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Ed,
Everyone appreciates this kind of information and
contributes to all of our safety.
Bobby
Couldn't agree more, Mark.
Clearly, I should have (at a minimum) wired each
ignition module separately - gold pin or not - since these are high current draw
circuits. If it had failed while flying - I would have hopefully
added to my glider time {:>).
I did so with my two fuel pumps, but clearly failed
to do so with the coils. I would hazard a guess that at time I did not even
consider connector pins as a risk element - the connection thereto, yes! -
but not the pin itself.
Again, this failure emphasizes the point of eliminating
(where feasible) all single points of failure - be they humble pins or
what.
This is one of the reason I always report my little
happenings (no matter how embarrassing {:>)) - so that others will
advance the state of the art (make a new mistake) rather than simply repeating
my mistakes.
It frequently appears (to me at least) that
from the lack of other reported mistakes that I have cornered the
market on them {:>) or perhaps others may have benefited from my
reports and avoided most of them.
Ed
Ed
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2007 9:04
AM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Gold Plated
Pins
Ed,
If I understand what you've said correctly, you have a single point of
failure on a flight critical circuit with this connector? WHat if it had
failed while flying? The best outcome would be that you would have
been able to add another notch to your list of dead-stick landings.
Worst case, well, I won't go there. To me, gold plated pins would be a
must, or else remove the connector from the circuit and wire it direct.
The convenience of quicker panel removal doesn't make up for the added risk,
IMHO.
I followed your advice on fuses vs. circuit breakers and now have all
flight critical circuits controlled by resettable circuit breakers on an
always hot bus. That made good sense. Having a single point of
failure and not using the absolute best parts doesn't make any
sense.
Mark S.
On 5/16/07, Ed
Anderson <eanderson@carolina.rr.com>
wrote:
Thanks,
Bob.
I went with tin as my research indicated that was more than
suitable - in
fact I think (if memory serves me) that aircraft wire is
tin coated to
prevent the copper oxidizing. My plug is
exposed to moisture when the
canopy is open, rain/dew,
etc. Also, I did not use any corrosion preventive
such as
grease or spray so given all that, perhaps the news is that it held
up
so well for so long.
So given its been over 10 years, I guess gold is
not a requirement {:>).
Wow! $1200 and its not even solid gold
{:>)
Ed
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob
White" < rlwhite@comcast.net>
To: "Rotary
motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Sent:
Wednesday, May 16, 2007 3:39 PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Gold Plated
Pins
> On Wed, 16 May 2007 13:11:26 -0400
> "Ed
Anderson" <eanderson@carolina.rr.com>
wrote:
>
> <snip>
>>
>> Perhaps Bob
White can chime in here, my recommendation would be to go
>> with
the gold plated pins vice the tin plated on for critical systems
>>
especially where they might be exposed to weather (like the tip up canopy
>> can do).
> <snip
>>
>>
Ed
>> Ed Anderson
>> Rv-6A N494BW Rotary
Powered
>> Matthews, NC
>> eanderson@carolina.rr.com
>> http://members.cox.net/rogersda/rotary/configs.htm#N494BW
>>
http://www.dmack.net/mazda/index.html
>
> That's an interesting question Ed. The EFI
and coil connectors use tin
> plated connectors also. They
are both sealed so that undoubtedly helps
> and I haven't heard of any
major problems in the auto industry caused
> by the connections going
bad. I can theoretically get gold or silver
> plated pins
for the coil connectors, but the coil is still tin plated.
> Also, for
the gold pins, there is a minimum order of $1200 so there
> would
have to be a huge demand. :) I don't have a source for gold or
>
silver pins for the EFI connectors. Using a sealed connector
might be a
> better way to go. Molex also makes sealed
connectors and I have the 6
> and 8 pin versions of the same
Metri-Pack connectors used on the LS-1
> coils available. That's the
larger one. I use them for the EFI and Coil
>
cables. Someday I'll get all this stuff in my catalog.
>
> The information I have on gold and silver plating is
related more to
> switch contacts. If the switch is
handling a signal (low current) gold
> is preferred. If
it's switching power, silver is better. When there
> is
arcing, the gold tends to be vaporized leaving the base material.
> I
don't know if the silver is less prone to vaporization or a thicker
>
layer is used but power switches are silver plated.
>
> Bob
W.
>
> --
> N93BD - Rotary Powered BD-4 - http://www.bob-white.com
> 3.8
Hours Total Time and holding
> Cables for your rotary installation -
http://www.roblinphoto.com/shop/
>
>
--
> Homepage: http://www.flyrotary.com/
>
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