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Pat Reilly
Joined: 06 Aug 2009 Posts: 345
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 2:34 pm Post subject: Battery |
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Kitfoxers, I have an Odessy PC625 battery on my 582. Flew for about 1/2 hour with radio and strobes only on. Battery was almost dead and had to charge for 20 min. to start engine. I always have a float charger hooked up to the battery in the hanger and it never fails to start. I purchased the battery about 3 years ago. It sat for a year and a half. I have put about 30 hours on the plane in the last year and a half. What is the best way to determine if I need a new battery or my charging system is weak. Also, is a float charger always hooked up a good idea? It seems to help on the other batteries I use them on.
--
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuild
Rockford,IL
[quote][b]
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Lynn Matteson
Joined: 10 Jan 2006 Posts: 2778 Location: Grass Lake, Michigan
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 3:03 pm Post subject: Battery |
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Pat-
I have a PC 680 Odyssey battery in my plane and it has been in there
since about June 2006. I have never used a float charger, but left
the master on one day, and had to recharge.
I would visit the site for Odyssey batteries, and question them about
the float thing....the Odyssey's are a different breed than your
other batteries, or so I'm led to believe.
Lynn Matteson
Kitfox IV Speedster, taildragger
Jabiru 2200, #2062
Prince prop (64 x 30, P-tip)
Electroair direct-fire ignition system
Rotec TBI-40 injection (sleeved to 35mm)
Status: flying...1096 hrs (since 3-27-2006)
On Apr 17, 2011, at 6:26 PM, Patrick Reilly wrote:
Quote: | Kitfoxers, I have an Odessy PC625 battery on my 582. Flew for about
1/2 hour with radio and strobes only on. Battery was almost dead
and had to charge for 20 min. to start engine. I always have a
float charger hooked up to the battery in the hanger and it never
fails to start. I purchased the battery about 3 years ago. It sat
for a year and a half. I have put about 30 hours on the plane in
the last year and a half. What is the best way to determine if I
need a new battery or my charging system is weak. Also, is a float
charger always hooked up a good idea? It seems to help on the other
batteries I use them on.
--
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuild
Rockford,IL
www.matronics.com/contribution _-
============================================================
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_________________ Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM |
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Pat Reilly
Joined: 06 Aug 2009 Posts: 345
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 3:26 pm Post subject: Battery |
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Lynn, Thanks for the info. I'll give them a call.
Pat
On Sun, Apr 17, 2011 at 6:01 PM, Lynn Matteson <lynnmatt(at)jps.net (lynnmatt(at)jps.net)> wrote:
Quote: | --> Kitfox-List message posted by: Lynn Matteson <lynnmatt(at)jps.net (lynnmatt(at)jps.net)>
Pat-
I have a PC 680 Odyssey battery in my plane and it has been in there since about June 2006. I have never used a float charger, but left the master on one day, and had to recharge.
I would visit the site for Odyssey batteries, and question them about the float thing....the Odyssey's are a different breed than your other batteries, or so I'm led to believe.
Lynn Matteson
Kitfox IV Speedster, taildragger
Jabiru 2200, #2062
Prince prop (64 x 30, P-tip)
Electroair direct-fire ignition system
Rotec TBI-40 injection (sleeved to 35mm)
Status: flying...1096 hrs (since 3-27-2006)
On Apr 17, 2011, at 6:26 PM, Patrick Reilly wrote:
Quote: | Kitfoxers, I have an Odessy PC625 battery on my 582. Flew for about 1/2 hour with radio and strobes only on. Battery was almost dead and had to charge for 20 min. to start engine. I always have a float charger hooked up to the battery in the hanger and it never fails to start. I purchased the battery about 3 years ago. It sat for a year and a half. I have put about 30 hours on the plane in the last year and a half. What is the best way to determine if I need a new battery or my charging system is weak. Also, is a float charger always hooked up a good idea? It seems to help on the other batteries I use them on.
