Originally published December 1997
Every airplane owner/builder should have a copy in reference of "WIRE, a nick in time," by Ed Maher. It was published in Avionics News in November, 1996. I got a copy from Larry Cheatwood when he was speaker at a Chapter 34 Monthly Maintenance Seminar in August.
Larry made a great presentation of what to look for in avionic installations. If you are near Cleburne, TX airport, stop and see him at Campus Avionics Service, (817) 556-2070. He is also into GPS (but I don’t have his coordinates).
Back to the article. I knew that stripping wire was an art, but several tools are discussed. The author does not like my Scout knife method. I did not know that wire from an antenna may corrode under the insulation for FOUR FEET without proper seals in the connectors.
The 18-page article (which I have only 7 pages) covers a whole lot more and reminded me that electrical cable has a minimum bend radius just like sheet metal and hydraulic tubing.
Get a copy, at least for the Chapter 1000 library.
EAA
Chapter 1000 Home Page
E-Mail: Web Site Director Russ Erb
at erbman@pobox.com
URL: http://www.eaa1000.av.org/technicl/corrosion/wire.htm
Contents of The Leading Edge and these web pages are the viewpoints
of the authors. No claim is made and no liability is assumed, expressed
or implied as to the technical accuracy or safety of the material presented.
The viewpoints expressed are not necessarily those of Chapter 1000 or the
Experimental Aircraft Association.
Revised -- 29 July 1998