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Master contactor doesn't work anymore?

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psiegel(at)fuse.net
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Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 4:53 pm Post subject: Master contactor doesn't work anymore?

I have a friend who needs help.  (We'll call him "Sparky")



"Sparky" was just about to leave the airport for the evening but had one last thing to do in the control tunnel in his F1 Rocket..  The BNC connector to the comm antenna was disconnected at the time and it accidently flopped down onto the master contactor and hit one of the two smaller poles resulting in a spark.



(The large poles had rubber boots insulating them, but unfortunately no boots on the smaller poles)



When "Sparky" went to turn on the master switch ( a Cessna style split master switch) the master contactor no longer functioned.



"Sparky" left the airport in disgust so as not to be late for dinner, but now he needs to know how to proceed tomorrow with trouble shooting to get the master contactor to function again.



Will "Sparky"  need to replace the master contactor?  Or, will he have to replace the Cessna style split master switch?  Or, has the 22AWG wire between the contactor and master switch acted like a fuseable link and need to be replaced?



How can I...I mean "Sparky," do some diagnostics before resorting to "swaptronics" of components???



HELP!



Paul Siegel

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nuckollsr(at)cox.net
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Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 5:16 pm Post subject: Master contactor doesn't work anymore?

At 08:52 PM 10/4/2006 -0400, you wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  



I have a friend who needs help.  (We'll call him "Sparky")



"Sparky" was just about to leave the airport for the evening but had one 

last thing to do in the control tunnel in his F1 Rocket..  The BNC 

connector to the comm antenna was disconnected at the time and it 

accidently flopped down onto the master contactor and hit one of the two 

smaller poles resulting in a spark.



(The large poles had rubber boots insulating them, but unfortunately no 

boots on the smaller poles)



When "Sparky" went to turn on the master switch ( a Cessna style split 

master switch) the master contactor no longer functioned.



"Sparky" left the airport in disgust so as not to be late for dinner, but 

now he needs to know how to proceed tomorrow with trouble shooting to get 

the master contactor to function again.



Will "Sparky"  need to replace the master contactor?  Or, will he have to 

replace the Cessna style split master switch?  Or, has the 22AWG wire 

between the contactor and master switch acted like a fuseable link and 

need to be replaced?



How can I...I mean "Sparky," do some diagnostics before resorting to 

"swaptronics" of components???



HELP!


	


  This is a job for Mr. Cliplead.  He's been known

  to come in a variety of colors and lengths. I've

  got several dozen of his uncles and cousins hanging

  in my shop. If you have only one, recommend about

  three feet long and fitted with alligator clips

  (insulated if you want to get fancy).



  Start with using the cliplead to ground the master

  contactor terminal that goes off to the master switch.

  This should energize the master contactor with the

  usual "thunk". If so, then the problem lies with

  wiring and/or switch. If not, then a closer look at

  the contactor is in order. Is it a 3-terminal contactor?

  If so, then "tunkless" probably means contactor replacement.

  If a 4-terminal, check to see if the jumper between

  BAT terminal and the OTHER small terminal burned. Seems

  possible given the grounding nature of a free-lance

  coax connector.



  If the contactor "thunks", then check out wiring by

  applying Mr. Clippy between airfram ground and the

  contactor side of the battery master switch. "Thunk"?

  switch or ground wire on other side of switch is bad.

  No "thunk"? Wire between switch and contactor is open.



  Bob . . .

 	  Quote: 	
		  Paul Siegel

--



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        Bob . . .

      ---------------------------------------------------------

      < What is so wonderful about scientific truth...is that >

      < the authority which determines whether there can be   >

      < debate or not does not reside in some fraternity of   >

      < scientists; nor is it divine. The authority rests     >

      < with experiment.                                      >

      <                            --Lawrence M. Krauss       >

      ---------------------------------------------------------

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FLYaDIVE(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 11:42 pm Post subject: Master contactor doesn't work anymore?

In a message dated 10/4/2006 10:48:41 PM Eastern Standard Time, psiegel(at)fuse.net writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		  Will "Sparky"  need to replace the master contactor?  Or, will he have to replace the Cessna style split master switch?  Or, has the 22AWG wire between the contactor and master switch acted like a fuseable link and need to be replaced?



How can I...I mean "Sparky," do some diagnostics before resorting to "swaptronics" of components???



HELP!



Paul Siegel 	


 ===================================

 Hi Paul:

  

 Tell Sparky I HATE 'swaptronics" even more than "swapmechanics".  

 The first thing Sparky has to do is pull out the schematic for the bird.  The second quick fix is to check ALL fuses and circuit breakers.  Usually in the wiring of Master relays there is a fuse in the B+ control lead of the coil.  Turning on is done by either completing the ground of the coil or the B+.  

 From your explanation it seems like the Ground is what is being used to complete the circuit and the Ground of the coax hit the B+ side of the relay ... Results POP of the 'hopefully' installed fuse.

 Use the schematic and trace the circuit to find the fuse.  Or trace the wire from the relay.  

 If you want to do a meter test, check resistance from each control stud (small terminals) to Ground.

 Also go back to the Master Switch and check for Voltage.

  

 Hope this helps, but!  Tell Sparky to do this BEFORE he has any Beers.

  

  

 Barry

"Chop'd Liver"



"Show them the first time, correct them the second time, kick them the third 

time." 

Yamashiada

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