--
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuild
Rockford,IL
www.matronics.==================
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ist Un/Subscription,
www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List" target="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List
ronics.com/" target="_blank">http://forums.matronics.com
Matt Dralle, List Admin.
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--
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuild
Rockford,IL
[quote][b]
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lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net Guest
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 3:27 pm Post subject: Battery |
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Pat,
I talked to a friend who replaced an Odyssey battery on his Model IV and gave the old one to his son. The son, cleaned up the contacts and still has it starting his garden tractor after another three years. It was my friends opinion, that the contacts can develop corrosion that is not detectable by simply looking at them. First, and this would be the advice from Larry, take some emery cloth or some other very fine abrasive and clean the contacts both on the battery and the cables, then see what happens.
Lowell
From: Patrick Reilly (patreilly43(at)gmail.com)
Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2011 3:26 PM
To: kitfox-list(at)matronics.com (kitfox-list(at)matronics.com)
Subject: Battery
Kitfoxers, I have an Odessy PC625 battery on my 582. Flew for about 1/2 hour with radio and strobes only on. Battery was almost dead and had to charge for 20 min. to start engine. I always have a float charger hooked up to the battery in the hanger and it never fails to start. I purchased the battery about 3 years ago. It sat for a year and a half. I have put about 30 hours on the plane in the last year and a half. What is the best way to determine if I need a new battery or my charging system is weak. Also, is a float charger always hooked up a good idea? It seems to help on the other batteries I use them on.
--
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuild
Rockford,IL
[quote]
href="http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List">http://www.matronhref="http://forums.matronics.com">http://forums.matronics.com
href="http://www.matronics.com/contribution">http://www.matronics.com/c
[b]
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Pat Reilly
Joined: 06 Aug 2009 Posts: 345
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 3:37 pm Post subject: Battery |
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Lowell, Good advice. You do mean the "terminals" on the battery and cables, right?
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuilt
Rockford, IL
On Sun, Apr 17, 2011 at 6:24 PM, Lowell Fitt <lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net (lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net)> wrote:
Quote: | Pat,
I talked to a friend who replaced an Odyssey battery on his Model IV and gave the old one to his son. The son, cleaned up the contacts and still has it starting his garden tractor after another three years. It was my friends opinion, that the contacts can develop corrosion that is not detectable by simply looking at them. First, and this would be the advice from Larry, take some emery cloth or some other very fine abrasive and clean the contacts both on the battery and the cables, then see what happens.
Lowell
From: Patrick Reilly (patreilly43(at)gmail.com)
Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2011 3:26 PM
To: kitfox-list(at)matronics.com (kitfox-list(at)matronics.com)
Subject: Battery
Kitfoxers, I have an Odessy PC625 battery on my 582. Flew for about 1/2 hour with radio and strobes only on. Battery was almost dead and had to charge for 20 min. to start engine. I always have a float charger hooked up to the battery in the hanger and it never fails to start. I purchased the battery about 3 years ago. It sat for a year and a half. I have put about 30 hours on the plane in the last year and a half. What is the best way to determine if I need a new battery or my charging system is weak. Also, is a float charger always hooked up a good idea? It seems to help on the other batteries I use them on.
--
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuild
Rockford,IL
Quote: |
arget="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List
ttp://forums.matronics.com
_blank">http://www.matronics.com/contribution
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--
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuild
Rockford,IL
[quote][b]
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MDKitfox(at)aol.com Guest
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 4:08 pm Post subject: Battery |
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Pat,
You said the radio and strobes were on. Did that happen to include the nav lights? Incandescent bulbs really use a lot power. That being said, I agree that the terminals and cables ought to be checked for corrosion. On my 912 the charging system couldn't keep the battery up to to full power with all the electronics and nav lights on. The drain was slow, but it was noticeable. Changing to LED nav's solved the problem. The strobes didn't seem to be an issue.
