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Charging System

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europa(at)triton.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 6:41 pm Post subject: Charging System

I’m having difficulty trouble shooting a charging system problem. The install  is a Rotax 914 in an Europa XS. Besides the Rotax alternator, I have a B&C  L60 alternator driven off the crankshaft and a B&C LR3C regulator. The  electrical system is basically AeroElectric Z-13. I have recently completed the  50 hour inspection of the airframe and engine. There were no problems found with  the charging system and the battery (Panasonic LC-X1220P 20 aH) is only 18 mos  old with 50 hours of use. It passed a capacity test with the same result as when  new. 

The aircraft is equipped with 3 ammeters - one on the battery positive and  one on each alternator output. What I observed during flight and subsequent  testing today is that the battery ammeter shows -3 amps (a 3 amp discharge) all  the time, regardless of load - ie turning on pitot heat doesn’t change the value  - it’s still a 3 amp discharge. Data from flights prior to the maintenance  showed 0 amps at this spot as expected. The problem is present with either  alternator on line and both of them operate correctly, proven by loading heavily  (pitot heat) and noting the amp output. 

Any suggestions on where to look? Might there be a problem with this battery  where it can’t accept a charge properly? The bus voltage runs 14.1 - 14.2 volts  which is what B&C recommends. 

Thanks 

Jim Butcher 

Europa XS N241BW

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brian

Joined: 02 Jan 2006
Posts: 643
Location: Sacramento, California, USA

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 5:53 am Post subject: Charging System

On Jul 5, 2006, at 10:40 PM, Jim Butcher wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   The aircraft is equipped with 3 ammeters - one on the battery  

 positive and one on each alternator output. What I observed during  

 flight and subsequent testing today is that the battery ammeter  

 shows -3 amps (a 3 amp discharge) all the time, regardless of load  

 - ie turning on pitot heat doesn’t change the value - it’s still a  

 3 amp discharge. Data from flights prior to the maintenance showed  

 0 amps at this spot as expected. The problem is present with either  

 alternator on line and both of them operate correctly, proven by  

 loading heavily (pitot heat) and noting the amp output.



 Any suggestions on where to look? Might there be a problem with  

 this battery where it can’t accept a charge properly? The bus  

 voltage runs 14.1 - 14.2 volts which is what B&C recommends.

If the bus voltage is 14.1 then the battery is charging. There is no  
	


question about that. I would suspect the metering circuit.



Do you really have three ammeters or three shunts switched to one  

ammeter? It sounds to me like you might have inadvertently switched  

two of the leads to your shunt switch. (Presuming one ammeter).



Another possibility is that if you have hall-effect sensors the zero  

setting on the one for the battery has become misadjusted.

Brian Lloyd                         361 Catterline Way

brian-yak AT lloyd DOT com          Folsom, CA 95630

+1.916.367.2131 (voice)             +1.270.912.0788 (fax)



I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things . . .

— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

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_________________
Brian Lloyd
brian-yak at lloyd dot com
+1.916.367.2131 (voice) +1.270.912.0788 (fax)

I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things . . .
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery

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