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  #1  
Old 04-11-2016, 02:51 PM
Aussieflyer Aussieflyer is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia
Posts: 80
Default 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?
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  #2  
Old 04-11-2016, 03:31 PM
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rvbuilder2002 rvbuilder2002 is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Hubbard Oregon
Posts: 9,035
Default

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 )
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  #3  
Old 04-11-2016, 04:56 PM
jswareiv jswareiv is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: New Orleans, LA
Posts: 474
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Aussieflyer View Post
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.
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  #4  
Old 04-12-2016, 03:35 PM
Aussieflyer Aussieflyer is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia
Posts: 80
Default Thanks

Thank you guys, great idea. I would have never thought of using the oil inspection cover area. I will be installing as suggested.
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  #5  
Old 04-12-2016, 05:26 PM
rightrudder rightrudder is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Laguna Hills, CA
Posts: 1,805
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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.
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  #6  
Old 04-12-2016, 05:36 PM
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Tilford Tilford is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: KY
Posts: 102
Default Chargers?

I like this idea. Is a special charger required for an aircraft battery, or will most automotive battery chargers work?

Thanks,
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  #7  
Old 04-12-2016, 05:51 PM
Bevan Bevan is offline
 
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Location: BC
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tilford View Post
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
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Last edited by Bevan : 04-12-2016 at 05:52 PM. Reason: spelling
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  #8  
Old 04-12-2016, 07:59 PM
Canadian_JOY Canadian_JOY is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,291
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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.
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  #9  
Old 04-13-2016, 09:04 AM
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flion flion is offline
 
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Location: Flagstaff, AZ
Posts: 2,653
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tilford View Post
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.
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  #10  
Old 04-14-2016, 06:03 PM
N366KH N366KH is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Orange, Tx.
Posts: 6
Default 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.
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