Just my two cents.
N39RW Series V Speedster, 912ULS
SkyStar S/N 1
Port Orange, FL
On Apr 17, 2011, at 7:35 PM, Patrick Reilly wrote:
[quote]Lowell, Good advice. You do mean the "terminals" on the battery and cables, right?
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuilt
Rockford, IL
On Sun, Apr 17, 2011 at 6:24 PM, Lowell Fitt <lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net (lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net)> wrote:
Quote: | Pat,
I talked to a friend who replaced an Odyssey battery on his Model IV and gave the old one to his son. The son, cleaned up the contacts and still has it starting his garden tractor after another three years. It was my friends opinion, that the contacts can develop corrosion that is not detectable by simply looking at them. First, and this would be the advice from Larry, take some emery cloth or some other very fine abrasive and clean the contacts both on the battery and the cables, then see what happens.
Lowell
From: Patrick Reilly (patreilly43(at)gmail.com)
Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2011 3:26 PM
To: kitfox-list(at)matronics.com (kitfox-list(at)matronics.com)
Subject: Battery
Kitfoxers, I have an Odessy PC625 battery on my 582. Flew for about 1/2 hour with radio and strobes only on. Battery was almost dead and had to charge for 20 min. to start engine. I always have a float charger hooked up to the battery in the hanger and it never fails to start. I purchased the battery about 3 years ago. It sat for a year and a half. I have put about 30 hours on the plane in the last year and a half. What is the best way to determine if I need a new battery or my charging system is weak. Also, is a float charger always hooked up a good idea? It seems to help on the other batteries I use them on.
--
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuild
Rockford,IL
Quote: |
arget="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List
ttp://forums.matronics.com
_blank">http://www.matronics.com/contribution
|
|
--
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuild
Rockford,IL
Quote: |
href="http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List
href="http://forums.matronics.com/">http://forums.matronics.com
href="http://www.matronics.com/contribution">http://www.matronics.com/contribution
| [b]
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Paul A. Franz, P.E.

Joined: 02 Dec 2008 Posts: 280 Location: Bellevue WA
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 5:05 pm Post subject: Battery |
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On Sun, April 17, 2011 3:26 pm, Patrick Reilly wrote:
Quote: | Kitfoxers, I have an Odessy PC625 battery on my 582. Flew for about 1/2 hour
with radio and strobes only on. Battery was almost dead and had to charge
for 20 min. to start engine. I always have a float charger hooked up to the
battery in the hanger and it never fails to start. I purchased the battery
about 3 years ago. It sat for a year and a half. I have put about 30 hours
on the plane in the last year and a half. What is the best way to determine
if I need a new battery or my charging system is weak.
|
Charge it until it's reached maximum voltage then run the de-sulfate cycle for up to a
couple of days then top off the charge and try it. These new batteries damage quickly
when left dead for long periods. Also, discharging them down to less than 1/3 of
maximum also shortens their life. I have a similar situation one of my Corvette's
batteries, left dead for a year. The automatic charger I connected it to, said
"battery fault 02" and that means failed battery. I fooled the charger by turning the
headlights on and connecting an old fashioned charger in parallel. It then would
charge about 20 minutes and fault code would show. Then I ran the de-sulfate cycle
until a fault code came up in about an hour. Topped off the charge again. Didn't take
much but was enough to start the car. I went on a two hour drive, came back and the
desulfate cycle would then run to completion. That battery has been fine for almost a
month now. One of the key conditions of being able to restore one of these abused
batteries is that it hasn't been run low on fluid. I tried topping off another one
which was in a big truck in parallel with 4 other huge batteries and it almost
immediately developed a short circuit cell and started the cables smoking. The battery
was boiled half dry.
Bob Nuckolsof Aero Electric recommends using two small batteries and changing one out
after a year then alternating every year. So most likely your battery capacity is
reduced enough to warrant a new one. Keep it charged with a smart charger that
switches off when the desired voltage is reached then starts again when needed. Don't
use a 'trickle charger'.
