Total Build Time: 873 Hours.
To plan my electrical system, I studied other builder projects, the sonex plans and the book Aeroelectric Connection. Some general concepts I followed were to use fuse blocks (rather than circuit breakers) for wire protection, 2 main fuse-block-busses (main and avionics), in-line fuses to protect all wires not otherwise connected to a fuse block, and alternator over-voltage protection. I will use a master contactor for the battery master, a pushbutton starter that uses the built-in starter solenoid, a relay for the secondary ignition, and a grounding block on the firewall for all of my grounding needs. Included is a HOT 12V socket that can be used both for power in the cockpit and an easy location to plug in a battery tender when the airplane is in the hangar. Also a 5V 2.1A USB charging plug for ipad, etc.
Since all of my engine instrumentation is electronic, in most cases I’ll want my avionics switch ON during engine starts. I confirmed with MGL that it’s OK if the iEfis, RDAC and electronic compass to be on for this. However I’ll have a separate on/off switch for the V6 radio, both to help isolate any electrical noise the radio might produce and allow it to be off for engine starts.
Here is a link to my planned wiring diagram that is current as of 3/22/2015. WIRING DIAGRAM. I have not actually installed a single wire in the airframe yet so it’s certainly subject to change.
Here is Jessie using Visio to take my awful hand-sketched wiring diagrams and turn them into something usable. Thanks Jessie!
As for my instrument panel, after much debate I decided to go with the MGL iEfis Discovery Lite for my primary instrument (airspeed, altimeter, engine instrumentation, attitude/heading reference, etc), and an iPad mini with a Foreflight and a Stratus ADS-B GPS for maps, navigation and weather. I also have the Van’s eyeball air vents that I will mount within the panel. Other instruments include my Lift in Reserve indicatior (LRI) and a slip/skid indicator. This is my instrument panel mock-up that underwent many different iterations.
I will go over my instrument panel in more detail once it’s actually installed in the aircraft.
I ordered my avionics and couldn’t wait to power them up for the first time. I used an old 12V motorcycle battery to test everything.
I have most all of my electrical system components ordered, and am pretty much just waiting for completion of my canopy and firewall preperation before tackling the wiring project.