Brief Description: Aux audio input and encoder connector
Got a delivery late in the day from Allied Electronics which included a 3PDT mini toggle switch and a 90 degree DB15 connector shell. These were two small items needed to complete my auxiliary audio input circuits (pilot and copilot) and the reworked Ameri-King encoder harness.
I decided to tackle the audio switch first. I soldered the color coded six leads to the switch and attached the molex female connector. Soldering these mini switches is a little tricky when you have old eyes but it went ok. Actually, I had more trouble getting the nine leads matched correctly to the wires coming from the front and rear cockpit and the cable that attaches to the intercom. Not too difficult, just takes attention to detail.
After completing the switch install I moved on to the encoder harness. I cut the main cable to length and crimped the db-sub sockets on each wire. I inserted them into the same ports as the old connector. The only challenge was to solder the shield ground to the DB15 connector. There is a power ground with a socket but there is also a bare braided wire that must be soldered to the metal part of the connector. Anyway, it was completed with little difficulty. You can see in the attached pictures how tight the space is between the encoder and the radio fuse block. The 90 degree connector was a must.
A note here... I have tried to do continuity tests on each circuit and component as each was installed. There are some rather complex connections, however, I would like to test further while the fuselage is relatively open. I am thinking about making up some phone and mike plugs (std and 1/8") to do some checks between the jacks and the intercom DB25 connector. Think I would feel better knowing for sure that the wires are in the correct ports and there are no shorts.
