Ground wire terminal mess

[Buly]

Yesterday I decided to rectify something that has been bothering me ever since we bought our coach. In the half bath cabinet there is a huge bundle of (25 or 26) white ground wires AWG-10 and few AWG-8 bunched up on 1.5"square terminal box with spade connectors and a single flimsy post 1/8" I think. Some were 4-5 wires crimped on a single spade.
So, I bought a high quality Blue Sea 20 terminal busbar on Amazon for $17. Used my 30 year old ratcheting crimpers and rearranged the the whole mess. Feel much better now

BEFORE

AFTER

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

Nice job; looks great. I have been meaning to do the same and you’ve inspired me.

TJ

 

[Jim]

Very nice @Buly.

 

[Neal]

Well done. There is so much electrical interference and mess in these coaches.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

Neatness counts! Years ago, we built a new house and I did all the electrical wiring. My main panel was done like Buly's, with neat wiring; each one bent nicely to the terminal and evenly spaced.

When the electrical inspector came out, he asked who the electrical contractor was because that information wasn't on the permit. I told him I had done the wiring myself. He said something like "Oh, homeowner installed!" His tone of voice made me a little nervous.

Then, he asked to see inside the main electrical panel. I pulled the cover plate off and he took a look...then, just signed the permit and handed it to me. "I don't need to look any farther...I'm sure the rest of the work is the same quality." Made me feel pretty good.

TJ

 

[Buly]

Neatness counts! Years ago, we built a new house and I did all the electrical wiring. My main panel was done like Buly's, with neat wiring; each one bent nicely to the terminal and evenly spaced.

When the electrical inspector came out, he asked who the electrical contractor was because that information wasn't on the permit. I told him I had done the wiring myself. He said something like "Oh, homeowner installed!" His tone of voice made me a little nervous.

Then, he asked to see inside the main electrical panel. I pulled the cover plate off and he took a look...then, just signed the permit and handed it to me. "I don't need to look any farther...I'm sure the rest of the work is the same quality." Made me feel pretty good.

TJ

That reminds me, years ago I had to install on a customer’s sailboat dual station slaved GPS, Autopilot and Radar. But to get it activated and for the insurance, I had to call factory rep to come and check everything with his laptop.
When he came, I opened the panel of the Nav Station, and he blurted: Who did this? My heart sunk ( O, Schnitt).
“Why do you ask I said?
He said: “This is aircraft quality work”. It passed. The rest is history ?

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

I should have known that you are familiar with aircraft wiring practices. It sure shows in your work.

TJ

 

[FLSteve]

@Buly - Very nice … I will take a look at mine to see what if looks like and maybe do this. Thanks for posting the pictures.

FLSteve

 

[Buly]

TJ,
This is my plane I built from scratch (not a kit), and we flew for 10 years to the Bahamas, and inside the US with DW Doris and the dogs. They had their own K-9 Class custom built cabin.
Both of us are IFR rated. It is all behind us now

Dixie and Dolly, RIP.

 

[NWIP]

They had it better than today’s coach cabin, I sure they enjoyed the ride?

 

[Akdare]

Love the doggie earphones!

 

[Neal]

Why don't the dogs have mic's? What if they see traffic?

 

[BGMAC]

Nice plane! a Cozy I believe. Loved those planes. A lot of work building one.

 

[AbdRahim]

Ok. Please forgive the naivety of this question, but does this improve function? Also, how do you identify and label each ground for faster troubleshooting?

It does look great

 

[Buly]

AbdRahim,
The wires were not labeled to begin with. Main reason for doing it is reliability. The original spade connectors were to weak to support 3-4 heavy wires on a single connector. Just it was not done right. If it does not bother you, no need to re do it.

 

[BGMAC]

Busy, were you ever a military aircraft mechanic Or A/P?

 

[Buly]

No, I’m not A&P. Just have FAA issued Aircraft Manufacturer license for one aircraft.

 

[Webz]

I believe I saw you yesterday. You landed at Titusville and parked outside the War Bird Museum. Our guide asked what type of aircraft you were flying.
You do quality work.

 

[Buly]

Hi John,
It was not me. I sold the plane 3 years ago. The guy bought it without looking at it in person. Just sent a pilot to take it to Dallas TX