Quote: | Also, is a float
charger always hooked up a good idea? It seems to help on the other
batteries I use them on.
--
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuild
Rockford,IL
|
--
Paul A. Franz, P.E.
PAF Consulting Engineers
Office 425.440.9505
Cell 425.241.1618
| - The Matronics Kitfox-List Email Forum - | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List |
|
_________________ Paul A. Franz, P.E.
Registration/Aircraft - N14UW/Merlin GT
Engine/Prop - Rotax 914/NSI CAP
Bellevue WA
425.241.1618 Cell
425.440.9505 Office |
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Pat Reilly
Joined: 06 Aug 2009 Posts: 345
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 7:13 pm Post subject: Battery |
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Richard, Only the strobes were on with the radio. Shouldn't be enough to drain the battery if terminals aren't corroded. I don't think the terminals are corroded. But, I will clean them and put the battery on a charger tomorrow. And,call Odyssey tomorrow to ask about the float charger I have been using. I have the AeroFlash nav strobe combo on the wing tips. I'd like to put LED's in the nav sockets. Someone in the Kitplane mag showed how to make a multi bulb LED assembly fit up. It looked like alot of work. If I had all the parts I'd give it a try.
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuilt
Rockford, IL
On Sun, Apr 17, 2011 at 7:04 PM, Weiss Richard <MDKitfox(at)aol.com (MDKitfox(at)aol.com)> wrote:
Quote: | Pat,
You said the radio and strobes were on. Did that happen to include the nav lights? Incandescent bulbs really use a lot power. That being said, I agree that the terminals and cables ought to be checked for corrosion. On my 912 the charging system couldn't keep the battery up to to full power with all the electronics and nav lights on. The drain was slow, but it was noticeable. Changing to LED nav's solved the problem. The strobes didn't seem to be an issue.
Just my two cents.
N39RW Series V Speedster, 912ULS
SkyStar S/N 1
Port Orange, FL
On Apr 17, 2011, at 7:35 PM, Patrick Reilly wrote:
Quote: | Lowell, Good advice. You do mean the "terminals" on the battery and cables, right?
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuilt
Rockford, IL
On Sun, Apr 17, 2011 at 6:24 PM, Lowell Fitt <lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net (lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net)> wrote:
Quote: | Pat,
I talked to a friend who replaced an Odyssey battery on his Model IV and gave the old one to his son. The son, cleaned up the contacts and still has it starting his garden tractor after another three years. It was my friends opinion, that the contacts can develop corrosion that is not detectable by simply looking at them. First, and this would be the advice from Larry, take some emery cloth or some other very fine abrasive and clean the contacts both on the battery and the cables, then see what happens.
Lowell
From: Patrick Reilly (patreilly43(at)gmail.com)
Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2011 3:26 PM
To: kitfox-list(at)matronics.com (kitfox-list(at)matronics.com)
Subject: Battery
Kitfoxers, I have an Odessy PC625 battery on my 582. Flew for about 1/2 hour with radio and strobes only on. Battery was almost dead and had to charge for 20 min. to start engine. I always have a float charger hooked up to the battery in the hanger and it never fails to start. I purchased the battery about 3 years ago. It sat for a year and a half. I have put about 30 hours on the plane in the last year and a half. What is the best way to determine if I need a new battery or my charging system is weak. Also, is a float charger always hooked up a good idea? It seems to help on the other batteries I use them on.
--
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuild
Rockford,IL
|
--
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuild
Rockford,IL
|
Quote: |
arget="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List
ttp://forums.matronics.com
_blank">http://www.matronics.com/contribution
|
|
--
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuild
Rockford,IL
[quote][b]
| - The Matronics Kitfox-List Email Forum - | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
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Pat Reilly
Joined: 06 Aug 2009 Posts: 345
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 7:21 pm Post subject: Battery |
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Paul, I am using the Odyssey sealed battery so it can't be low on fluid. I'm not familiar with the desulfate cycle. I think that applied to the old standard open acid batteries. My charger doesn't have that and I don't know if that would work on the Odyssey sealled battery. Hope to learn more from Odyssey tomorrow. As Lynn said, the Odyssey's are a different animal.
