STec-30 doesn't pass startup test after I shorted something....

[Dave]

Okay, I screwed up. I was relocating the 3 panel switches for my STEC
30. The main power on/off, the nav 1/nav 2 and the alt. hold push
button.

When I relocated them and powered up, the self test succeeded and I
heard the servos testing themselves. But then one of the insulators
covering a lead on the alt. hold button came loose and the contact
touched my metal panel. Now, the AP doesn't work. When I turn it on,
the RDY/ST/HD/LO/HI lights all light up momentarily and then all
indicators go off. Usually, they would come one, and then the trim
up/down lights and alt. hold light would come on and cycle off.

I checked the breakers, but nothing popped out. I don't think there's
a fuse hidden somewhere under the panel, but maybe.....

Could something in the unit have shorted out? Is there anything I can
check before calling my avionics shop?

[plumb bob]

Sounds like you're the same kind of guy who created a hornet's nest under
the panel of my first airplane... all the wiring had to be redone it was so
bad. Now that I am older and wiser, before buying an airplane I look for
signs of any owner (i.e. amateur) wiring (or rewiring) and run from the
airplane if that is the case.

If you really want to save buck then hire a pro to do it right. That is my
opinion.

-- Plumb Bob

"Dave" > wrote in message
om...
> Okay, I screwed up. I was relocating the 3 panel switches for my STEC
> 30. The main power on/off, the nav 1/nav 2 and the alt. hold push
> button.
>
> When I relocated them and powered up, the self test succeeded and I
> heard the servos testing themselves. But then one of the insulators
> covering a lead on the alt. hold button came loose and the contact
> touched my metal panel. Now, the AP doesn't work. When I turn it on,
> the RDY/ST/HD/LO/HI lights all light up momentarily and then all
> indicators go off. Usually, they would come one, and then the trim
> up/down lights and alt. hold light would come on and cycle off.
>
> I checked the breakers, but nothing popped out. I don't think there's
> a fuse hidden somewhere under the panel, but maybe.....
>
> Could something in the unit have shorted out? Is there anything I can
> check before calling my avionics shop?

[CriticalMass]

plumb bob wrote:


> If you really want to save buck then hire a pro to do it right. That is my
> opinion.

Probably not the "help" he was asking for.

[plumb bob]

"CriticalMass" > wrote in message
...
> plumb bob wrote:
>
> > If you really want to save buck then hire a pro to do it right. That is
my
> > opinion.
>
> Probably not the "help" he was asking for.

I am very sure of that! But, it just happens that I have him the best free
advice he can get :-)

[BTIZ]

but will he accept it..

in the attempt to save a buck.. he now has to pay to remove, ship, repair,
re-install, test, sign paper/logbooks .. by a certified mech..

BT

"plumb bob" > wrote in message
news:3mmMb.27794$sv6.81732@attbi_s52...
>
> "CriticalMass" > wrote in message
> ...
> > plumb bob wrote:
> >
> > > If you really want to save buck then hire a pro to do it right. That
is
> my
> > > opinion.
> >
> > Probably not the "help" he was asking for.
>
> I am very sure of that! But, it just happens that I have him the best free
> advice he can get :-)
>
>

[plumb bob]

"BTIZ" > wrote in message
news:FsmMb.61099$m83.43725@fed1read01...
> but will he accept it..
>
> in the attempt to save a buck.. he now has to pay to remove, ship, repair,
> re-install, test, sign paper/logbooks .. by a certified mech..

Yup. Or, he can press ahead and continue to try and save a buck. And one day
when he or some other innocent piliot is in the clag on an approach into
Podunk... the smell of an electrical fire starts filling the air.

"Them people on thah nuze groops just sez I gotta connect dis wire over
here. I saved me a buck 'cos I shortzed the AP!"

Idiot!

[Dave]

You guys are a tough crowd. I already admitted wrongdoing, yet I get
chastised even more!

There was no re-wiring done. Nothing cut. Nothing
lengthened/shortened. It was literally moving the toggle switches and
button a few inches. It was my carelessness in testing the system
before fully mouting them in the panel that got me the short.

