Firewall Penterations

This blog covers the method used to create penetrations in the firewall. The purpose in the mind of this builder is a firewall has to keep not only heat but the gases produced by the engine compartment in normal and abnormal operations, i.e. a fire! 

Overview
Various options available; however, most were found to be bulky or just plain ugly.

This is expensive and bulky
especially a two dozen off.

An initial reckoning saw about a dozen penetrations required, and it occurred why not use an IP65 gland.

IP65 Enclosure - IP rated as "dust tight" and protected against water projected from a nozzle. To pass testing and achieve an IP65 rating, fixtures must be able to withstand water projected by a 0.25-inch nozzle.

It was decided to install these with the base facing to the firewall, then with the seal on the inside of the cockpit to provide the greatest degree of protection to the more vulnerable seals. The reasoning is by the time a fire begins to degrade the gland, that would be the least of your problems.

Too ugly for words

With the rear open located at the firewall side high-temperature, 3M 2000 silicon will be injected to fill the void, providing a fireproof ring.

As the gland body is manufactured from brass, nickel-plated, again by the time this fails, refer to comment in the paragraph above.

Not being flippant, but a light aircraft would be lucky to survive 5 minutes of a real fire because of a lack of fire suppression,  keeping the gases out should aid survival.

Installation
Simple, drill a 12 mm OD hole, disassemble gland, install on cable and then reassemble with the external nut treated with a low strength thread lock at assembly.

Nut, clamp/seal, mounting collar

Gland cluster starboard side - the opening around the cable
will be sealed with 3M 2000 silicon one all checks are completed

Comment
The weight is now my biggest issue, this is a function of the number of penetrations and assigning one cable to each to achieve the highest level of sealing.

Will it work, only fire would tell but compare it to other sports aircraft it will not be any worse.