JFLEISC wrote:
My '61 Cessna landing light switch has two positions; First notch is the taxi
light, and the last notch turns on the landing light but leaves on the taxi
light. Does anyone know of a legal replacement switch that separates the two
lights? (taxi light goes off on the last notch). The reason I ask is that it
still has the generator and at engine idle the generator circuit breaker often
pops due to the high load and low output. A separating switch would presumably
cut the load way down.

Jim

Jim,

first, a std 4509 landing light draws about 8A. Check to see if some
has installed Q4509 or some other non-standard sealed beam.

second, all things working normally, if the total load exceeds the
total generation capability, then the difference is supposed to come
from the battery (as long as it has some residual charge in it). In
other words, if the total bus load is 40A, but your generator is capable
of delivering only 30A, then the genny should be up to delivering its
full rated 30A output all day long. It shouldn't care what the total bus
load is... (turning on extra load should not trip the genny breaker)

If the genny blows its breaker, then either the breaker is bad (more
on this later), or someone has dicked with the current cutout relay
in the generator regulator in a misguided attempt to get it to
deliver more output. The current cutout relay must be set lower than
the Gen breaker rating.

As breakers age, they can develop internal resistance in their contacts.
The heat produced by the increased contact resistance adds directly to
the heat produced by the little built in heater (that is why they are
called a thermal breaker), and the breaker will trip at currents lower
than what is engraved on the button...

You need to find an A&P who understands electricity (not many of them do).

MikeM, PhD EE
Skylane '1MM
Pacer '00Z