I have talked to the Avionics shop and they will take it soon and look
into it. He has the full schematic. It could be a short in the pitch
computer or the TC that houses the AP.

[plumb bob]

"Dave" > wrote in message
m...
> You guys are a tough crowd. I already admitted wrongdoing, yet I get
> chastised even more!

Yessir! :-)

[CriticalMass]

Dave wrote:

>You guys are a tough crowd. I already admitted wrongdoing, yet I get
>chastised even more!
>


Welcome to usenet pack mentality.

Face to face, they wouldn't be quite so quick to shoot from the hip and
give you all the meaningless grief.

It's easy to feed one's ego anonymously.

[Mike Z.]

Dave,

we feel your pain but don't have anything good to offer so I guess you get the abuse on this one.

Sorry.

I wish I had a nice little S-tec.

Mike

"Dave" > wrote in message m...
> You guys are a tough crowd. I already admitted wrongdoing, yet I get
> chastised even more!
>
> There was no re-wiring done. Nothing cut. Nothing
> lengthened/shortened. It was literally moving the toggle switches and
> button a few inches. It was my carelessness in testing the system
> before fully mouting them in the panel that got me the short.
>
> I have talked to the Avionics shop and they will take it soon and look
> into it. He has the full schematic. It could be a short in the pitch
> computer or the TC that houses the AP.

[Snowbird]

(Dave) wrote in message >...
> You guys are a tough crowd. I already admitted wrongdoing, yet I get
> chastised even more!

Dave,

FWIW, I think "plumb bob" is that USENET species, anonymous
troll.

We've gotten our plane back from service by a well-respected
sho, this that and the other didn't work, wires disconnected,
other stuff not up to par.

I've seen homebuilt aircraft, owner-wired, which were neat
trim properly done and easy to troubleshoot.

Don't let a "troll" ruin your day.

Cheers,
Sydney

[Dave]

>
> Don't let a "troll" ruin your day.
>

I certainly won't. It only makes him look insecure and arrogant.

I got my plane scheduled to go in for numerous things (temp probe
installation, pitot-static 24 mo. check, transponder check, etc.).
When I told the tech. that I shorted the unit, he immediately knew
that the likely fix is a fuse replacement that's soldered to the
circuit board in the unit. An hours work, tops. He said it's not the
first time he, another tech, or owner has shorted an STEC due to silly
carelessness.

[Martin Kosina]

"plumb bob" > wrote in message news:<47jMb.26810$nt4.51908@attbi_s51>...
> Sounds like you're the same kind of guy who created a hornet's nest under
> the panel of my first airplane... all the wiring had to be redone it was so
> bad. Now that I am older and wiser, before buying an airplane I look for
> signs of any owner (i.e. amateur) wiring (or rewiring) and run from the
> airplane if that is the case.
>
> If you really want to save buck then hire a pro to do it right. That is my
> opinion.

> Sounds like you're the same kind of guy who created a hornet's nest under
> the panel of my first airplane... all the wiring had to be redone it was so
> bad. Now that I am older and wiser, before buying an airplane I look for
> signs of any owner (i.e. amateur) wiring (or rewiring) and run from the
> airplane if that is the case.
>
> If you really want to save buck then hire a pro to do it right. That is my
> opinion.

That's a gross generalization, some of the truly awful work out there
is done by your so-called "pro's". I don't let anyone work on my
airplane without supervision anymore for this reason. And its not
necessarily your trusted mechanic/av. technician, either, sometimes
they have apprentices that do horrible things to airplanes.

Re: STEC problem (the subject of the OP's message), I would call the
factory and get some documentation (service manual) about what the
lights mean, etc. I doubt modern avionics are built without basic
circuit protection from polarity problems, etc., but perhaps something
needs to be reset after such event. Long shot, but might be worth
little research before spending major troubleshooting $$$. I know the
first reaction after breaking something on the plane is to quickly
throw money at it to make it whole again, but its better to take a
deep breath and analyze the problem. The plane is flyable without this
particular component, so you are in no rush.