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Can we dumb it down?
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I would bet the EarthX battery management system would shut it down well before reaching 10 volts
Erich |
11 volts
Okay 11 volts?
Amended request: To EarthX how many minutes can a fully charged ETX680 last at a constant 10Amp down to the BMS allowed minumim voltage, and what is that voltage? What is the time for a PC680 under the exact same conditions to the same voltage and at the same outside air temperature? Thank you |
Long Beach IMS Show
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Thank you for your response. We typically do not ship all of our aircraft batteries to a motorcycle show and as we didn't get a big response here (:() We shipped only 1 ETX680 there. The show hours are 3-8 Friday the 18th, 9:30-8 on Saturday and 10-5 on Sunday. If you really want to see the ETX680 in person, we can make it happen! Just send me an email with your contact information and if a certain time works for you outside of the show hours. sales@earthxbatteries.com |
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The manual for the Odyssey batteries is: http://www.odysseybattery.com/docume...M-002_1214.pdf. They do not list a graph with time/voltage and amperage so to get an accurate response, we recommend you contact them. |
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I hope EarthX truly appreciates your continuous and professional response on this forum. You are quite literally building EarthX's reputation in the aviation industry by answering and dealing with all of the detailed questions that are thrown at you. Pilots are a skeptical bunch and you are always here to provide a detailed and honest response to all of the questions raised about your batteries. Your not just answering emails here, you are personally building a strong market segment for your company. I hope EarthX understand this. Gary Welch Cloverdale, Ca |
Marvin,
The PC680 will last around 80 minutes to what's considered discharged condition (10.02V), based on the graph in the Odyssey doc. FWIW, the actual voltage voltage at 'end of life' isn't that critical in this case; just that they both have a lifespan that's fairly close to equal. One potential difference is that the BMS in the EarthX is likely to shut it down for its own self preservation, while the PC680 will continue to supply what it can, for as long as it can. Might not be very many minutes past that 10.2 V point, but if your critical 'stuff' works down to, say, 8V, then whatever time the PC680 takes to get down to 8V is there to use. :-) Charlie |
Thanks for the info
To both Kathy and RV7Charlie:
That info is very useful. My critical systems will run down well below 10.2 volts; however, 74+ minutes is enough for my concerns. I have built my system around the PC680, but may change to a ETX680 at some point in the future. I think jumping into a fully electrically dependent aircraft is enough for now. Because of my dual systems the weight difference is over 20 lbs, but the cost difference is substantial. I will wait to see if the cost difference declines over time. I probably need to go on a diet anyway.:) |
New ETX1200 size
Hope all of you are having a fantastic start to the holiday season!
Just wanted to give the Vans forum readers the latest news at EarthX. :D Effective yesterday, 12-1-2016, the ETX1200 is being built in the same case size as the ETX680 and the ETX900 so you have the ability to easily upgrade and use the custom made battery box or the multi use battery box with this model. Also, our South Africa distributor, Alpha Engineering, will have the aircraft batteries in house by the 10th of this month! Getting product into South Africa is very difficult but this distributor was very motivated to have the EarthX batteries for sale as South Africa has many experimental aircrafts! The infrastructure of roadways is minimal at best in Africa and many people have aircrafts as this is the only way to get from point A to B! |
Cranky SkyTec 149-LSX Lightweight Starter
Anyone having positive results with an EarthX ETX 680 battery and a SkyTec LSX lightweight starter?
By positive I mean, its spins the prop and starts on the first attempt. My SkyTec LSX / Odyssey 680 combo takes 2 to 3 tries before I can get the prop turning with the battery indicating 12.6 V. I have an RV-8 with high compression IO-360. |
PC680 cranking
My PC 680 (B & C starter) cranks my 10:1 Lycon IO-360 briskly and will do multiple starts without any charging. I would check your grounds and wire gauge etc. or consider a B&C!
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I have an RV-8 with IO 360 M1A, Sky-Tec 149-12LS. Recently installed EarthX ETX 680 due to age of Odyssey 680. The EarthX spins the prop much better with easier starts - no problems whatsoever.
