Magnetometer connection

[109JB]

I'm working on wiring for my Kitfox 4 project and wondering what you folks are using for connecting the magnetometer at the fuselage. My magnetometer will be at the wing tip with the wiring running through the spar. I want a connector probably behind the seat so that the wing can be removed. I am thinking a male/female DB9 connector with metal hood and shield continuation there zip tied to a piece of fuselage structure. What have other folks done for this. I figure I can't be the only one with this quandary.

Thanks,

John Brannen

[efwd]

Hi John
My magnetometer has a 8" lead to which I plug my wire harness into. It was recommended that the harness go uninterrupted to the panel as the connectors are fail points. The more you have the more likely you will encounter problems. Pulling my wiring through the spar is pretty simple when using an electricians fish tape to pull it through. I did make my Pitot system with some connectors at the airframe that I can just disconnect since that tubing is not run through the spar. I have lots and lots of those Pitot tube connectors should you be interested in some of those. Just PM me with an address.

[Delta Whisky]

I'm with Eddie. FWIW, I usually leave a service loop somewhere in the wire run and if (when?) the wire(s) need to be disconnected somewhere between the ends, then I install the connector.

[109JB]

Gonna be very tough to pull a db9 through the spar with the stiffeners in the spars. The high density pins are near impossible to get out.

[Shadowrider]

At first I thought I wanted a connector also. But then I realized I have no plans on pulling the wings off. Why plan for the what if’s? I decided if I every do need to pull the wings I will cut them and put a connector at that time.

[efwd]

That is quite true. My connector is different as I have the old style Magnetometer. It happens to be bigger than a DB9 and round but with propper pin removing tools I was able to pull my pins easily.

[109JB]

At first I thought I wanted a connector also. But then I realized I have no plans on pulling the wings off. Why plan for the what if’s? I decided if I every do need to pull the wings I will cut them and put a connector at that time.

I'm wiring before covering, so the wings will not even be on the airplane when the wiring is done.

[109JB]

Since the Garmin system uses a daisy chained CAN bus I have 2 data wires and 2 power wires. The magnetometer is the end of the CAN bus and the next item in the CAN bus chain is one of my servos. I'll run the power wires separate and I've decided to use a 2 pin version of the following style connector for the data wires. I have used these before on other projects in the past and will be able to maintain the shield connection. I'll leave a little extra length to reach the servo. That way if I have problems I could always splice it at the servo connector like the Garmin instructions show.

26080

[Shadowrider]

I'm wiring before covering, so the wings will not even be on the airplane when the wiring is done.

Yes, so did I. Just run extra wire coiled at the wing root and on final assembly tie it in.

[109JB]

Yes, so did I. Just run extra wire coiled at the wing root and on final assembly tie it in.

Nope. Want to test the whole system before covering. I have it figured out what I'm going to do.