Wire mess

[NNomad007]

Hello people,

I just started wiring all the panel backlights, using 3mm leds, which will increase dramatically the number of leds to use per panel..(though i do consider the effect is much better). Im having a lot of problems trying not to make a mess of hundreds of wires that appear to grow exponentially ..What method you guys use?..for instance.. ive wired the radio panel backlight, now i have 35 led wires that i need to connect to a single one, and that single one will connect to all the other panels one, and than finally connected to the potentiometer in the lights panel... how on earth can this be done in a decent, orderly, simple and effective way..any advices?..i would really appreciate them

Cheers!

[Efe Cem Elci]

You mean like 40-pin sockets?

[Kennair]

I am facing a similar dilemma and am investigating a couple of options, however HERE (http://personales.ya.com/micabina737/paneles/mip/efis/efis1i.htm)is a tutorial on adding backlighting that might help.

Ken.

[Efe Cem Elci]

Check out NicD's overhead wiring scheme for an idea of what I meant previously.
http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=1217

[NNomad007]

Hi Efe,

yep! that would be great.. Any ideas how i mount the 40-pin sockets?...(sorry for all the ignorance..)

[NNomad007]

I already came across with that tutorial a while ago... never took a close look at it though..thanks for the link Ken, that could help..(though im not exactly sure if im able to make such a clean job since im not using custom made pcb..just the regular protoboards..)

cheers mate

Alex

[NNomad007]

By the way Ken, time for a bit more ignorance from my side....2 questions:

whats that little green cilinder on the left that looks like a hudge resistor?..and whats the use of it in that panel?..(just curious..) ..

and why the author says that leds cant be connected in parallel due to variations of intensity having in mind that most of the guys here defend the use of parallel led circuits.... (in fact, im using them too)??

[Efe Cem Elci]

Hi Efe,

yep! that would be great.. Any ideas how i mount the 40-pin sockets?...(sorry for all the ignorance..)

Depending on where you want to mount them. I have them mounted on the second PCB layer of my MCP with the cables connecting from below and an IDE cable connected to the socket that goes to the IO cards.

NicD's setup seems to have them screwed in to the frame of the overhead with the IDE cables connecting from the parts facing away from the boards.

[NNomad007]

Ill try that.. thanks for the tips!..ill post some updates next week..if..in fact, i accomplish making those connections whithout burning down the house..

cheers!

[Kennair]

By the way Ken, time for a bit more ignorance from my side....2 questions:

whats that little green cilinder on the left that looks like a hudge resistor?..and whats the use of it in that panel?..(just curious..) ..

and why the author says that leds cant be connected in parallel due to variations of intensity having in mind that most of the guys here defend the use of parallel led circuits.... (in fact, im using them too)??

That huge green thing is an electrolytic capacitor. It's accompanied by a ceramic capacitor for filtering purposes for the following quoted reason "We will connect this circuit with the one corresponding to the besides panel (MCP). This is why we have to install two filtering condensers. This way, and using the control circuit developed by Jose Luis Muñoz, we will be able to control several panel backlighting with only one knob."

No need to worry about it in your case.

EDIT: As for the parallel vs series issue, well who knows? Some swear by one and others by the other. I really don't know and will test both cases when I come to experiment with it. I must say though that this guy is pretty switched on and when you see the end result of the backlit EFIS you'd have to agree with his methodology.

Ken.

[NNomad007]

Well..... ill make some experiments..(i think ive burned a ton of leds already just trying things out....)..Thanks all of you

By the way Ken, great looking pieces you bought from OC .. That will make you busy for a couple of weeks..im still waiting for my parts to arrive..so.. ill just keep dreaming for a while

Cheers

Alex

[BHawthorne]

All I know is without zipties it looks like a spaghetti monster attacked my panels. :)

[NNomad007]

I know that feeling BHawthorne! Sometimes i do think we are all getting insane here!!!!! :)

Thanks for all the kind answers

Alex