So I got a response back from Uavionix in about 18min via email regarding the ground on the Tailbeacon. They said the case of the Tailbeacon is a suitable ground and the black negative wire can be terminated without any connection. This is certainly handy. I may see how well this option holds up as I never had issue with my Nav light.

As for rudder rebalance, if yours is out to begin with then you might have an issue, but this thing weights in almost the same as the old metal and glass light I removed. Uavionix also addresses this in their Q&A section. Frankly, I get more weight in Mud on my elevators than this thing weights.

I have just finished installing the tailBeacon on my M5. It works great but my IA had to do a few changes. He fabricated a 1/2â€￾ plastic spacer designed to match the the tailBeacon metal locking ring. We also put a #4 terminal on the ground wire and put the tailBeacon screw thru the terminal. The spacer has a cutout for the #4 terminal so everything tightens up flush.
The IA is a dealer for uAvonics and is willing to fabricate the spacer if anyone is interested.

Why was the spacer required? We fit a 3D printed mockup without issue on an M5. Possibly due to the required twisting of the unit a 1/4 turn?

When we slid the unit in and then trying to lock it in place the fabric was to tight and it would bow out the fabric and create pressure points on the fabric.
Using a spacer created just enough room to not touch the fabric. I am sure every plane is a little different, this is what worked for me.

Mine bulges the fabric a bit while turning, but not when locked in. If you install while the fabric is warm then it shouldn’t hurt anything. My fabric is very pliable though and I didn’t have any issue.

Verdict is in on installation without ground wire. I flew for more than an hour on Sunday and got a perfect ADS-B score. Well, at least I didn’t have any red flags that is. Everything worked flawlessly and I can’t image an easier or cheaper way to be 2020 compliant.

Another +1 for a tailBeacon install (on an M-7-235C). Used a spacer and attached the ground wire to one of the mounting screws with a terminal. Verification flight went great.

Just to reiterate, the ground wire is not necessary per Uavionix. It’s great if you didnt have an issue, but I know on my M4 it would have been a pain to install the ground wire.

That's true, it was a bit of a pain...I'd probably skip it next time.

Test flight question--do I understand right that the test flight must originate (TO)and terminate(land) in a radar environment?
2ndly was kind of surprised the strobe doesn't work independently from nav anymore. and was told by Uavionix that it is illegal to fly with nav?skybeacon turned off-even low grass strip to low grass strip-hum.
mark
n234PP

Hmm...
On my Skybeacon, the strobes are still on their same old independent switch. The SkyBeacon ADS function comes on and off with position lights, so those have to stay on, but I can turn the strobes on and off.

Perhaps installer hooked the unit power and strobe power wires together to the same source.

so Andy,, you can turn skybeacon strobe ON, thru strobe switch, when Nav light switch is OFF? I guess it doesnt matter if I can't legally fly with Nav lights off anymore.
mark

Interesting question; I haven’t tried to do that. I have the nav light switch on all the time (that was true even before I put the SkyBeacon on).

I do know that with the nav light switch on, I can turn the strobe on and off.

Any comments on the test flight originating and ending in radar services? Can I just wait and turn on my Skybeacon when I am in radar coverage?

I didn’t have a sky beacon but I did my test flight out of a non radar facility to another non radar facility. I wouldn’t wait to turn it on till airborne.