----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2007 10:52
AM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Gold Plated
Pins
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/
>
>
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