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XLR connectors

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fvalarm(at)rapidnet.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 9:58 am Post subject: XLR connectors

Bob,   

Somewhere you had mentioned the use of XLR connectors as good parts to use as an external power port for charging aircraft batteries.  These are made for audio applications and commonly found at radio Shack and other sound outlets.  I would like to install one or two in my RV7A for maintaining the batteries whenever not flying (electrically dependant engine) to keep the batteries in full charge at all times and to supply power when "hangar flying" the EFIS and GPS as I learn how to use/program them.  Now, several questions:  

Since these are audio products and not necessarily intended for sustained large current carrying capacity, max current are not likely published by the manufacturer. I have no specs here.  Do you know the max DC current rating for these devices or have you tested one to destruction?  

If not, I could send you one for destructive testing. I could too for that matter, but my power supply only goes up to 25 amps at 12V.  Maybe, I could use a car battery to supply more current.  Any comments here?  

Would you recommend using the XLR port for ONLY "maintaining" battery levels and fused at some low value (if so what value would you recommend) or could these ports be used to "charge up" a depleted battery without current restrictions?  

Considering a dual battery system (probably Z-19) I assume two XLR ports would be required?   

I like these ports as they are small, lightweight, utilize chassis mount format, and have positive locking mechanism.  A down side is they do not come with a cover to keep the weather out.  I'm considering hiding them behind a small door near the aft mounted batteries.  Any comments here?  

Bevan  

RV7A  

Finishing canopy  

Planning electrical install  

 

      [quote][b]

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nuckollsr(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 10:35 am Post subject: XLR connectors

At 10:56 AM 3/21/2007 -0700, you wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  Bob,



Somewhere you had mentioned the use of XLR connectors as good parts to use 

as an external power port for charging aircraft batteries.  These are made 

for audio applications and commonly found at radio Shack and other sound 

outlets.  I would like to install one or two in my RV7A for maintaining 

the batteries whenever not flying (electrically dependant engine) to keep 

the batteries in full charge at all times and to supply power when "hangar 

flying" the EFIS and GPS as I learn how to use/program them.  Now, several 

questions:



Since these are audio products and not necessarily intended for sustained 

large current carrying capacity, max current are not likely published by 

the manufacturer. I have no specs here.  Do you know the max DC current 

rating for these devices or have you tested one to destruction?


	


   The BEST application for these connectors is

   as cockpit power outlets for portable accessories.

 	  Quote: 	
		  If not, I could send you one for destructive testing. I could too for that 

matter, but my power supply only goes up to 25 amps at 12V.  Maybe, I 

could use a car battery to supply more current.  Any comments here?



Would you recommend using the XLR port for ONLY "maintaining" battery 

levels and fused at some low value (if so what value would you recommend) 

or could these ports be used to "charge up" a depleted battery without 

current restrictions?


	


    Yes . . . These can be used for a charger connection

    for a Battery Tender or Battery Minder. Perhaps even

    a small Schumacher smart charger rated at no more than 5A.

 	  Quote: 	
		  Considering a dual battery system (probably Z-19) I assume two XLR ports 

would be required?


	


    Yeah . . . but you COULD use a single maintainer to do this

    through a single connector. The XLR connectors have 3 terminals.

    Use one for ground. Use the other two as feeders off the battery

    bus with 5A fuses. Then short these two pins together in the

    CHARGER side of the connection. This parallels the batteries

    only during the maintenance mode when the charger is plugged in.

 	  Quote: 	
		  I like these ports as they are small, lightweight, utilize chassis mount 

format, and have positive locking mechanism.  A down side is they do not 

come with a cover to keep the weather out.  I'm considering hiding them 

behind a small door near the aft mounted batteries.  Any comments here?


	


    Sounds like a plan. There are some flip-cover versions out

    there in the wild but they can be mounted in some handy

    but covered spot like on a bracket you can reach through

    the oil-check door. The only caveat is to limit total

    current through this connection to 5A or less.



    Bob . . .

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trigo(at)mail.telepac.pt
Guest

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 11:05 am Post subject: XLR connectors

Bevan

  

 Another electrically dependant Subbie guy  here.