Pat Reilly
On Sun, Apr 17, 2011 at 8:02 PM, Paul A. Franz, P.E. <paul(at)eucleides.com (paul(at)eucleides.com)> wrote:
Quote: | --> Kitfox-List message posted by: "Paul A. Franz, P.E." <paul(at)eucleides.com (paul(at)eucleides.com)>
On Sun, April 17, 2011 3:26 pm, Patrick Reilly wrote:
Quote: | Kitfoxers, I have an Odessy PC625 battery on my 582. Flew for about 1/2 hour
with radio and strobes only on. Battery was almost dead and had to charge
> for 20 min. to start engine. I always have a float charger hooked up to the
|
Quote: | battery in the hanger and it never fails to start. I purchased the battery
about 3 years ago. It sat for a year and a half. I have put about 30 hours
> on the plane in the last year and a half. What is the best way to determine
|
Quote: | if I need a new battery or my charging system is weak.
|
Charge it until it's reached maximum voltage then run the de-sulfate cycle for up to a
couple of days then top off the charge and try it. These new batteries damage quickly
when left dead for long periods. Also, discharging them down to less than 1/3 of
maximum also shortens their life. I have a similar situation one of my Corvette's
batteries, left dead for a year. The automatic charger I connected it to, said
"battery fault 02" and that means failed battery. I fooled the charger by turning the
headlights on and connecting an old fashioned charger in parallel. It then would
charge about 20 minutes and fault code would show. Then I ran the de-sulfate cycle
until a fault code came up in about an hour. Topped off the charge again. Didn't take
much but was enough to start the car. I went on a two hour drive, came back and the
desulfate cycle would then run to completion. That battery has been fine for almost a
month now. One of the key conditions of being able to restore one of these abused
batteries is that it hasn't been run low on fluid. I tried topping off another one
which was in a big truck in parallel with 4 other huge batteries and it almost
immediately developed a short circuit cell and started the cables smoking. The battery
was boiled half dry.
Bob Nuckolsof Aero Electric recommends using two small batteries and changing one out
after a year then alternating every year. So most likely your battery capacity is
reduced enough to warrant a new one. Keep it charged with a smart charger that
switches off when the desired voltage is reached then starts again when needed. Don't
use a 'trickle charger'.
Quote: | Also, is a float
charger always hooked up a good idea? It seems to help on the other
batteries I use them on.
--
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuild
> Rockford,IL
|
--
Paul A. Franz, P.E.
PAF Consulting Engineers
Office [url=tel:425.440.9505]425.440.9505[/url]
Cell [url=tel:425.241.1618]425.241.1618[/url]
Subscription,
www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List" target="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List
ronics.com/" target="_blank">http://forums.matronics.com
Matt Dralle, List Admin.
=====
|
--
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuild
Rockford,IL
[quote][b]
| - The Matronics Kitfox-List Email Forum - | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List |
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Paul A. Franz, P.E.

Joined: 02 Dec 2008 Posts: 280 Location: Bellevue WA
|
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 8:20 pm Post subject: Battery |
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|
On Sun, April 17, 2011 8:17 pm, Patrick Reilly wrote:
Quote: | Paul, I am using the Odyssey sealed battery so it can't be low on fluid. I'm
not familiar with the desulfate cycle.
|
Newer fancier chargers have that feature. Really can extend battery life.
Quote: | I think that applied to the old
standard open acid batteries. My charger doesn't have that and I don't know
if that would work on the Odyssey sealled battery.
|
They can get low too. The truck battery I talked about below, had four cells low. I
pried off a cap (not supposed to be removable) and filled it. It was about half gone.
