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 |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
|
#12
|
|||
|
|||
On Tue, 6 Jul 2004 19:05:22 -0400, "Jeremy Lew"
wrote: Was flying IFR in the clear on top of an overcast layer today. I noticed at some point that the ammeter was indicating zero, and not moving. The Alt warning light was not illuminated, except when I pressed the test button. I started to shut down non-essential electriconics in case this was for real. After a minute or two, the ammeter needle resumed normal indications, and stayed that way for the rest of the flight. The Alt warning light was properly illumated during low-RPM operations on the ground, as well as during the engine runup split switch check. The warning light/ammeter needle discrepancy suggests to me that problem was in the ammeter, and that the alternator was functioning normally the whole time. Anyone have any theories as to what would cause indications like this? Is external RF interference possible? External RF is not the cause. Does your plane have a voltmeter? If not, you can get a cigarette lighter VM to monitor the bus voltage. A VM is a helpful tool to verify whether or not the alternator/charging sytem is operating. When the charging system is active, the voltage should be around 14V, when inactive, the bus voltage will quickly (within a few seconds) taper off to 13V and then slowly decay to 10V (over the course of an hour or so) as the battery loses charge. The decay time is dependent on the battery and the electrical load. Anyways, if you see a zero on the ammeter, and the bus voltage has dropped below 14V, there is a good chance the charging system has failed. Also, don't be surprised that the system came back to life after a few minutes. Intermittent contacts are very common on the 30 year old wiring, circuit breakers, and switches in our planes. -Nathan |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
I've never seen our ammeter reading zero before. Doesn't any load on the
battery mean constant discharge and therefore constant charge for the alternator Another reason to have an EDM. My voltage is always 12.9 or better. The only time I glance at my ammeter is after start up when I turn on the left side of the master switch. |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
If the meter reads the total current put out by the alternator PLUS the battery,
the meter is referred to as a load meter. If the meter reads the current in or out of the battery, it is an ammeter (ampere meter). It is quite normal for an ammeter to read zero if the battery is fully charged; the alternator is simply driving whatever load you put on the battery bus and there is zero current into/outof the battery. The voltmeter is the best piece of equipment that you can put on an airplane. You might want to consider one of the Westech dual-meter (volts plus amps) setups. You don't even need an extra hole in the panel, and the mounting is the same as most load/ammeters. Jim Nathan Young shared these priceless pearls of wisdom: - - -If the electrical system in his Warrior is the same as my Cherokee, -the ammeter reads the alternator output current. This is typically at -least a few amps to charge the battery, and drive the field current -windings. Jim Weir (A&P/IA, CFI, & other good alphabet soup) VP Eng RST Pres. Cyberchapter EAA Tech. Counselor http://www.rst-engr.com |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
Dave Butler wrote in message ...
FWIW, on the '75 Archer I used to own, the ammeter needle would sometimes stick against the faceplate and not move. The mechanic bent the needle a little bit so it wouldn't drag against the faceplate. The bent needle looked like crap, but it worked after that. Dave The correct term (so as not to scare the uninitiated) is "formed" not "bent". Your mechanic "formed the needle a little bit". So it was explained to me by an ex-IBM ield engineer, anyway. John S. |
#16
|
|||
|
|||
While in flight, try adding a substantial load to the system (such as
say the pitot heater or a landing lite) and see of the ammeter shows the additional alternator load. If it discharges, your alternator has definitely quit on you. BTW a bad battery can give all sorts of weird electrical charging system symptoms. Does your battery have a full volume of electrolyte? It is vitally important to keep the tops of the plates covered with electrolyte at all times. Maybe your battery has become nearly dry on one cell? |
#17
|
|||
|
|||
Alternator was removed and found to have worn brushes and somewhat corroded,
stiff springs. It was 5.5 years and 620 hours old, and was replaced with a new one. It is believed that the brush condition was responsible for the intermittant contact. Jeremy "John Clonts" wrote in message ... "Jeremy Lew" wrote in message ... Was flying IFR in the clear on top of an overcast layer today. I noticed at some point that the ammeter was indicating zero, and not moving. The Alt warning light was not illuminated, except when I pressed the test button. I started to shut down non-essential electriconics in case this was for real. After a minute or two, the ammeter needle resumed normal indications, and stayed that way for the rest of the flight. The Alt warning light was properly illumated during low-RPM operations on the ground, as well as during the engine runup split switch check. The warning light/ammeter needle discrepancy suggests to me that problem was in the ammeter, and that the alternator was functioning normally the whole time. Anyone have any theories as to what would cause indications like this? Is external RF interference possible? (x-posted to rec.aviation.owning) What a coincidence, we've had the same sort of intermittent problem with our charging system on the last few flights! Of course, when we've had our voltmeter there to diagnose it, it seems to work perfectly Will let you know what we find-- please do likewise! (Ours is a 1978 Cessna 210M - IO520). Cheers, John Clonts Temple, Texas N7NZ |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Transient alternator problem | John Clonts | Owning | 6 | July 11th 04 06:01 PM |
Transient visit to the Pacific Northwest | sprack | Piloting | 5 | May 5th 04 05:57 AM |