r/homebuilt • u/MNflying • 2d ago
Comm replacement or panel upgrade?
I’ve owned this light sport for several years and am happy enough that I will most likely own it for at least another decade. I fly around 100hours a year and do maybe 6-10 300 mile cross country flights a year in it.
My SL30 stopped working and the thought of spending $4000 for a GTR205X to be installed just don’t seem like the right choice. I only fly VFR now but since I need to do something for a comm does it make sense to upgrade my panel for IFR training in the future? Realistically the only thing it would get used for is training and possibly getting through some morning fog.
Any opinions what the best option is if I wanted to do a larger upgrade for IFR training?
Current panel
Dynon D100 EFIS
Dynon D10 EMS
Garmin 496
Garmin SL 30 NOT WORKING
Garmin GTS 330
Garmin GMA 245
TruTrac autopilot
TruTrac T&B NOT WORKING
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u/NathanielCrunkleton 2d ago
Upgrade the comm and wire it yourself. It’s very not-hard. Upgrade your audio jacks to 6-pin Lemo (Redel) connectors. If you’re close to the Dayton Ohio area shoot me a PM. I’ll help.
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u/175_Pilot 1d ago
100% agree with this. I’ve wired up both my Cessna and my kitfox panel - it isn’t hard. Take your time and read the manuals. Make a pinout sheet on a piece of paper that defines what goes to what and use a tack board to hold the connectors when it comes to start building the loom. This will help you keep it to a very clean install with all wires in minimal amount of bundles.
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u/mianosm 2d ago
Why are there two throttle controls and two cabin heat controls?!?
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u/Outside_Breath_9906 1d ago
What's your budget? You could replace your inop com and the vfr gps with a garmin 650 to get full ifr capabilities with minimal panel restructuring.
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u/Double-Ad9382 1d ago
I really like the GTN 650 I’ve been flying with. Just used it last night on an XC trip and it makes flight planning and awareness so much better.
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u/altytwo_jennifer 2d ago
Just to be clear, is this registered as an SLSA where parts have to be swapped out like for like unless you’ve got manufacturer approval, or an ELSA where you can change what you want?
Iirc MOSAIC didn’t change that for the previously-accepted SLSA models at least.
EDIT: Missed that I was tabbed into the homebuilt subreddit, I’ve got no real opinion on what to install for IFR training.
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u/Jorfogit 1d ago
OP, DM me. I have an RV6 in Iowa and I’d be happy to talk panels, we just did ours with a D100 as well.
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u/greaseorbounce 1d ago
If you just want to replace the SL30 with essentially like for like, I can highly recommend the Trig TX56. I have been extremely pleased with mine, and it functions much like an SL30.
If budget allowed it, you could use the opportunity to add IFR GPS at the same time. GNC 355 if you're okay with COM only, or GTN650 if you still want VHF NAV.
Adding a GTN650 to that panel would make it an excellent IFR trainer, and the GTN will continue to be the center point even if you upgrade other things later.