It was a sealed battery too. It worked for just a while before it went TU.
Quote: | Hope to learn more from
Odyssey tomorrow. As Lynn said, the Odyssey's are a different animal.
|
I don't think so. There are only 3 or 4 total count of manufacturers now in the US.
Just a lot of brand names for the same thing.
Quote: |
Pat Reilly
On Sun, Apr 17, 2011 at 8:02 PM, Paul A. Franz, P.E. <paul(at)eucleides.com>wrote:
>
> paul(at)eucleides.com>
> On Sun, April 17, 2011 3:26 pm, Patrick Reilly wrote:
> > Kitfoxers, I have an Odessy PC625 battery on my 582. Flew for about 1/2
> hour
> > with radio and strobes only on. Battery was almost dead and had to charge
> > for 20 min. to start engine. I always have a float charger hooked up to
> the
> > battery in the hanger and it never fails to start. I purchased the
> battery
> > about 3 years ago. It sat for a year and a half. I have put about 30
> hours
> > on the plane in the last year and a half. What is the best way to
> determine
> > if I need a new battery or my charging system is weak.
>
> Charge it until it's reached maximum voltage then run the de-sulfate cycle
> for up to a
> couple of days then top off the charge and try it. These new batteries
> damage quickly
> when left dead for long periods. Also, discharging them down to less than
> 1/3 of
> maximum also shortens their life. I have a similar situation one of my
> Corvette's
> batteries, left dead for a year. The automatic charger I connected it to,
> said
> "battery fault 02" and that means failed battery. I fooled the charger by
> turning the
> headlights on and connecting an old fashioned charger in parallel. It then
> would
> charge about 20 minutes and fault code would show. Then I ran the
> de-sulfate cycle
> until a fault code came up in about an hour. Topped off the charge again.
> Didn't take
> much but was enough to start the car. I went on a two hour drive, came back
> and the
> desulfate cycle would then run to completion. That battery has been fine
> for almost a
> month now. One of the key conditions of being able to restore one of these
> abused
> batteries is that it hasn't been run low on fluid. I tried topping off
> another one
> which was in a big truck in parallel with 4 other huge batteries and it
> almost
> immediately developed a short circuit cell and started the cables smoking.
> The battery
> was boiled half dry.
>
> Bob Nuckolsof Aero Electric recommends using two small batteries and
> changing one out
> after a year then alternating every year. So most likely your battery
> capacity is
> reduced enough to warrant a new one. Keep it charged with a smart charger
> that
> switches off when the desired voltage is reached then starts again when
> needed. Don't
> use a 'trickle charger'.
|
--
Paul A. Franz, P.E.
PAF Consulting Engineers
Office 425.440.9505
Cell 425.241.1618
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_________________ Paul A. Franz, P.E.
Registration/Aircraft - N14UW/Merlin GT
Engine/Prop - Rotax 914/NSI CAP
Bellevue WA
425.241.1618 Cell
425.440.9505 Office |
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lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net Guest
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Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 8:11 am Post subject: Battery |
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Yes, The terminals. He specifically mentioned corrosion that cannot be seen. I think we have all seen the gunk around the terminals on a car battery. I guess the gunk on our aircraft batteries can be a bit more subtle. Regarding the maintenance of the batteries. I am definitely not an expert as my only experience is with the Odyssey on my incomplete project, but the literature suggests that these batteries require a somewhat different approach to maintenance.
Lowell
From: Patrick Reilly (patreilly43(at)gmail.com)
Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2011 4:35 PM
To: kitfox-list(at)matronics.com (kitfox-list(at)matronics.com)
Subject: Re: Battery
Lowell, Good advice. You do mean the "terminals" on the battery and cables, right?
