Today's Message Index:
----------------------
1. 01:14 AM - Re: Z-12 and Z-13/20 features questions (BuckWynd)
2. 12:23 PM - On-board battery charge controller (Allan Wright)
3. 05:50 PM - Re: On-board battery charge controller (Richard T. Schaefer)
4. 06:39 PM - Re: On-board battery charge controller (Ron Quillin)
5. 07:26 PM - Re: On-board battery charge controller (BobsV35B@aol.com)
6. 08:33 PM - Re: On-board battery charge controller (H. M. Haught Jr.)
Message 1
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Subject: | Re: Z-12 and Z-13/20 features questions |
nuckolls.bob(at)cox.net wrote:
> Using the battery to augment
> the SD-8 by a couple of amps is a perfectly
> valid thing to consider too.
>
> Installing an SD20 goes more to servicing an
> endurance mode limited only by volume of fuel
> aboard.
>
> In any case, Z-12 or Z-14 are my best recommendations
> for incorporating the SD-20 into a robust
> architecture.
>
> Bob . . .
Thanks Bob. I appreciate the input, and I'll definitely keep your thoughts in mind.
It's clear that you feel the 20A alternator is not "robust" in a Z-13 architecture.
I just wish I understood why. I guess I'll have to wait until AEC Edition
12 comes out...
--------
Buck Wyndham
RV-8 N18XL (working on fuselage & systems)
Northern Illinois
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=149822#149822
Message 2
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Subject: | On-board battery charge controller |
Recently, a friend and I bought an RV4, which had been built in 2001 but
not flown much since. Almost immediately, we had to replace the battery
(Gill G25S). I've been looking into battery chargers and desulfators to
try to prolong the life of our new battery. I also read the excellent
chapter on batteries in the AeroElectric Connection.
Based on my reading and online research, it seems like we can buy a
smart charger with a desulfator for somewhere between $80 and $160,
which should do a pretty good job of maintaining the battery when it is
on the ground. However, since our alternator voltage is on the high side
(14.8 to 15.0 volts), the battery will be overcharged every time we fly
the airplane, particularly when it is hot outside which is a lot of the
time in California. Our voltage regulator is not adjustable, and I
really don't want to replace it.
Since I have quite a bit of experience with electronic design (digital
and analog but not power circuits) I thought I might try to design a
circuit that would control the charging of the battery both in-flight
and on the ground. Conceptually, it would work like this:
- the battery would still connect to the main bus through the master
relay, but with a series diode so that current could only flow from the
battery to the bus.
- my circuit would also connect between the battery and the main bus,
and would control the charge current flowing into the battery when the
engine is running
- initially, it would apply the full bus voltage to the battery, and
monitor the charging current as well as the battery temperature
- when the current drops below an adjustable limit such as 0.5 amps, it
would lower the voltage to the temperature-compensated float voltage
recommended by the battery manufacturer
- on the ground, it could be connected to an external power supply to
keep the battery charged
- optionally, an on-board desulfator such as the one from Battery Minder
could be added to the system, which would function both in-flight as
well as on the ground
- optionally, an LCD display could be added which would show the battery
voltage, bus voltage, charge current and battery temperature.
If it works, I could publish the circuit and maybe provide a PCB so that
others could build it if they wanted to.
I wonder if anyone has any comments on this idea? If it has been done
before, I don't want to re-invent the wheel.
Thanks.
Allan
Message 3
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Subject: | On-board battery charge controller |
It seems it would be a lot simpler to replace the Voltage regulator with one
that works. Get a B&C with temp compensation.
Then just put the relatively inexpensive battery tender on when you are in
the hanger.
Batteries really like to get brought back to nominal charge with a good
supply of current. Your circuit would need to control a wide range of
currents (large for recharging [Constant Current, Floating Voltage], low
[Constant Voltage, Variable Current] for maintenance). A alternator with a
good voltage regulator, will handle battery charging just fine!
Another negative of your approach is you take the battery out of the system
as a device to overcome transients of over voltage. Now your main bus needs
to handle ALL of the transients on the buss. A good battery is very good at
absorbing transients that might otherwise eat up some of your electronics.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-aeroelectric-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-aeroelectric-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Allan
Wright
Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2007 2:23 PM
Subject: AeroElectric-List: On-board battery charge controller
<allanwright@comcast.net>
Recently, a friend and I bought an RV4, which had been built in 2001 but
not flown much since. Almost immediately, we had to replace the battery
(Gill G25S). I've been looking into battery chargers and desulfators to
try to prolong the life of our new battery. I also read the excellent
chapter on batteries in the AeroElectric Connection.
