PA-28-180D panel overlay upgrade

[Koby Sronce]

I am thinking about re-doing the panel overlay on my 180D Cherokee. My Dad and his brother have a CO2 laser that can cut and laser etch the panel as well as a power coating oven that I will use powder coat the finished product.

I am thinking of moving the tach and the hobbs meter to be more visible as well as moving the strobe light switch to a more accessible position. My Dad is an A/P so he can supervise the work (I think) and sign it off. If I decide to leave the gauges where they are, I will avoid the structural STC and save some time as well, I not sure which route to go yet.

I come to you guys asking for any tips, thoughts, advice, criticisms, etc on this little project. I think it'll only take me 2-3 days to install the painted product. I downloaded X-Panel to get an idea of whats required, however, I am having a hard time trusting myself to design this layout and ensure the proper fit/alignment to the instrument gauges. I attached a template from X panel that Is a round about idea of what Im going for. The ADF receiver/gauge will be removed.

Any tips/advice would be much appreciated!

 

[murphey]

Unless you plan to rent out the cherokee, there's no reason to keep the Hobbs. One less thing to worry about where to put it.

 

[BGF_Yankee]

Curious to hear more about this project. Are you using the program to do everything? No physical measurements of anything in your aircraft? Always wanted to do a panel overlay, but never really knew how to undertake it.

 

[AggieMike88]

Unless you plan to rent out the cherokee, there's no reason to keep the Hobbs. One less thing to worry about where to put it.

This. Just about everything that goes into the aircraft logbooks is based off of tach numbers. So if there is no renting of the aircraft involved, the Hobbs meter is not a useful bit of kit

 

[AggieMike88]

Curious to hear more about this project. Are you using the program to do everything? No physical measurements of anything in your aircraft? Always wanted to do a panel overlay, but never really knew how to undertake it.

The software shown to mock up your panel is http://www.xpanelsoftware.com/

I don't know how easy it is to download instructions for a CNC machine. But it is relatively easy to use to create a visual mock up to discuss with your avionics tech.

 

[Ravioli]

As you may have read... dump the hobbs and move that other thing (amps I guess.. can't tell in the pic) to the open spot in front of you.

Then you can use that whole right side for a glove box. Nice place to store log books, checklists, and gloves!

 

[AggieMike88]

@Koby Sronce ... if you're going to plan for a decent autopilot like the GFC500 you pictured in your mockup, you might as well spend a bit more for a decent GPS system such as the IFD440 (or better) or GNS430W (or better). The combo of a good AP and a good GPS system will significantly increase the IFR and travelling utility of your airplane.

 

[Koby Sronce]

@Koby Sronce ... if you're going to plan for a decent autopilot like the GFC500 you pictured in your mockup, you might as well spend a bit more for a decent GPS system such as the IFD440 (or better) or GNS430W (or better). The combo of a good AP and a good GPS system will significantly increase the IFR and travelling utility of your airplane.

The AP in the picture is just a visual representation
Of what is in the panel already. I do like the idea of a Nice AP/GPS but the ol pocket book does not. This is just a time builder that we’ll occassionslly share with fellow student pilots to build time in, so spending a boat load of money on this old bird is tough to justify.

 

[Koby Sronce]

This. Just about everything that goes into the aircraft logbooks is based off of tach numbers. So if there is no renting of the aircraft involved, the Hobbs meter is not a useful bit of kit

I intend on sharing plan w a fellow IR student to build time for Commercial Ticket. I have heard to just take tach time multiplied by 1.3 to get Hobbs which we might do. Depends what the boss says.

 

[Koby Sronce]

Curious to hear more about this project. Are you using the program to do everything? No physical measurements of anything in your aircraft? Always wanted to do a panel overlay, but never really knew how to undertake it.

It’s a lot of algebra and geometry. Like you, I don’t fully grasp it but my dad does so I’m gonna design the panel and he’ll teach me how to take the measurements. From what he’s done already , it’s not difficult it’s just so dang hot in the cabin in this Texas heat we can only do a little at a time.

The overlay is cosmetic, if you starting fussin with the metal panel behind the plastic, it then becomes structural and requires an STC and to be done by a certified shop. That’s why we are just keeping the instruments where they are for the most part, if we do move something it’ll be the tach to the preexisiting ADF gauge space, which won’t require an STC bc the gauge insert was already there.

 

[AggieMike88]

it’s just so dang hot in the cabin in this Texas heat we can only do a little at a time.

Purchase a used window AC, some foil tape, dryer ducting, and a plenum to interface between AC outlet and ducting. In less than an hour of DYI time you have something to cool down that cabin.

 

[JDACO]

Here is how I re-did my panel. It took about a week. I think I could do it faster the second time around.