---------------------------------------------------------- Europa-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Sat 09/03/16: 6 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 01:28 AM - Something is stealing my electricity (Alan Carter) 2. 02:39 AM - Re: Something is stealing my electricity (Roger Sheridan) 3. 02:42 AM - Re: Something is stealing my electricity (Bob Harrison) 4. 02:43 AM - Re: Something is stealing my electricity (Peter Jeffers) 5. 04:36 AM - Re: Something is stealing my electricity (Steve Hagar) 6. 02:27 PM - Re: Something is stealing my electricity (carlp101) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 01:28:03 AM PST US Subject: Europa-List: Something is stealing my electricity From: "Alan Carter" Hello All. I have had this problem for sometime now, probably posted it here about a year ago. However something is stealing my electricity, my voltmeter really indicates above 12 volts and the battery is all the time being very slowly drained over the course of time. Just to keep the problem simple, Flying 12v indicated, turn the Avionics Master Switch OFF, voltmeter shows say 12.5 volts , pull about every CB ( 914 so not the Fuel pump, but your could do it momentary if you wanted to) So at about this point nearly all the power to the components is OFF We have the engine modules and a couple of other things live,, but 99% is now OFF and still showing about 12 volts with practical every thing isolated ie OFF. Except the Mater Switch, PS I am not a builder, Now turn the Master Switch OFF, and Hay Presto voltmeter jumps to 14 volts, now charging the battery nicely. Fitted, New Battery, New Regulator/Rectifier, Volt meter on the brown cables to the Rectifier 14volts so no problem with Dynamo/Alt output. Master Switch ON, clunk Master Switch OFF click, Some relay, or starting circuit, When you put the Master ON clunk, is they some component staying engaged stealing my power when it should have dropped off line after engine staring , Hence when you switch the Master Switch OFF with the engine running, this click drops something off line which should have automatically dropped off line but with Master Off is the only to stop power getting to it,so making it drop off line manually. Hence then you get the 14 volts showing. Any thoughts on this, Or a place I can take it to get it fixed, Regards. Alan Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=460217#460217 ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 02:39:49 AM PST US Subject: Re: Europa-List: Something is stealing my electricity From: Roger Sheridan Hi Alan, Im no expert & would confine my testing to ground based. Find someone with basic electrical knowledge or ask your inspector. You can measure current drawn from the battery with a clamp meter like this for less that 30 quid https://www.amazon.co.uk/Digital-Voltage-Resistance-Frequency-Multimeter/dp/B016D7UEHW/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1472893638&sr=8-8&keywords=clamp+meter+dc+current Clip that over the either battery cable then see how much current your master solenoid takes, try with the solenoid switched on & then switched off but bypassed with a fat wire or jump lead. What ever is drawing power should be getting warm. Stay clear of the prop. Dont go outside your competence zone as electrical errors can be expensive. Good luck, Roger. > On 3 Sep 2016, at 09:04, Alan Carter wrote: > > > Hello All. > > I have had this problem for sometime now, probably posted it here about a year ago. > However something is stealing my electricity, my voltmeter really indicates above 12 volts and the battery is all the time being very slowly drained over the course of time. > > Just to keep the problem simple, > Flying 12v indicated, turn the Avionics Master Switch OFF, voltmeter shows say 12.5 volts , pull about every CB ( 914 so not the Fuel pump, but your could do it momentary if you wanted to) > So at about this point nearly all the power to the components is OFF > > We have the engine modules and a couple of other things live,, but 99% is now OFF and still showing about 12 volts with practical every thing isolated ie OFF. Except the Mater Switch, PS I am not a builder, > > Now turn the Master Switch OFF, and Hay Presto voltmeter jumps to 14 volts, now charging the battery nicely. > > Fitted, New Battery, New Regulator/Rectifier, Volt meter on the brown cables to the Rectifier 14volts so no problem with Dynamo/Alt output. > > Master Switch ON, clunk Master Switch OFF click, > Some relay, or starting circuit, When you put the Master ON clunk, is they some component staying engaged stealing my power when it should have dropped off line after engine staring , > Hence when you switch the Master Switch OFF with the engine running, this click drops something off line which should have automatically dropped off line but with Master Off is the only to stop power getting to it,so making it drop off line manually. > Hence then you get