Based on my reading and online research, it seems like we can buy a
smart charger with a desulfator for somewhere between $80 and $160,
which should do a pretty good job of maintaining the battery when it is
on the ground. However, since our alternator voltage is on the high side
(14.8 to 15.0 volts), the battery will be overcharged every time we fly
the airplane, particularly when it is hot outside which is a lot of the
time in California. Our voltage regulator is not adjustable, and I
really don't want to replace it.
Since I have quite a bit of experience with electronic design (digital
and analog but not power circuits) I thought I might try to design a
circuit that would control the charging of the battery both in-flight
and on the ground. Conceptually, it would work like this:
- the battery would still connect to the main bus through the master
relay, but with a series diode so that current could only flow from the
battery to the bus.
- my circuit would also connect between the battery and the main bus,
and would control the charge current flowing into the battery when the
engine is running
- initially, it would apply the full bus voltage to the battery, and
monitor the charging current as well as the battery temperature
- when the current drops below an adjustable limit such as 0.5 amps, it
would lower the voltage to the temperature-compensated float voltage
recommended by the battery manufacturer
- on the ground, it could be connected to an external power supply to
keep the battery charged
- optionally, an on-board desulfator such as the one from Battery Minder
could be added to the system, which would function both in-flight as
well as on the ground
- optionally, an LCD display could be added which would show the battery
voltage, bus voltage, charge current and battery temperature.
If it works, I could publish the circuit and maybe provide a PCB so that
others could build it if they wanted to.
I wonder if anyone has any comments on this idea? If it has been done
before, I don't want to re-invent the wheel.
Thanks.
Allan
Message 4
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Subject: | On-board battery charge controller |
At 14:37 12/1/2007, you wrote:
>It seems it would be a lot simpler to replace the Voltage regulator with one
>that works. Get a B&C with temp compensation.
Is anyone aware of a similar product for certified aircraft?
Ron Q.
Message 5
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Subject: | Re: On-board battery charge controller |
Good Evening Ron,
I have had excellent results with products purchased from Zeftronics. They
also seem to have very helpful customer service personnel.
B&C does have some products for a certified aircraft. I have one of their
standby alternator systems that is certified on my V35B Bonanza.
Happy Skies,
Old Bob
AKA
Bob Siegfried
Ancient Aviator
Stearman N3977A
Brookeridge Air Park LL22
Downers Grove, IL 60516
630 985-8503
In a message dated 12/1/2007 8:41:39 P.M. Central Standard Time,
rjquillin@gmail.com writes:
At 14:37 12/1/2007, you wrote:
It seems it would be a lot simpler to replace the Voltage regulator with one
that works. Get a B&C with temp compensation.
Is anyone aware of a similar product for certified aircraft?
Ron Q.
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products.
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Message 6
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Subject: | Re: On-board battery charge controller |
Ron -
I have had excellent service with a Zeftronics Voltage regulator on my
125 HP Pacer. The first two years I owned the airplane, I was having
nothing but trouble with the voltage regulator - got two bad ones in a
row, if you can believe that. Found Zeftronics on line, and they didn't
have the Pacer on their certification, but had the 0290 Lyc certified in
another airplane, so they applied and got it certified. I put in on my
Pacer and have had absolutely NO trouble since that date, and it's now
been 10 or 11 years. Great customer service and great service from the
unit.
M. Haught
BobsV35B@aol.com wrote:
> Good Evening Ron,
>
> I have had excellent results with products purchased from Zeftronics.
> They also seem to have very helpful customer service personnel.
>
> B&C does have some products for a certified aircraft. I have one of
> their standby alternator systems that is certified on my V35B Bonanza.
>
> Happy Skies,
>
> Old Bob
> AKA
> Bob Siegfried
> Ancient Aviator
> Stearman N3977A
> Brookeridge Air Park LL22
> Downers Grove, IL 60516
> 630 985-8503
>
> In a message dated 12/1/2007 8:41:39 P.M. Central Standard Time,
> rjquillin@gmail.com writes:
>
> At 14:37 12/1/2007, you wrote:
>> It seems it would be a lot simpler to replace the Voltage
>> regulator with one
>> that works. /_Get a B&C with temp compensation._/
>
> Is anyone aware of a similar product for certified aircraft?
>
> Ron Q.
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> hottest products and top money wasters
> <http://money.aol.com/top5/general/ways-you-are-wasting-money?NCID=aoltop00030000000002>
> of 2007.
> *
>
>
> *
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