OK, Thinking-Cap Time...

"Jay Honeck" writes:


2) In steady-state flight, both of us hear a "woo--woo--woo..." softly in
the headphones. It sounds just like strobes that aren't grounded properly.
....

6) Turning the alternator side of the split master switch ALSO makes the
noise go away. It sometimes stays away when I turn the alternator back on.
Sometimes it doesn't.


After you clean all the grounds...

C) Others mention the split master. Does it feel warm at all? Since
its brothers have been found guilty before; it's a good suspect even
if stone cold.

Wonder if there is a safe way to bypass it long enough to make a
test flight. I'd say just replace it, but know that a $5 switch
like that becomes a $500 switch once annointed with FAA Holy Oil.

B) The skyranch URL sounds like the Right Stuph.

A) This does NOT sound like a blown alternator diode to me. The
'pulsing' from that is in the kiloHertz range; this sound like it's
more like 0.5 Hz.
--
A host is a host from coast to
& no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX
Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433
is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433

C) Others mention the split master.

.stuff snipped

I'd say just replace it, but know that a $5 switch
like that becomes a $500 switch once annointed with FAA Holy Oil.


Actually, that split switch for Jay's plane is a fooler. I bought the
official Piper part from Des Moines Flying Service (DMFS.com) a couple
of years ago and I remember it being less than $50. Some day I actually
have to INSTALL IT!

I like the idea of the "Bypass wire" test. I could do it on the ground
because my Cherokee does this all the time.

Good Luck,
Mike

David Lesher wrote:


Wonder if there is a safe way to bypass it long enough to make a
test flight. I'd say just replace it, but know that a $5 switch
like that becomes a $500 switch once annointed with FAA Holy Oil.



The piper split master is approximately $35 from Piper. You can
bypass the alternator field side of the switch by unscrewing the lugs
from the switch and fastening them together with a small bolt, nut and
star washer. Put the joint in an insulating sleeve to protect it from
shorting. Not sure the legality of bypassing the switch for a flight
though?