Van's Air Force
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Ammeter indication erratic
- Thread starter kai
- Start date
jsharkey
Well Known Member
I have a Van's ammeter in my -6 and it does the same. I also have an Alternator low voltage warning light so at least I know that it is working.
I think that the "electronic" Van's ammeter gets overwhelmed by noise when the current through the shunt is close to zero.
Interested in others' experience - or fixes.
FlyingArcher
Well Known Member
Alternator belt?
A frend of mine also had erratic reading on his ampmeter until he found a slipping alternator belt during his first annual condition inspection.
The belt had a slightly different shape than the pulley groove and obviously caused it to slip.
With a new perfectly matched belt, erratic readings just disappeared.
Hope this helps
A frend of mine also had erratic reading on his ampmeter until he found a slipping alternator belt during his first annual condition inspection.
The belt had a slightly different shape than the pulley groove and obviously caused it to slip.
With a new perfectly matched belt, erratic readings just disappeared.
Hope this helps
Thanks for the fast response!
Due to noise issues we removed the 35Amp alternator and installed a Plane Power 60Amp alternator with integrated regulator. It?s a AL12-EI60/B, baught via Van?s.
The issues was there before, with the old alternator. A slipping belt can be excluded. And yes, it seems that it is only at low current.
Main Bus voltage is at 14.3 V.
If there is a overwhelming noise, would it help to replace the wires from the shunt to the ammeter with shielded ones?
Thanks for the help,
Kai.
Due to noise issues we removed the 35Amp alternator and installed a Plane Power 60Amp alternator with integrated regulator. It?s a AL12-EI60/B, baught via Van?s.
The issues was there before, with the old alternator. A slipping belt can be excluded. And yes, it seems that it is only at low current.
Main Bus voltage is at 14.3 V.
If there is a overwhelming noise, would it help to replace the wires from the shunt to the ammeter with shielded ones?
Thanks for the help,
Kai.
Yesterday I replaced the wires with a shielded one. The indication is now much better but not perfect, it is still erratic. But ok for the moment. Next winter we will install a G3X and remove all the steam gauges.
The shunt is located directly behind the magneto, with a clearence of 1-1.5 inch to the magneto wires. Maybe that could cause the erratic indication?
I think, when I install the G3X i will install the new shunt in a different location, so that I have more clearence to the magneto.
When I key the com, the Indication on the ammeter goes to the lower limit (below -40Amps). That seems to be an interference of the com, because it definately cannot draw more than 10Amps, thats the limit of the CB.
Kai.
The shunt is located directly behind the magneto, with a clearence of 1-1.5 inch to the magneto wires. Maybe that could cause the erratic indication?
I think, when I install the G3X i will install the new shunt in a different location, so that I have more clearence to the magneto.
When I key the com, the Indication on the ammeter goes to the lower limit (below -40Amps). That seems to be an interference of the com, because it definately cannot draw more than 10Amps, thats the limit of the CB.
Kai.