the 14 volts showing. > > Any thoughts on this, > Or a place I can take it to get it fixed, > > > Regards. > Alan > > > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=460217#460217 > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 02:42:41 AM PST US From: "Bob Harrison" Subject: RE: Europa-List: Something is stealing my electricity Hi! Alan, As every one will vouch I am certainly no "sparky" but perhaps you have a master solenoid which pulls about 1/2 amp which if left on overnight makes for a no start situation before morning . However it is permanently on when engine is running . I also remove the fuse for such as the clock which left on over a month period also "cocks up" a clean start. Regards Bob Harrison G-PTAG. -----Original Message----- From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Alan Carter Sent: 03 September 2016 09:05 Subject: Europa-List: Something is stealing my electricity --> Hello All. I have had this problem for sometime now, probably posted it here about a year ago. However something is stealing my electricity, my voltmeter really indicates above 12 volts and the battery is all the time being very slowly drained over the course of time. Just to keep the problem simple, Flying 12v indicated, turn the Avionics Master Switch OFF, voltmeter shows say 12.5 volts , pull about every CB ( 914 so not the Fuel pump, but your could do it momentary if you wanted to) So at about this point nearly all the power to the components is OFF We have the engine modules and a couple of other things live,, but 99% is now OFF and still showing about 12 volts with practical every thing isolated ie OFF. Except the Mater Switch, PS I am not a builder, Now turn the Master Switch OFF, and Hay Presto voltmeter jumps to 14 volts, now charging the battery nicely. Fitted, New Battery, New Regulator/Rectifier, Volt meter on the brown cables to the Rectifier 14volts so no problem with Dynamo/Alt output. Master Switch ON, clunk Master Switch OFF click, Some relay, or starting circuit, When you put the Master ON clunk, is they some component staying engaged stealing my power when it should have dropped off line after engine staring , Hence when you switch the Master Switch OFF with the engine running, this click drops something off line which should have automatically dropped off line but with Master Off is the only to stop power getting to it,so making it drop off line manually. Hence then you get the 14 volts showing. Any thoughts on this, Or a place I can take it to get it fixed, Regards. Alan Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=460217#460217 ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 02:43:12 AM PST US From: "Peter Jeffers" Subject: RE: Europa-List: Something is stealing my electricity Hi Alan, You mention that the problem exists when you have the master switch on. You need to establish if you have an electrically actuated battery isolation switch. If you have, then this by itself will drain current to keep it closed. ie to connect the battery to your circuits. You may find that the builder of your aircraft used a starter isolation relay in error. These are not continuously rated and do consume at least 3 amps to keep them closed. Probably your problem. Pete -----Original Message----- From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Alan Carter Sent: 03 September 2016 09:05 Subject: Europa-List: Something is stealing my electricity --> Hello All. I have had this problem for sometime now, probably posted it here about a year ago. However something is stealing my electricity, my voltmeter really indicates above 12 volts and the battery is all the time being very slowly drained over the course of time. Just to keep the problem simple, Flying 12v indicated, turn the Avionics Master Switch OFF, voltmeter shows say 12.5 volts , pull about every CB ( 914 so not the Fuel pump, but your could do it momentary if you wanted to) So at about this point nearly all the power to the components is OFF We have the engine modules and a couple of other things live,, but 99% is now OFF and still showing about 12 volts with practical every thing isolated ie OFF. Except the Mater Switch, PS I am not a builder, Now turn the Master Switch OFF, and Hay Presto voltmeter jumps to 14 volts, now charging the battery nicely. Fitted, New Battery, New Regulator/Rectifier, Volt meter on the brown cables to the Rectifier 14volts so no problem with Dynamo/Alt output. Master Switch ON, clunk Master Switch OFF click, Some relay, or starting circuit, When you put the Master ON clunk, is they some component staying engaged stealing my power when it should have dropped off line after engine staring , Hence when you switch the Master Switch OFF with the engine running, this click drops something off line which should have automatically dropped off line but with Master Off is the only to stop power getting to it,so making it drop off line manually. Hence then you get the 14 volts