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I'm trying to get my starter to turn the prop like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pTj-Gsibqg Instead of this: https://youtu.be/R3URjpaJyfU (Videos borrowed from "Mantry" thread, "SkyTec 149-NL vs 149-LSX Starter Cranky!") Seems like this can be achieved with the EarthX as opposed to a new starter. Please share the results of your experience using the EarthX ETX 680 battery and a SkyTec LSX lightweight starter. Thanks again! |
Charlie,
Before spending the big bucks, have you monitored battery voltage *on the actual battery posts* while cranking? That will tell you a lot about whether you really have a battery problem. You can see the same symptom if you have a poor connection anywhere in the electrical path from post, through all the joints to the starter, and all the way back to the negative post of the battery. When you check, be sure the voltmeter probes are on the actual battery posts; not the bolt or wire terminal. Charlie |
Voltage drop test
Do what Charlie wrote before you start to replace things
it is called Voltage drop test I am sure you can find info on it online you have 2 contactors on the way to starter check drop on each one I dont remember the Amps rating on them but they must be working close to there limit when cranking. bad contact = small gauge wire usually overheat when high Amps passing through Using EarthX with bad contactors = BBQ |
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I have to bump the starter 2 - 3 times before I can get my prop to fully rotate and start my engine. I think the combination of my Odyssey's voltage drop and relatively low rated CCA (170) on this 18 month old battery is causing the issue. I'm trying to determine if there are any folks out there who saw improved cranking with the EarthX (320 CCA) and the SkyTec LS combo. My battery is on the firewall. I have a Hartzell CS prop on an IO-360. The EarthX would help me shed a few pounds up front. |
Hi Charlie,
I just installed an EarthX 900 in my -4. My aircraft has an IO-360 with a Skytech lightweight starter. It cranks noticeably faster and starts much quicker than with the Concorde lead acid gel cell I replaced. I attribute the quicker starts to the lower voltage droop. My Pmags seem to like voltages above 10 volts. My old (3-4 years) Concorde battery would drop to 9.8 or 9.9 on starts and the engine would often catch upon release of the starter button (as the voltage recovered, I believe). I only have 3 or 4 starts on the new battery, but so far it seems great. Good luck, Dean |
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I think your described symptoms may be resolved if you change out the battery but as others have stated, make sure there is not some wiring or connection problem in the circuit from the battery to the starter. If you do not find any issues then try installing the new battery. I have no complaints to date with the EarthX battery. |
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Thank you for the advise and sharing your experiences. Today I removed all my cables, checked and cleaned the connections, ensured the terminal crimps were good and reassembled it all. With my Odyssey PC680 fully charged my SkyTec LS starter was able to turn the prop on the first attempt. No bump. Based on the responses I received I will be getting an EarthX. It will have to wait until after Christmas. Thanks again! |
Sun N Fun
It is that time of year! Time to dust off those wings and head south. EarthX will be attending Sun N Fun, Hangar A, booth A-64 and would love to have you stop by and say "Hi".
If you are planning on attending and making a purchase of any of EarthX products, give us a call this week (970) 674-8884 so we can guarantee your product is waiting for you and you can avoid the lines. We never discount the batteries as they are priced year round as low as we can go but the accessories have great show pricing. Looking forward to seeing you there! |
What are the show discounts?
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Will you have that sealed battery box for the EarthX 900 at the show? |
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We do not have a sealed battery box, we will only have the 3 models we currently have on the website. |
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Thank you! See you there...
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EarthX ETX900
Thinking of going another route for now.
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Lithium Battery articles
Dear Vans Readers,
We have been granted permission to provide you a link to the articles published in Kitplanes, December 2017 issue, and the EAA Sport Aviation about lithium batteries for your viewing pleasure. Both offer great insights with different styles of presenting the information. A big thank you to both of those magazines for providing educational information about lithium batteries. https://earthxbatteries.com/magazine-articles __________________ |
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