 I used a good "cigarrette lighter" socket in my  panel, which will have dual function. One outlet, to power any  handheld device, and the other as an inlet port to charge my 2  batteries.

 If you want to consider this solution, I will send  you my schematic.

  

 Carlos

 RV-9A

 [quote]   ---

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dsvs(at)ca.rr.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 11:57 am Post subject: XLR connectors

 	  Quote: 	
		  

 

     Sounds like a plan. There are some flip-cover versions out

     there in the wild but they can be mounted in some handy

     but covered spot like on a bracket you can reach through

     the oil-check door. The only caveat is to limit total

     current through this connection to 5A or less.

 

     Bob . . .

 

 

 Bob,

These connectors are rated to higher current values and work in the cockpit as well as in the wild (the fully sealed units only)
	


See   www.powerletproducts.com/products/plugs_sockets.php

 	  Quote:

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Tim Olson

Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 2879

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:38 pm Post subject: XLR connectors

I've been preparing to add a ground charging connector myself

and did a bit of thinking about this.  I'm not interested in

a jump-starting connector, which completely changes the

picture and opens opportunities.



The one that I'm most considering right now is a 7-pin RV

trailer connector:

http://www.etrailer.com/faq/wiring.aspx



The connectors have a receptacle that can be mounted in the

baggage bulkhead easy enough (not for outside the airplane),

and depending on your current needs (battery tender, or

full charger) you can choose from smaller or larger connectors.



The 7-pin connector has way more pins than I'd need, but they

have a couple of them that use 10ga and 12ga wires as standard.

So if you wan to parallel charge your main and aux battery,

you could put power in on 2 pins and use the heavy ground for

the other.



It has the drawback of being non-standard, so you won't be

able to use it in the field really easy unless you make

and carry some sort of adapter, and it can't be used for

starting, but if you're just trying to keep your batteries

all charged up in the hanger during extended downtimes,

this should work, and the price is good.  Still open

to other good suggestions for up to 20A, but this one

seems to be an easy route right now.



Tim Olson - RV-10 N104CD - Flying

do not archive

Robert L. Nuckolls, III wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   

 <nuckollsr(at)cox.net>

 

 At 10:56 AM 3/21/2007 -0700, you wrote:

 

> Bob,

>

> Somewhere you had mentioned the use of XLR connectors as good parts to 

> use as an external power port for charging aircraft batteries.  These 

> are made for audio applications and commonly found at radio Shack and 

> other sound outlets.  I would like to install one or two in my RV7A 

> for maintaining the batteries whenever not flying (electrically 

> dependant engine) to keep the batteries in full charge at all times 

> and to supply power when "hangar flying" the EFIS and GPS as I learn 

> how to use/program them.  Now, several questions:

>

> Since these are audio products and not necessarily intended for 

> sustained large current carrying capacity, max current are not likely 

> published by the manufacturer. I have no specs here.  Do you know the 

> max DC current rating for these devices or have you tested one to 

> destruction?

 

   The BEST application for these connectors is

   as cockpit power outlets for portable accessories.

 

 

> If not, I could send you one for destructive testing. I could too for 

> that matter, but my power supply only goes up to 25 amps at 12V.  

> Maybe, I could use a car battery to supply more current.  Any comments 

> here?

>

> Would you recommend using the XLR port for ONLY "maintaining" battery 

> levels and fused at some low value (if so what value would you 

> recommend) or could these ports be used to "charge up" a depleted 

> battery without current restrictions?

 

    Yes . . . These can be used for a charger connection

    for a Battery Tender or Battery Minder. Perhaps even

    a small Schumacher smart charger rated at no more than 5A.

 

 

> Considering a dual battery system (probably Z-19) I assume two XLR 

> ports would be required?

 

    Yeah . . . but you COULD use a single maintainer to do this

    through a single connector. The XLR connectors have 3 terminals.

    Use one for ground. Use the other two as feeders off the battery

    bus with 5A fuses. Then short these two pins together in the

    CHARGER side of the connection. This parallels the batteries

    only during the maintenance mode when the charger is plugged in.

