Tipsy Nipper

Hello All,

I hope you do not mind a post from a terrible infiltrator...as I NOT a Tipsy Nipper owner, I'm afraid. However, this appears to be the best place to get advice for my situation, given that we have a shared friend - the VW 1600 aero - in common at least.

I am currently restoring a Taylor Mono and I am in desperate need of some assistance in the form of photos showing layouts and arrangements for anyone who has installed Leburg. Not the controller, alternator etc, but more the other components adjacent to the engine. I am a young(ish) first time aircraft tinkerer, so having to learn a lot as I go.

Working with my inspector, we've got the dual ignition kit all installed on the engine but I'd really welcome some real world photos to help me finish the job and establish appropriate locations for mounting the various paraphernalia - I am now at the point of wiring everything up, but need to make sure I haven't put things in stupid places before I ask my inspector to take a look...

On my set-up, I was recommended that both batteries should reside (securely) in a harness behind the pilot's head, in the recessed area behind the seat - this is where a lot of the Turbulents have them.  However, I have read (on here, and elsewhere) that the LAA don't like the batteries being in the cabin with the pilot and I'm curious if others have mounted them on the firewall.

On the firewall, above the engine (behind the carb manifold) I've installed an alu plate on which the coil packs, rectifier and engine-side terminal blocks for the electronics are mounted - this is proud of the firewall by 10mm with rubber washers creating the spacing.. The busbars are fitted on the cockpit side, underneath the lateral struts on which the fuel tank is supported.

In other words, all the accessories for the Leburg are on a single alu panel on the firewall, but the batteries are in the cabin. 

My worries are:

1) I am making an assumption that the rectifier is going to get quite hot (?) and so I'm not sure if having it in proximity to wiring is appropriate.
2) I am making an assumption that there will be considerable vibration that means putting the coils on an alu plate, rather than directly on the firewall, risks things jiggling around.
3) I don't know where the busbars should be located appropriately

My inspector has been incredibly helpful but - having' never done this before - he has left me to fend for myself for a while and I am finding it quite hard going.

If I could see some photos of how others have configured their arrangement, it would either reassure me that my set-up is fine, or that I'm being an idiot!

I am based in Sevenoaks, Kent - with aircraft at Rochester and Stoke Medway - so if anyone is local and would be willing to let me have a nose at their arrangement in January, that would be even more helpful.

Many thanks,

A terrible non-Tipsy Nipper tourist.

My batteries, 2 off EarthX ETX12A, are mounted on the aft face of the seat bulkhead of my Tipsy Nipper. This is effectively in the cabin and I didn't get a peep from the LAA when I submitted all my documents (I think you may have a copy). I believe there is a reference in one of the LAA tech sheets which indicates which make of batteries they prefer outside the pilot compartment and which are acceptable inside, although the last time I looked it was well out of date and somewhat inaccurate. I located my battery pack where it made the best location for trimming the CofG. which for my aircraft allowed me to remove a lead ballast block attached to the tail. I also have a Taylor Monoplane and will use the same scheme - which should ease progress through the LAA. I'll locate the batteries when I've weighed the aircraft and fix them as best for the CofG. On the Mono you (we) have three easy locations; back of the firewall, front of the main spar and rear of the seat bulkhead. One of there will be the best for trimming but I won't know until it's ready to weigh.
One comment I would make is that locating batteries behind your head is a very bad idea. The BGA don't like it at all but many commercial sailplanes have the battery boxes in that area. There are several instances where a glider has come to an 'unscheduled sudden stop' and the pilot has been lucky to see the battery fly past him and through the canopy. The Mono platform isn't suitable for even a light weight battery, the rear face of the seat bulkhead is much better. I have an access hatch in mine. As an aside the shoulder harness attachments on the original drawings are also not fit for purpose.
Choice of battery is also important, Lead Acid gel cell or Lithium. You save a lot of weight with Lithium (from your wallet as well as the airframe!). The only Li chemistry the LAA will accept is LiFePO4. I researched several suppliers and went for EarthX because they have experience and approvals for their batteries in commercial aircraft, they answered a technical question by return of email and they have a comprehensive battery management system incorporated which I consider necessary.

Jim

Hi Jim,

Thanks for sharing your perspective on this.

I've got all the bits purchased and went for the Yuasa batteries (which I think were recommended in the SkyCraft manuals?). I 3D printed a cradle to secure the batteries and this is mounted to the panel behind the seat bulkhead.

I get what you mean about the risks in a sudden stop, but by reckoning the batteries will be around 6 inches behind my head, behind the ply / cushioned headrest so there isn't any aperture for them to get past me: my head and headrest will block their progress (and the distance will mean they won't have much more kinetic energy than I do - I think there would be greater worries for me in that situation). Nevertheless, they are very secure and additionally strapped - I've got the mod paperwork for the LAA to submit with the 3D printed harness.

What I've done on my set-up is as shown by the photos below (hopefully these appear!):



I've got a small alu panel which I've mounted proud of the bulkhead, supported by 10mm spacers, onto which I've mounted the coil packs, terminal block for onward connection to the Leburg controller, as well as the rectifier.

The question I've got sounds really simple and I'm sure it's a schoolboy question, but I wasn't sure where to put the Services or A Supply buses. So, I've mounted them in the cockpit on either side, underneath but separated from the fuel tank. I've no idea whether these should be cockpit side or over the other side of the firewall with the engine.

Finally, I'm also a bit confused by the Skycraft diagrams showing the presence of two Central Earth Points connected by braid. I'm assuming this is actually saying that you simply need to earth the panel and instruments to the engine-side CEP. It's been 20+ years since I had to study any sort of electronics diagram, so what seems like basic stuff is making me scratch my head!