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The ADA8000 Audio Panel Adapter

Ok, the first thing we need to make clear is without doubt, the PS-Engineering PMA8000B audio control center is without question the best feature rich panel ever built and the performance is second to none. I couldn’t begin to tell you how many Garmin panels I’ve removed to install a PMA8000B. Why would an aircraft owner spend thousands to install a PMA8000B? That’s a lot of money for "just" an audio panel upgrade you might say. The answer is simple…for the aircraft owner pining for the best in quality and performance it is the PMA8000B. As I’ve always said, the 8000B is NOT an audio panel; it’s a "High Performance Audio Control Center".

But here’s the problem. Removal of your present audio panel and installation of the famous PMA8000B can require massive amounts of labor. And of course, this translates into massive amounts of money. In fact, few avionics shops care to change out "just" the audio panel due to the amount of labor involved. Why you ask? Because the audio panel is the heart of your radio stack, if you don’t believe that, simply remove your audio panel and see how far you get on the ground much less in the air! Thus, your old KMA-24-03 panel must be removed and the wiring reconfigured to the work with the PMA8000B. Often the installer finds the wiring is just isn’t long enough to wire directly into the new audio panel connector. The installer can’t just "butt splice" an audio system, correct installation procedures must be followed or you’ll have all kinds of unwanted audio noise in the system, not to mention intermit operation. Removing any audio panel and installing a different model can easily take 32 hours or longer, time will vary due to the wire length and changes the installer will have to make to the system once the radio racks are removed and the installation evaluated. Believe me, installing a new audio panel in an old installation can be a slow, tedious chore, (been there done that). Many of you would like to upgrade to the PMA8000B PS-Engineering audio control center (I refuse to call it a lowly audio panel) and have no problem with the cost of the panel; after all, it’s the best bang for the buck in aviation today. But the cost of the installation will understandably keep many of you from updating to the 8000B. What is one to do you ask.

Well, now there’s an answer and it’s available today. A company called The Harness Shop located in California now markets an adapter that allows the avionics shop to remove an existing King KMA-24-03, KMA-28, UPS-SL-15, PS-Engineering PMA 6000MS or 7000 and install the PMA8000B audio control center or the non-TSO’ed PS-Engineering PMA09000ex audio panel in place of your removed panel. The adapter can save you massive amounts of money by reducing the installation time of the panel. As you can see from the pictures on this page, the adapter basically attaches to the back of the rack of your new 8000B mounting rack. The removed connectors from your old panel tray simply attach to the back of the newly installed Adapter. If you are replacing a PMA 6000MS, PMA7000B/MS, King KMA 28 or the UPSAT SL-15 panel, then it’s a plug and play deal. Simply remove both existing top and bottom connectors with the wires attached from the above units, install the adapter on the back of your newly installed 8000B rack, then reinstall the removed connectors to the back of the adapter, mount your new 8000B rack in place of the old one, slide in you 8000 unit and you’re up and running. When updating to the PMA8000B from the panels listed above (except the KMA-24-03) the installation can "normally" be completed in a few hours (times will vary due to the prior installation and type of airplane, consult your avionics professional for an evaluation and quote). But rest assured, the adapter will save you some serious coin on labor cost and reduces the chance of a wiring error due to the plug & play with the above models.

OK, lets talk about installing the adapter in a NOT plug & play aircraft, an aircraft that has a King KMA 24-03 audio panel. You see, the King KMA 24 did not have provisions for an intercom, thus the aircraft owner had to either fly without an intercom (almost unheard of today), use a portable intercom or as most did, install a panel-mounted intercom somewhere in the panel. Here’s what you must do.

But what is one to do if there is a panel-mounted intercom on the instrument panel such as a David Clark Iso-Com or other brand already installed in the aircraft? One of the main reasons for installing the PMA8000B is because of its high quality, built-in intercom. Thus, you’ll want to remove that old panel-mounted intercom you now have and utilize the ICS within the PMA8000B’s. This is not a simple task to complete. Of course, the wiring from your present panel-mounted ICS will not reach to the back of your new PMA8000B, thus new wiring from the aircraft jacks to the back of the PMA 8000B must be run. Yes, this will run up the labor but is well worth the expense. Some of you may be thinking in the back of your mind, "Why not just splice into the present wiring at your old panel-mounted ICS and run the wires up to the new PMA8000B?" Don’t go there, I guarantee you, a spliced audio system wiring will be nothing but trouble. If you were only using two stations of the PMA8000B’s intercom the labor to run new wires wouldn’t be all that much. But running wires to the rear seats will increase the labor, the installing avionics shop should be able to tell you how much more the cost will be to add rear seat ICS. If you have a built-in ICS running new wires from the mic/phone jacks to the new PMA8000B will be needed with or without the adapter; the adapter saves the shop from rewiring the main audio system that is runs to all the aircraft radios. Also, there is a minor wiring change that must be completed during an installation of the Adapter when interfacing with the KMA 24-03 audio panel, it’s spelled out in the installation manual that comes with the ADA8000 adapter. The Harness Shop also sells separately ICS harnesses should you desire to purchase a pre-wired ICS harness.

In my opinion upgrading to the PS-Engineering PMA8000B panel is a great move for the aircraft owner and the ADA8000 designed and built by The Harness Shop makes the installation faster and softer on the billfold. An avionics shop with the proper tools should complete the installation and knowledge of how to remove the installed radio racks; this is especially true when replacing the King KMA 24-03 audio panel. Many of the Experimental guys will be comfortable running the wiring for the upgrade to the 8000B. One can sell the removed audio panel and ICS on eBay or similar sales arena to help lower the cost of the installation.

Again, when updating from a KMA-28, UPS-SL-15, PS-Engineering PMA6000MS or 7000 to a PS-Engineering PMA8000B, the installation is VERY simple and the adapter will save massive amounts of labor. Updating from a KMA 24-03 to the PMA8000B will cost more due to the intercom issue as mentioned above. Either way, the Adapter designed and built from The Harness Shop will save you a bundle dollar wise. Before upgrading to the PMA8000B, mention The Harness Shop adapter to your favorite avionics shop; the product is new on the market and a lot of avionics shops may not be aware that this labor/money saving device is available. The price is $365.00 for the adapter and the Harness Shop has attractive prices on custom-made intercom harnesses also. Give them a call at 805-598-9261.

ADA8000 ADA8000	$375.00