If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Oil lines as electrical ground return?
I accidently wrote my first post as a reply to another thread, so here
it is again on its own. I have a pusher airplane with a nose oil cooler. I am replacing the existing heavy hydraulic type(rubber/braided steel) oil cooler lines with lighter metal lines. Either soft Aluminum or soft copper 1/2 lines. First question. I would like to use the lines as my ground return and remove the 2 AWG wire I have now. Good idea? Second question. Which would be better, or possibly which would be worse and why? Copper or Aluminum.. Aluminum would be lighter but copper offers a better ground return(less resistance). I have a big engine and the starter needs all the current I can muster. Scott |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
First question. I would like to use the lines as my ground return and
remove the 2 AWG wire I have now. Good idea? Second question. Which would be better, or possibly which would be worse and why? Copper or Aluminum.. Aluminum would be lighter but copper offers a better ground return(less resistance). I have a big engine and the starter needs all the current I can muster. I would not substitute the brake line for the #2 ground return. Beware of corrosion that may occur in any connections that join copper and aluminum. There is a potential difference, and the voltage created causes corrosion. In some cases, the corrosion could continue until something bad happens - including loss of electrical system. Any weight saving would be false economy. I would use copper rather than aluminum. Aluminum is less weight, but it requires more preparation to connect. Keep everything in copper. If copper touches aluminum, you will get electrolysis unless a special goop is used with an approved connector. Colin |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Scott Derrick wrote:
I accidently wrote my first post as a reply to another thread, so here it is again on its own. I have a pusher airplane with a nose oil cooler. I am replacing the existing heavy hydraulic type(rubber/braided steel) oil cooler lines with lighter metal lines. Either soft Aluminum or soft copper 1/2 lines. First question. I would like to use the lines as my ground return and remove the 2 AWG wire I have now. Good idea? Second question. Which would be better, or possibly which would be worse and why? Copper or Aluminum.. Aluminum would be lighter but copper offers a better ground return(less resistance). I have a big engine and the starter needs all the current I can muster. Scott IF--you decide on the copper lines--do this--take a strip of bar copper about 1/8" thick, 3/4" wide, and a couple of inches long..drill a 5/16" hole in one end, form the other into a portion of a circle that is a snug fit around the tubing---clean & silver solder the strap around the tube..repeat at other end---This way if you get a loose connection, you won't burn a hole in the tube.. Get a couple of MS-xxxx male flare fittings--bore the other end out to a slip fit on the copper be sure & leave the hex fitting on the adapter, so you can TIGHTEN the flex hose.---Again, silver solder them on the tubing. use SS braided Teflon lined hoses to complete the plumbing---allow for expansion of the length of the tube..&&&& Jerry |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Toronto Area Glider Pilot Ground School Starts Thu. February 24, 2005 | Ulf | Soaring | 0 | February 3rd 05 06:16 PM |
tuned ground plane | John Tvedte | Home Built | 13 | November 27th 04 06:09 PM |
Antenna ground plane and coax grounding | G. Fred McCutchen | Home Built | 2 | August 8th 04 12:27 PM |
Wing in Ground Effect? | BllFs6 | Home Built | 10 | December 18th 03 05:11 AM |
Antenna Ground Plane Grounding | Fastglasair | Home Built | 1 | July 8th 03 05:21 PM |