ATTN Aircraft restorers: pic request- wiring

Would like to see some pics of early wiring techniques. How they ran it, wrapped, fastened to the structure, etc. Any info, or old tech info you could scan and post would be awesome. I was looking through some of the aviation books I have, but didn't have anything that covered the subject.

 

How early? Like Blario early, WWI, Golden years WWII??
There were never anything real different, most manufacturers used a rubber covered P clamp to secure wiring to everything. Generally all wiring is white as well, you don't see a wide variety of colours in aircraft wiring. If you really need some pics, I will try and get some for you tomorrow.

 

WWII is what I was thinking. I wondered about the wires. Did they label them somehow since they were all the same color.

The biggest thing I want to see is the wrap/tie methods that I hear about. Still haven't seen it. Just heard about it.

 

Ok, this is all from a Lancaster restoration I managed to get my mitts on in NZ a while ago (These are NOT my pics though). You will notice a LOT of wires bundled together, most will be labled at either end, not all along. Zip ties were not around back then so the P clamps you see are pretty much it.






If you need more, I will try to get some from the P40K restoration.
Doc.

 

First I have to say it's really awesome that you're involved with that kind of stuff! Must be exciting!

So, I only see P-clamps to group the wires like you're talking about. What could I be thinking of with the wire tires/wraps? Was I missinformed about wire running practices?

 

In this picture I see some tie wraps of some kind between the MIL connector and the P-clam that's holding it to the airframe. Any idea of what these could be made of?

 

Common practice for tieing the bundles togther is with wax string and then secure the bundles to the airframe with clamp. I think that may be what you are refering to as far as tieing the wires together.

 

YES! Wax string! That's what I'm thinking of. I have a roll right here actually. **** compared to plastic zips ties, but look sorta' neat.

 

what about armored cable? i bought a WWII combo guage from some sort of air corps plane (oil and fuel pressure, temp) and the temp line had armor around it like modern armored cable. pretty interesting in this too... my wiring has always looked like utter **** in the impala, wouldn't mind improving its appearance in the next project.

 

Wire lacing (the waxed linen thread kind) was done LONG before zip ties came along.

It was almost an art form to see miles of wires neatly bundled, then held at intervals with the clamps. The "mark" of a good wire bundler, was how parallel the wires are in the harness. (not always easy; I know, have done a few "miles" of harness myself!!)

Interesting to note; Doc calls them "P" clamps, - which they do look like; and I think they are called in Austrailia - but in North America they are known as "ADEL" clamps.

ADEL clamps are still used in military aircraft and vehicles. The metal clamp has a rubber protective jacket on the inside. (to prevent "fraying" of the wires)

Adel clamps are very commonly used with brake, fuel lines and wiring harnesses in hot rods and race cars now days.

 

hey scoot,

Follow this link:

http://www.aeroelectric.com/articles/cable_lace/cable_lace.html

I think this is what we're talking about and you're looking for.

 

YUP!! That's it!! COOL! This place rules! You can learn just about any off the wall thing here!

 

Cant talk about WWII era, but I have put a few looms into Lears, Citations and Swearingens. Each wire is individually stamped with a code number that matches the code number for that wire in the wiring diagram. Code numbers are stamped on the wire about every 6 inches. Helps find them if you are trying to tap into a loom that might have 100+ 22 awg wires in it. If you look at the very first pic Doc W posted you will see a wax string wrap loom going to the row of guages on the door. Oh yeh, we called the clamps adel clamps - still easy to get.

 

Actually, I rule!! It's my modesty that puts the icing on the cake that is me...

The technique looks easy and I'll bet the once you learn it it's almost as fast as zip ties but looks so much cooler. A spool in my tool kit and I'll be the belle of the roadside-wiring-repair ball.

And you all know how good I look in a hoop skirt...

 

For a WWII period correct look, definately go with adel clamps and wax lacing string. The lacing string was still used past WWII. I still see it on the older Citations and LearJets that come in our shop. The lacing also has many other uses just like safety wire. I always use the wax lacing to tie onto smaller wrenches when I am working behind an instrument panel to serve as a "leash" in case I drop the wrench I can pull it back out without spending hours looking for it!

 

All of the good pics I have are of the non-digital variety. I've had jobs in the past where I went through the wax string like crazy. Standard single knot is a clove hitch topped off by a square knot. To keep all of the wires combed out (nice and straight, not crossing over each other) Use a ty-wrap to keep them held together and slide it down the harness as you tie your wax string. Except in tight or awkward areas, the wax string is allmost as fast as ty-wraps. Most manufacturers call out string for high vibration, breaker boxes and unpressurized areas. Look in section 12, page 11-63 and 11-64 of AC43.13-1B. Google AC43-13 and you can get it on line at the FAA website. String tie looks alot better, in my opinion.

 

Boy, you area glutton for punishment aren't you? All I can say about Lear is........stay away.

 

Amen brother!!!!!!!!!!

 

We call it Lacing Cord. Still very common in the pipe organ field. I used some today. I do like it better than zip ties.

 

Damn right

 

Cant say I have ever worked on a post WWII aircraft, they look like a ****rel thing to work on. I guess you don't need any more pics then.

 

Holy cow! That's some great info guys!!

Yeah, we keep the wax string in stock all the time here. A couple different sized actually. The old-timers who lay out wiring here swear by it.

I'm going to try both methods (wax and string) to see what looks best. When I finally get to that stage (the year 2215) I'll post some pics.

BTW... what's a good resource for the wax string and for the "lacing cord"/string stuff? #9 for the wax string then? How about those "sewing tips"?

You guys rule! THANKS!
Scooter

 

Found this link with some lacing tips also:
http://www.tecratools.com/pages/tecalert/cable_lacing.html
This thread makes me want to go tie some wires together!
Some of the examples:
Like this one the best:


This mess is called flat lacing s***ch:

Looks time consuming!

 

It is.

Having been in the telecom industry for years, I have probably installed a few miles of the stuff with my own hands. It is de rigeur in NOCs and IOCs and once you get into a rhythm it goes really fast.

I have also done my fair share of zip ties, but I always manage to slice off a few ounces of flesh dealing with them.

We prided ourselves with our cable laying ability, we would compare quality and appearance at the end of every job. If you had a "diver" (a wire that goes from the surface to the inside of the bundle) you were considered a slacker. The object was to be able to run your finger along any cable you saw entering the room and take it to its termination point. It wasn't easy... when you're talking about 100' from the entry to the termination, 5,000 wires, and tying it all together with wax string.

 

That's pretty ******** man!! Thank god I'll just be doing a car!

 

If your looking for some, check out OSI. Organ supply Industries. They should have it no problem. They are in Penn.

 

I remember having to dig through that stuff to track down shorts & opens in 120 wire bundles on SH-60 B's (subhunting version of the Blackhawk) during the First Gulf War (The easy one, not the sequel). Always amazed me that one peice of string would start at the transition to the tail cone and be unbroken in the same wire loom all the way to the anti-collision light in the top of the tail gearbox cover (40 ft!). Busy fingers!!!

 

Funny, I had these pics at Lowes today looking for ideas; A few pics are sidways, sorry!

 

There B17 arent they??

 

Oh my god! Awesome! Great pics! You're making me want more!