 

 

> I like these ports as they are small, lightweight, utilize chassis 

> mount format, and have positive locking mechanism.  A down side is 

> they do not come with a cover to keep the weather out.  I'm 

> considering hiding them behind a small door near the aft mounted 

> batteries.  Any comments here?

 

    Sounds like a plan. There are some flip-cover versions out

    there in the wild but they can be mounted in some handy

    but covered spot like on a bracket you can reach through

    the oil-check door. The only caveat is to limit total

    current through this connection to 5A or less.

 

    Bob . . .

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rvbuilder(at)sausen.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 1:38 pm Post subject: XLR connectors

So why not just go with a Piper style ground power.  It's pretty similar to a trailer plug and you can use it for jump starting and have a chance of getting a FBO GPU that can plug in.



http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/elpages/piperplugsock.php



Michael Sausen

-10 #352 Limbo



--

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Tim Olson

Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 2879

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 2:19 pm Post subject: XLR connectors

A couple reasons:  1, costs more.  2, can't charge both my aux and

main batteries without tying them together or using huge diodes,

3, I can buy this one locally for a good price, 4,the wires are

protected by the backshell, so there's less exposed terminals to

worry about.   It's pretty light, too.  I had considered the

piper and normal type, but as I mentioned, I'm not at all

looking for a jump start connector and I don't want to use

huge fat wires, and I do want to charge both batteries.

Tim Olson - RV-10 N104CD - Flying

do not archive

RV Builder (Michael Sausen) wrote:

[quote] 

 

 So why not just go with a Piper style ground power.  It's pretty similar to a trailer plug and you can use it for jump starting and have a chance of getting a FBO GPU that can plug in.

 

 http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/elpages/piperplugsock.php

 

 Michael Sausen

 -10 #352 Limbo

 

 --

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ceengland(at)bellsouth.ne
Guest

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 4:29 pm Post subject: XLR connectors

Tim Olson wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 A couple reasons:  1, costs more.  2, can't charge both my aux and

 main batteries without tying them together or using huge diodes,

 3, I can buy this one locally for a good price, 4,the wires are

 protected by the backshell, so there's less exposed terminals to

 worry about.   It's pretty light, too.  I had considered the

 piper and normal type, but as I mentioned, I'm not at all

 looking for a jump start connector and I don't want to use

 huge fat wires, and I do want to charge both batteries.

 

 

 Tim Olson - RV-10 N104CD - Flying

 do not archive


	


snipped



The XLR connectors are great; very rugged & reliable. You might alienate 

yourself from the crimp camp, though.  You might want to rethink the 

locking feature. What happens when you kick the wire? If I were using it 

strictly as an aux power jack, I'd file off the lock tang to minimize 

damage to the wire (& possibly myself) if I trip on it.



If you're building an RV with the batteries on the firewall, I'd at 

least take a look through the oil filler door & see if you can reach the 

batteries' positive terminals with charger clamps. Any engine part will 

work for the ground. I found that I can reach the positive terminal with 

the clamp that comes on a typical small battery charger. No extra wire, 

no connector, no extra weight, no extra things to break.



'Simplicate & add lightness.' One of my favorite aviation quotes. (Wish 

I could remember who said it first.)



Charlie

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jetboy

Joined: 22 Jul 2006
Posts: 233

Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 1:14 am Post subject: Re: XLR connectors

Yes the XLR connector would be fine. There is also a 4 pin version used in the video industry extensively for 12V DC power on camera / recorder equipment. The pins are slightlly smaller dia. than the more common 3 pin audio connector, so the audio one may in fact have better current capability. both versions are very robust, cameramen and sound techs do not appreciate loosing their footage - as you will using the most horrid connector of all - the cigar lighter plug. these things are more likely to start a fire than the lighter itself - no disrespect to those that use them- please be wary of leaving them unattended and dont use for mission critical applications. A friend found the one in his Cherokee was not enough for all his gadgets so bought a 4 outlet box and slung it up behind the panel.... thereafter had to wiggle the plugs about to keep all his stuff online. It would be safer to cut all the plugs off and use a wire joiner - but can't do that in a cert. A/C



Ralph

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Ralph - CH701 / 2200a

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