating on a couple of older transponders which may be available from aircraft in substantial repair (ok, they got banged-up) but maybe the transponders, encoder, antenna, installation trays, wiring harnesses etc. still may be useful. I was hoping there would be some number of Chief's with an installed system so that some copiable ideas would be available. Maybe I was a little too optimistic about the number of forum Chief owners doing this kind of upgrade ?


Dale

[EDGEFLY]

With a lot of help from Sam, my plan for an installation on the Chief is beginning to take shape.

1) Does anyone have an Odyssey battery mounted in a Chief ? How is it mounted and where ?

2) Same questions for a transponder antenna on a Chief.


Dale

[EDGEFLY]

I am trying to make specific decisions about equipment to use. Among the specifics where I am especially interested in forum member input are:

1). Transponder antenna (blade vs stub), model #'s, mounting on a Chief, cabling........

2). Separate encoder devices. Size, reliability, power consumption, mounting

3). Circuit Breaker arrangement( schematical), mounting

4). Inclusion of master power switch for battery powered avionics.

5). Battery installations, especially on Chiefs, battery status indicators & mounting for them.


Dale

[EDGEFLY]

Has anyone mounted a transponder antenna internal to a Chief. There has been some discussion here about the mounting of VHF comm antennas in the tailcone but I haven't seen anything about DME antennas. There may be some ancillary consideration of placement since these systems may be putting out up to 250 watts. would like to hear what the " Mind of Aeronca" think about this.

Dale

[rkittine]

Mine in the Chief is on the belly. For the Com, it is a standard VHF antenna on the wing flange.