July 2, 2011 B-17 Radio Work

Went out to the museum after breakfast this morning and got a few more things done in the radio compartment of the B-17.  Steve, K4SDJ and Bill, K4WP finished up the connectors on the coax then tested and labled each run.  I installed and routed the power cables for the amateur radio gear which is now nicely mounted underneath the radio operators table.

While we were there Rocky, Jeff, and others on the Saturday crew installed the three 12v batteries that will power our compartment as well as other equipment throught the aircraft.  Once they have all of thier wiring completed we'll be able to test the 12v and 24v distribution in the radio compartment.  One step closer to powering things up.

left to right.....Kenwood TS-480SAT HF radio, Kenwood TM-D710A VHF/UHF radio, RR4005C Rig Runner Power Panel

Underneath the Radio Operators table looking toward the left

Underneath the Radio Operators table looking forward

Handing a box of wire up to Rocky thru the crew entry chute

Rocky up in the forward belly of the plane installing battery system

One battery to give us 12v for amateur radio gear and two batteries in series to give us 24v for the original radio gear

Simple sketch of power distribution plan in the radio compartment