showing. Any thoughts on this, Or a place I can take it to get it fixed, Regards. Alan Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=460217#460217 ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 04:36:57 AM PST US From: Steve Hagar Subject: Re: Europa-List: Something is stealing my electricity If you say you pulled every CB and you still have the problem you are loosing your current before that bus. Your problem is seemingly more than half solved now. You don't have to go chasing every component down stream of that. Check wiring and everything upstream of the circuit breakers. Its just a tedious job of troubleshooting. You may have a short to ground. Start at the positive terminal of the battery terminal and work your way back. Take an in line current meter and keep it attached. First use a clamp to find the magnitude of you extra current draw. That should give you some sort of clue. However if it is in the fractional amp range use a multi meter in line as the positive battery lead and just start disconnecting a wire at a time between downstream of the battery and upstream of the cb bus. When you current draw drops away when you disconnect a certain wire you then go to everything that wire goes to. Including the wires themselves. You may have some abraided insulation and have a slight short to ground or another wire. Look at any funny looking corrosion or debris around terminals etc. This is just a typical troubleshooting job. Someone will charge you a lot of money. Don't turn anything on or push the circuit breakers in if you don't want to have the ammeter on your multi meter smoked. Steve Hagar A 143 Mesa Az -----Original Message----- >From: Alan Carter >Sent: Sep 3, 2016 1:04 AM >To: europa-list@matronics.com >Subject: Europa-List: Something is stealing my electricity > > >Hello All. > >I have had this problem for sometime now, probably posted it here about a year ago. >However something is stealing my electricity, my voltmeter really indicates above 12 volts and the battery is all the time being very slowly drained over the course of time. > >Just to keep the problem simple, >Flying 12v indicated, turn the Avionics Master Switch OFF, voltmeter shows say 12.5 volts , pull about every CB ( 914 so not the Fuel pump, but your could do it momentary if you wanted to) >So at about this point nearly all the power to the components is OFF > >We have the engine modules and a couple of other things live,, but 99% is now OFF and still showing about 12 volts with practical every thing isolated ie OFF. Except the Mater Switch, PS I am not a builder, > >Now turn the Master Switch OFF, and Hay Presto voltmeter jumps to 14 volts, now charging the battery nicely. > >Fitted, New Battery, New Regulator/Rectifier, Volt meter on the brown cables to the Rectifier 14volts so no problem with Dynamo/Alt output. > >Master Switch ON, clunk Master Switch OFF click, >Some relay, or starting circuit, When you put the Master ON clunk, is they some component staying engaged stealing my power when it should have dropped off line after engine staring , >Hence when you switch the Master Switch OFF with the engine running, this click drops something off line which should have automatically dropped off line but with Master Off is the only to stop power getting to it,so making it drop off line manually. >Hence then you get the 14 volts showing. > >Any thoughts on this, >Or a place I can take it to get it fixed, > > >Regards. >Alan > > >Read this topic online here: > >http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=460217#460217 > > ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 02:27:24 PM PST US Subject: Europa-List: Re: Something is stealing my electricity From: "carlp101" Hi The clunk/click is the battery isolator solenoid connecting/disconnection the battery from the aircraft electrics. When you switch off the master switch you see the volt meter jump to 14 volts because the engine'size alternator is no longer connected to the battery and charging it. So. When you are flying does the battery charge up? Does the the voltmeter ever show an increasing voltage whilst or after you are flying? If it does then the battery is charging. Are your stall warner and/or trim indicator fed power via a breaker? If not, perhaps they are remaining in circuit and draining the battery. They are essential instruments and may have been fed directly from they battery and not via the master power bus (the main bus that is powered via the master switch). Can you disconnected them over night and see if the battery voltage still drops? Good luck. Carl G-URMS Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=460228#460228 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message europa-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Europa-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/europa-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/europa-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.