|
-
POSTING RULES

-
Donate yearly (please).
-
Advertise in here!
-
Today's Posts
|
Insert Pics
|

04-11-2016, 02:51 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia
Posts: 80
|
|
Ground Plug
Has anyone thought about the best place to install a ground plug?
The Van's team have done a great job value adding to the build of the RV14, however they appear to have missed the boat by failing to make allowance for a ground plug. If we fly long enough we will all experience a flat battery someday.
Has anyone installed a ground plug yet?
|

04-11-2016, 03:31 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Hubbard Oregon
Posts: 9,035
|
|
Alan,
You are right, it happens to everyone eventually. But my experience is that very few people that build a custom airplane want a clunky power plug receptacle on the outside of their airplane. More common is for them to wire some type of plug that makes it easy to connect a battery charger.
The designed location of the battery in the RV-14 makes it easy to hook up a charger through the oil access door without any extension adapter (I have done it a few times already  )
__________________
Opinions, information and comments are my own unless stated otherwise. They do not necessarily represent the direction/opinions of my employer.
Scott McDaniels
Van's Aircraft Engineering Prototype Shop Manager
Hubbard, Oregon
RV-6A (aka "Junkyard Special ")
|

04-11-2016, 04:56 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: New Orleans, LA
Posts: 474
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aussieflyer
Has anyone thought about the best place to install a ground plug?
The Van's team have done a great job value adding to the build of the RV14, however they appear to have missed the boat by failing to make allowance for a ground plug. If we fly long enough we will all experience a flat battery someday.
Has anyone installed a ground plug yet?
|
I connected a charger pigtail to the battery and attached it to one of the motor mount tubes with an adel clamp by the oil door. So you can reach in and plug in the other end right to it, real easy. It's not a Battery Minder, but similar and has worked great.
__________________
Stoney
First RV-14 Flight 04/17/2016
Serial #140087, N214SW - Sold
|

04-12-2016, 03:35 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia
Posts: 80
|
|
Thanks
Thank you guys, great idea. I would have never thought of using the oil inspection cover area. I will be installing as suggested.
|

04-12-2016, 05:26 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Laguna Hills, CA
Posts: 1,805
|
|
The "oil door" solution is a good one. I always open it anyway after a flight to check oil level and let some heat escape.
__________________
Doug
RV-9A "slider"
Flew to Osh in 2017, 2018 & 2019! 
Tail number N427DK
Donation made for 2020
You haven't seen a tree until you've seen its shadow from the sky -- Amelia Earhart
|

04-12-2016, 05:36 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: KY
Posts: 102
|
|
Chargers?
I like this idea. Is a special charger required for an aircraft battery, or will most automotive battery chargers work?
Thanks,
__________________
Greg
RV-14A Fuselage Complete.
|

04-12-2016, 05:51 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BC
Posts: 1,674
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tilford
I like this idea. Is a special charger required for an aircraft battery, or will most automotive battery chargers work?
Thanks,
|
Use a charger made for the battery you decide to use. 24V, 12V, Lead-acid, Lithium etc. No such thing as an airplane battery. The battery doesn't know if it's in an airplane or not.
Not suggesting that you do but I chose Shorai lithium and very happy with my choice although I cannot use a standard lead-acid battery charger. I saved 12 lbs.
Bevan
__________________
RV7A Flying since 2015
O-360-A1F6 (parallel valve) 180HP
Dual P-mags
Precision F.I. with AP purge valve
Vinyl Wrapped Exterior
Grand Rapids EFIS
Located in western Canada
Last edited by Bevan : 04-12-2016 at 05:52 PM.
Reason: spelling
|

04-12-2016, 07:59 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,291
|
|
As far as ground power plugs go, take a look at the DIN style plugs, often used on motorcycles (BMW uses them).
The "ship side" receptacle:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=sr_1_2&sr=8-2
The "wire side" plug:
http://www.amazon.com/Iztoss-Motorcy...1HMMRCKV4ZCEFY
These won't carry sufficient power to jump start the airplane, but rather are very well suited to charging the battery. Since the plug snaps into place in the receptacle, one can install the receptacle on the underside of the airplane where it is out of sight and not likely to fill up with rainwater.
|

04-13-2016, 09:04 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Flagstaff, AZ
Posts: 2,653
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tilford
I like this idea. Is a special charger required for an aircraft battery, or will most automotive battery chargers work?
Thanks,
|
Battery Minder makes a variety of chargers for different applications. They are a trickle charger that won't help you much if you completely discharge a battery. But they can be left plugged in for long-term charging or "topping off". The ones I've bought come with two quick-connect pigtails, one with clamps and the other with eyelets for permanent installation. On my RV-6A, I attached the eyelet pigtail to the battery and positioned the quick-connect near the oil door with a little standoff rib made from scrap aluminum and attached to the rear engine baffling. I can open the door and plug it in easily. I have used it while testing avionics and to boost the battery on cold mornings. The PC-680 battery is pretty much a 'motorcycle' battery (as mentioned above, batteries don't know how they are used) and these chargers are also what I use on my motorcycles for long-term storage.
__________________
Patrick Kelley - Flagstaff, AZ
RV-6A N156PK - Flying too much to paint
RV-10 14MX(reserved) - Fuselage on gear
http://www.mykitlog.com/flion/
EAA Technical Counselor #5357
|

04-14-2016, 06:03 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Orange, Tx.
Posts: 6
|
|
Connectors
I am partial to these.
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...0358&ppt=C0005
I have them on all my "small" batteries; lawnmower, ranger, etc. I made a pigtail with regular clamps for other batteries as needed.
|
| Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
|
| Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:45 PM.
|