Tried replacing an old Nav antenna bonding strap with a copper braid I found at a hardware store

Two weeks later I had a 50 foot deviation on a VOR check in Wichita and the avionics shop charged me $400 to put a proper strap on, has anyone else had luck with non aviation parts holding up in this trade?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_logan2d agoMost Upvoted

Is it really worth saving twenty bucks on a part when you're trusting your life to it a thousand feet up? I used to think a copper braid was a copper braid, but after seeing how avionics-grade stuff holds up to vibration and corrosion, I'll pay the premium every time. You learned that lesson the hard way, but at least it's one you won't forget.

emma_hart1d ago

Oh man, this hits home way more than I expected. I've noticed the same exact pattern in stuff like buying cheap phone chargers or even garden hoses, where yeah, a few bucks saved upfront but then you're dealing with a melted port or a burst line flooding your basement. It's like people forget that the thing you're saving on isn't just the part, it's the peace of mind that comes from knowing it won't fail at the worst possible moment. Have you seen that same kind of "just get the cheap one" logic blow up in other areas where folks really shouldn't cut corners?