19
TIL a zip tie can save a whole day of troubleshooting
Was chasing an intermittent fault on a G1000 autopilot in a Cessna 172. The issue was a tiny, frayed wire in a bundle behind the panel that would only short when the airframe vibrated just right. I used a small zip tie to isolate and support that single wire, and the fault vanished. Anyone have a better fix for a single-wire chafe in a tight bundle?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
michaeld4824d ago
Oh man, that's the best kind of fix! I had a nearly identical thing with a loose cannon plug pin causing a random comms drop. A single zip tie to cinch the wire bundle and take the strain off that one conductor was the cure. It's amazing how often the simple solution wins. Totally feel you on the heat shrink thing too, @joel_clark37's buddy learned the hard way. For a permanent fix in a dry area, I'd probably add a tiny bit of spiral wrap around that spot after the zip tie, just for extra peace of mind.
6
mary_west24d ago
Heat shrink tubing is more reliable long-term.
0
joel_clark3724d ago
Remember when my buddy tried to fix his boat wiring with just electrical tape? It lasted maybe two months before the dampness got in and caused a short. He had to redo the whole run with heat shrink, like you said @mary_west. That stuff sealed out the water completely and it's been fine for three seasons now. He won't use anything else for outdoor connections anymore. What kind of heat shrink do you usually go for?
6