Removing Electric Instruments in Winter .

Jay wrote:
I wondered about this, researched it to a limited extent and then
thought - why take a chance? Not only is the cold a potential problem
but moisture etc. has a potential for causing problems as well. I
bought a quick-connect for all the pitot/static tubes on the panel and
installed a quick-connect for all the electrical wires leading to the
panel. When the glider comes home for the season, the panel comes out
of the glider and goes in the house. Takes about 5 minutes and the cold
and moisture hasn't caused a problem yet!

The cold and moisture may no longer cause a problem, but from my
experience, the quick connect eventually will. The last time I tried
one, it lasted a couple of seasons, then started to leak. These days, I
put an inline connector at the end all of the tubes, then use short
pieces of tubing to connect to the instruments, which get thrown away
every time I disconnect them...

Marc

Marc,
Good point - I do a static drawdown each year when I do the annual (I
have the equipment so what the heck). When it starts to leak I'll
probably change over to your method.

Marc Ramsey wrote:

The cold and moisture may no longer cause a problem, but from my
experience, the quick connect eventually will. The last time I tried
one, it lasted a couple of seasons, then started to leak. These days, I
put an inline connector at the end all of the tubes, then use short
pieces of tubing to connect to the instruments, which get thrown away
every time I disconnect them...

Marc

Quick connects are practical devices, who may also save a few embarrassing
(potential dangerous?) faulty connections. -But they require maintenance:
Silicone for the rubber parts, and careful cleaning of the threading at
every assembly will keep them going for years. I found that the ones with
plastic/metal threading will accumulate dust/debris from the plastic part,
eventually preventing an airtight fit.

Happy soaring,
Lars Peder

DG-600 EE, Denmark



"Jay" wrote in message
oups.com...
Marc,
Good point - I do a static drawdown each year when I do the annual (I
have the equipment so what the heck). When it starts to leak I'll
probably change over to your method.

Marc Ramsey wrote:

The cold and moisture may no longer cause a problem, but from my
experience, the quick connect eventually will. The last time I tried
one, it lasted a couple of seasons, then started to leak. These days, I
put an inline connector at the end all of the tubes, then use short
pieces of tubing to connect to the instruments, which get thrown away
every time I disconnect them...

Marc

Marc Ramsey wrote:
Jay wrote:
I wondered about this, researched it to a limited extent and then
thought - why take a chance? Not only is the cold a potential problem
but moisture etc. has a potential for causing problems as well. I
bought a quick-connect for all the pitot/static tubes on the panel and
installed a quick-connect for all the electrical wires leading to the
panel. When the glider comes home for the season, the panel comes out
of the glider and goes in the house. Takes about 5 minutes and the cold
and moisture hasn't caused a problem yet!

The cold and moisture may no longer cause a problem, but from my
experience, the quick connect eventually will. The last time I tried
one, it lasted a couple of seasons, then started to leak. These days, I
put an inline connector at the end all of the tubes, then use short
pieces of tubing to connect to the instruments, which get thrown away
every time I disconnect them...

I've switched over to silicone tubing for the instrument connections,
like the type that comes with a Cambridge 302. Cambridge will sell it to
you, as well as McMaster-Carr (probably cheaper). It's easy to install,
easy to remove, and retains this ease even after years of 100+ deg F
summers and 10 deg F winters. The factory glider tubing from the
pitot/static/etc is still the clear plastic stuff, so I use an inline
connector to the silicone tubing.


--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

"Transponders in Sailplanes" on the Soaring Safety Foundation website
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