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuilt
Rockford, IL
On Sun, Apr 17, 2011 at 6:24 PM, Lowell Fitt <lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net (lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net)> wrote:
Quote: | Pat,
I talked to a friend who replaced an Odyssey battery on his Model IV and gave the old one to his son. The son, cleaned up the contacts and still has it starting his garden tractor after another three years. It was my friends opinion, that the contacts can develop corrosion that is not detectable by simply looking at them. First, and this would be the advice from Larry, take some emery cloth or some other very fine abrasive and clean the contacts both on the battery and the cables, then see what happens.
Lowell
From: Patrick Reilly (patreilly43(at)gmail.com)
Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2011 3:26 PM
To: kitfox-list(at)matronics.com (kitfox-list(at)matronics.com)
Subject: Battery
Kitfoxers, I have an Odessy PC625 battery on my 582. Flew for about 1/2 hour with radio and strobes only on. Battery was almost dead and had to charge for 20 min. to start engine. I always have a float charger hooked up to the battery in the hanger and it never fails to start. I purchased the battery about 3 years ago. It sat for a year and a half. I have put about 30 hours on the plane in the last year and a half. What is the best way to determine if I need a new battery or my charging system is weak. Also, is a float charger always hooked up a good idea? It seems to help on the other batteries I use them on.
--
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuild
Rockford,IL
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arget="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List
ttp://forums.matronics.com
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Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuild
Rockford,IL
[quote]
href="http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List">http://www.matronhref="http://forums.matronics.com">http://forums.matronics.com
href="http://www.matronics.com/contribution">http://www.matronics.com/c
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Pat Reilly
Joined: 06 Aug 2009 Posts: 345
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Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 12:45 pm Post subject: Battery |
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Lowell, Thanks for the info.
Pat Reilly
On Mon, Apr 18, 2011 at 11:07 AM, Lowell Fitt <lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net (lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net)> wrote:
Quote: | Yes, The terminals. He specifically mentioned corrosion that cannot be seen. I think we have all seen the gunk around the terminals on a car battery. I guess the gunk on our aircraft batteries can be a bit more subtle. Regarding the maintenance of the batteries. I am definitely not an expert as my only experience is with the Odyssey on my incomplete project, but the literature suggests that these batteries require a somewhat different approach to maintenance.
Lowell
From: Patrick Reilly (patreilly43(at)gmail.com)
Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2011 4:35 PM
To: kitfox-list(at)matronics.com (kitfox-list(at)matronics.com)
Subject: Re: Battery
Lowell, Good advice. You do mean the "terminals" on the battery and cables, right?
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuilt
Rockford, IL
On Sun, Apr 17, 2011 at 6:24 PM, Lowell Fitt <lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net (lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net)> wrote:
Quote: | Pat,
I talked to a friend who replaced an Odyssey battery on his Model IV and gave the old one to his son. The son, cleaned up the contacts and still has it starting his garden tractor after another three years. It was my friends opinion, that the contacts can develop corrosion that is not detectable by simply looking at them. First, and this would be the advice from Larry, take some emery cloth or some other very fine abrasive and clean the contacts both on the battery and the cables, then see what happens.
Lowell
From: Patrick Reilly (patreilly43(at)gmail.com)
Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2011 3:26 PM
To: kitfox-list(at)matronics.com (kitfox-list(at)matronics.com)
Subject: Battery
Kitfoxers, I have an Odessy PC625 battery on my 582. Flew for about 1/2 hour with radio and strobes only on. Battery was almost dead and had to charge for 20 min. to start engine. I always have a float charger hooked up to the battery in the hanger and it never fails to start. I purchased the battery about 3 years ago. It sat for a year and a half. I have put about 30 hours on the plane in the last year and a half. What is the best way to determine if I need a new battery or my charging system is weak. Also, is a float charger always hooked up a good idea? It seems to help on the other batteries I use them on.
--
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuild
Rockford,IL
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--
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuild
Rockford,IL
|
--
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuild
Rockford,IL
[quote][b]
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