Today I spent most of the session working on the installation of the aux battery, a 3ah TCW Integrated Battery Backup System. In order to meet the requirements for battery installation—not forward of the firewall, not in an enclosed area to prevent heat buildup, and in an accessible location to allow servicing or replacement when necessary. Sounds like another tenant on the avionics rack.
Before starting on the battery mount, I decided to add a couple of nutplates to the “removable” side of the rack. The idea was that it would be much easier installing the rack in the dark recesses of the completed fuselage without having to mess with nuts and washers…hope I’m right.
To start the actual battery installation I fabricated a couple of brackets out of .032 to facilitate the fasteners. Like the GEA 24, this unit is actually supported by the 1/8” aluminum angle, so the .032 merely serves to hold each box in place on the rack. Once cut, bent, drilled and riveted to the frame, I positioned the battery and drilled the four screw attach points. After installing the battery I went back to the fuselage to put the rack back in place. Then I spent the rest of my time working on the wire bundles to the GEA 24 as it’s getting close to top skin riveting and I want to be sure that I’ve thought of everything…I know…good luck with that.
