Small win on a Cessna 172 IPC panel swap last Friday

I was out at the regional airport in Bakersfield doing a full IPC panel swap on a 172. Got the old one out and the new one wired up in about 6 hours, which is a personal best for me. Had a moment where the Garmin 430 wouldn't power on and I about lost it. Turned out I just missed a ground pin on the back of the tray. Checked my wiring diagrams again and found it in 10 minutes flat. Felt like a real pro getting that thing booted up and talking to the transponder. Any of you guys have a go-to trick for seating those D-sub connectors on the first try?

2 comments

2 Comments

thea70428d ago

Honestly, do you ever feel like D-sub connectors are secretly designed by sadists who just enjoy watching us sweat? Ngl, I've had that exact moment where you're convinced the box is bricked and it's just a stupid ground pin you overlooked. Tbh my go-to trick is to hold the connector at a slight angle and wiggle it in like I'm trying to pick a lock, then push down hard while praying. One time I missed a pin on an audio panel and spent an hour blaming the wiring harness before I realized I just didn't seat it all the way. The relief when that screen boots up is basically better than coffee.

wendygrant28d ago

Did you ever try one of those little plastic D-sub insertion tools? I got one at Oshkosh years ago and it's saved me a lot of cussing, though I still manage to bend a pin now and then.