---------------------------------------------------------- AeroElectric-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Sat 03/12/11: 2 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 01:56 PM - remote battery charging (Fred Klein) 2. 08:50 PM - Re: remote battery charging (Robert L. Nuckolls, III) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 01:56:20 PM PST US From: Fred Klein Subject: AeroElectric-List: remote battery charging All, As background and as previously posted, I'm building a Europa XS powered by an EA81 Sube variant produced by RAM Performance...it's a MPEFIed engine w/ dual intake ports and dyno'ed at 144 hp, is fitted w/ a geared Autoflite PSRU, and a RWS EC3 controller. Listed weight "wet" (?) is 176 pounds, though that would not include exhaust and cooling systems. For the past year, I've been able to design and fab an engine mounting frame, FG cowls, a twin radiator cooling system, a muffled 321 SS exhaust system, and install the various EMS temp. & pressure senders. Hopefully, the engine is hung for good...(finally). Since the Europa-list posters are virtually all using the Rotax engines, I'm hoping this aeroelectric-list will be a receptive place for me to post questions related to electric issues...particularly on the power side of things. I confess to be an absolute neophyte on all things electrical...I'm been using the AeroElectric Connection and an old copy of Tony Bingelis' Firewall Forward as my primary references. A couple of current (no pun intended) questions: Dual batteries will be located in the aft fuselage for W & B issues...I want to be able to recharge the batteries by installing a (more or less) flush, weatherproof receptacle and plug in the side of the FG fuselage, one which would replace the alligator clips on the charger. I believe I erred in buying a "Piper type socket" and "Piper type plug" (Acft. Spruce p/n 11-00500 and p/n 11042) thinking they would serve, but have concluded that their purpose is for "jump starting" rather than battery recharging. (If this is in fact so, they'll be returned.) Soooooo...can anyone suggest a brand/type/ model receptacle - plug combination suitable for battery charging? As for the batteries, originally I was thinking of using (1) Odyssey #680 and (1) #310 as back up; however, I'm persuaded by Bob's book's Fig. Z-19 and rationale for switching out one of two dual batteries of equal size during annual...thus...I'm now looking at using (2) Odyssey #545s (14AH each) for a total weight of 23.4 pounds. I see that B & C lists a slightly more powerful (16AH) battery, a BC116-1 w/ weight of 14.6 pounds (each). I can't seem to find any performance specs such as CCA rating for the B & C batteries...are they available for comparison w/ the Odysseys?...and do these brands utilize the same battery technology? Much obliged for any advice or assistance, Fred ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 08:50:54 PM PST US From: "Robert L. Nuckolls, III" Subject: Re: AeroElectric-List: remote battery charging Dual batteries will be located in the aft fuselage for W & B issues...I want to be able to recharge the batteries by installing a (more or less) flush, weatherproof receptacle and plug in the side of the FG fuselage, one which would replace the alligator clips on the charger. I believe I erred in buying a "Piper type socket" and "Piper type plug" (Acft. Spruce p/n 11-00500 and p/n 11042) thinking they would serve, but have concluded that their purpose is for "jump starting" rather than battery recharging. (If this is in fact so, they'll be returned.) Soooooo...can anyone suggest a brand/type/model receptacle - plug combination suitable for battery charging? You CAN charge batteries through such connectors . . . as well as crank engines if that need arises. It depends on how you wire the connector to your airplane. If you have dual batteries, then getting the pair of batteries connected together for charging purposes poses a problem for needing to have contactors closed. So if the goal is battery charging/maintenance only, then about anything is fine. Take a look at trailer lighting connectors like . .. Emacs! Walmart automotive has some like this. You need three or more pins. One for ground and one to each battery through an inline fuse (can be a fuse on the battery bus). If you don't need to lock the canopy closed during charging ops, consider mounting the jack inside the airplane so you don't need to poke a hole in the skin. If the socket is inside, remove the spring loaded "lid". It's not needed and only gets in the way. I'm now looking at using (2) Odyssey #545s (14AH each) for a total weight of 23.4 pounds. I see that B & C lists a slightly more powerful (16AH) battery, a BC116-1 w/ weight of 14.6 pounds (each). I can't seem to find any performance specs . . . If you're doing the yearly change-out of the oldest battery, absolute performance is not significant. The two batteries in parallel (on less than two years old, the other less than one year old) are going to crank your engine just fine. Buy the cheapest batteries you can find that have connections which support cranking currents. Bob . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message aeroelectric-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/AeroElectric-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/aeroelectric-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/aeroelectric-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.