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914 alternator/regulator

 
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ksiggery(at)mac.com
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 1:25 pm    Post subject: 914 alternator/regulator Reply with quote

Before we start the nightmare process of replacing the alternator on
914-powered G-ROOV could anyone point us towards possible other
problems with the electrical system recently identified:

Before start, master on, we see I=0 amps, V=11.

Engine off, loaded I=-5, V=11.

Engine running (essentials on) I=-4, V=11

Engine running (full electrical load) I=-5, V=11

Besides the fact we should be seeing 12V from the battery (we are
charging it now) to my non-expert eye this would suggest alternator
problems but strangely, the ‘idiot light’ is not illuminated which
suggests that V (alternator) is greater than V(battery) i.e.: we do
not have an alternator problem (unless the lamp has blown and we are
being misguided).

Alternatively if the regulator is shot one would expect to see V
falling as a function of load (I think) but this is not the
case...although we believe the Ducati regulator is not exactly the
best on the market and prone to quite frequent failure.

We are leaning towards simply swapping out the regulator at this stage.

Any thoughts most welcome.

thank you

Kevin Siggery


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topglock(at)cox.net
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 2:18 pm    Post subject: 914 alternator/regulator Reply with quote

This may be a over simplified answer, and I admit to being somewhat
electrically deficient, but check the 30A main, inline fuse...

Jeff - Baby Blue
370 hrs

kevin siggery wrote:
Quote:


Before we start the nightmare process of replacing the alternator on
914-powered G-ROOV could anyone point us towards possible other problems
with the electrical system recently identified:

Before start, master on, we see I=0 amps, V=11.

Engine off, loaded I=-5, V=11.

Engine running (essentials on) I=-4, V=11

Engine running (full electrical load) I=-5, V=11

Besides the fact we should be seeing 12V from the battery (we are
charging it now) to my non-expert eye this would suggest alternator
problems but strangely, the ‘idiot light’ is not illuminated which
suggests that V (alternator) is greater than V(battery) i.e.: we do not
have an alternator problem (unless the lamp has blown and we are being
misguided).

Alternatively if the regulator is shot one would expect to see V falling
as a function of load (I think) but this is not the case...although we
believe the Ducati regulator is not exactly the best on the market and
prone to quite frequent failure.

We are leaning towards simply swapping out the regulator at this stage.

Any thoughts most welcome.

thank you



Kevin Siggery






269.20.2/1270 - Release Date: 2/10/2008 12:21 PM




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josok-e(at)ukolo.fi
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 2:37 pm    Post subject: 914 alternator/regulator Reply with quote

Hi Kevin,
This looks like one of the cells in the battery is defect. Do nothing before you have tried to charge the battery successfully with an external charger. If that does not give you 13 V at least, case closed, battery dead. From the data you supply, it looks like the generator is charging anyway.

Regards,

Jos Okhuijsen
Visit - www.EuropaOwners.org


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Gilles.Thesee(at)ac-greno
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 5:27 pm    Post subject: 914 alternator/regulator Reply with quote

kevin siggery a écrit :
Quote:

Before start, master on, we see I=0 amps, V=11.

Not good : a properly charged battery reads 12.7-12.8 V.
11 V means a bad, bad battery state. A lead acid battery should not stay
discharged for any length of time.

Quote:

Engine off, loaded I=-5, V=11.

Strange, voltage should sag a little.

Quote:

Engine running (essentials on) I=-4, V=11

Engine running (full electrical load) I=-5, V=11

Besides the fact we should be seeing 12V from the battery (we are
charging it now) to my non-expert eye this would suggest alternator
problems but strangely, the ‘idiot light’ is not illuminated which
suggests that V (alternator) is greater than V(battery) i.e.: we do
not have an alternator problem (unless the lamp has blown and we are
being misguided).


A correctly charging alternator/regulator should read 13.8-14.4 V

Quote:
Alternatively if the regulator is shot one would expect to see V
falling as a function of load (I think) but this is not the case...

What I'do first is check the actual voltages with a portable voltmeter.
Does your onboard really monitor what it is supposed to ?

Best regards,
--
Gilles
http://contrails.free.fr


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rampil



Joined: 04 May 2007
Posts: 870

PostPosted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 7:20 pm    Post subject: Re: 914 alternator/regulator Reply with quote

Kevin,

Its really tough to give a literate answer to your question without
knowing a lot more about your charging and control circuit. It sounds
like you used an established design, which one? What is in between
the alternator and the battery?

What is the voltage coming out of the alternator?
Have you traced the continuity of all wires/connectors? In the battery/
charging circuit there should only be fat wires and very low resistance
connections. Is this the case in your aircraft?


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budyerly(at)msn.com
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 3:44 pm    Post subject: 914 alternator/regulator Reply with quote

<?xml:namespace prefix="v" /><?xml:namespace prefix="o" /><![endif]--> As with the others who have answered, and they are correct...Here are a couple more tidbits from some old questions I've answered befor:


Quick and dirty for the Rotax mounted alternator/dynamo with external regulator:

Your field wire (C on the regulator) should read battery voltage with the engine off. If it does not that's the problem. I have seen folks run the alternator warning light in series with the C lead to the bus. If the light bulb fails, you open the field circuit and kill the regulator. The light circuit must be independent of the C lead connection to your bus. Read the Rotax installation manual about the wiring requirements.

Noting that the R and B+ leads (which are tied with the C lead, through the panel usually) are reading battery voltage not 13.8 volts. The regulator is not putting out.

Check your 30 amp circuit breaker/fuse coming off the regulator. If all the above are good, it's the regulator.

Solid state rectifier/regulators put out about 12 volts on the L circuit and as others have stated, the C circuit and R/B+ should read about 13.8. If the diodes in the regulator fail, your L circuit will put out a voltage which is about 1.3-1.8 volts less than your C circuit (same as your bus) and the fail light will still not alert you to a failure as it is a 12 volt bulb... Just like your car, the alternator light never comes on with this type failure, only the battery failure is your indicator unless you monitor your volts and amps.

Rarely do the Rotax coils in the dynamo fail, It is most likely your regulator.


Bud Yerly
Custom Flight Creations

[quote] ---


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