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  #1  
Old 08-03-2016, 10:23 AM
David Paule David Paule is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 4,435
Default What Ground Power Sockets?

What plugs and sockets are you using to connect external power on the ground in your own hangar?

Also, what power socket do you have to get a start from an FBO if necessary?

Thanks,
Dave
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  #2  
Old 08-03-2016, 10:38 AM
jwilbur jwilbur is offline
 
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Location: Culpeper, VA
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Not flying yet, but here's my solution. I've got an Earth-X battery which can be finicky about charging and external power. So I bought also the 9 amp charger (there are even larger ones). On the ground I can plug in the charger and just use equipment normally. The charger will keep the battery topped off. If I need a jump out in the wild, I'll find an AC outlet and charge the battery with the charger (which I'll carry with me). The charger I got should take about 1.5 hours to charge the battery I have from full dead to full charge. Maybe not the most ideal solution but it's my solution.

The charger came with a plug that can attach to the battery. And I bought an extender for that plug which will mount to the rear panel of the baggage compartment of my RV10.
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  #3  
Old 08-03-2016, 11:10 AM
JDanno JDanno is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Tennessee
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I bought the Piper style male and female receptacles. Mounted the female to the plane bottom and wired up the male with some pigtails to use with jumper cables
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  #4  
Old 08-03-2016, 12:02 PM
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Ironflight Ironflight is offline
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On the bigger airplanes, I use the Piper style jack and a plug on jumper cables - so I can get a solid jump start if needed.

On the RV-3, I didn't want the weight penalty of the Piper jack, so I have a connection that will let me charge the battery hidden in one of the cheek cowl storage areas. I have a cable that attaches to a large-amp plug, and carry that with me. Not good for jumping - just charging.
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  #5  
Old 08-03-2016, 02:38 PM
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Auburntsts Auburntsts is offline
 
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Location: Tampa, FL
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I have the 3-prong mil type accessible from a hinged cover I made on the bottom of the tailcone, behind the baggage bulkhead, left of centerline. Sorry no finished pics only these from during the build.



And I have one of these:


and one of these:

I use this one in the hangar and connect to a 13.8v bench top power supply when I need to run my panel for an extended time.
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Last edited by Auburntsts : 08-03-2016 at 02:43 PM.
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  #6  
Old 08-03-2016, 03:18 PM
scsmith scsmith is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Ashland, OR
Posts: 2,573
Default Powerlet

Check out Powerlet.

Not for jumping, but great for charging as well as plugging in temporary accessories. Tons better than a traditional cigarette lighter plug/socket. I believe they are standard equipment on BMW motorcycles for plugging in heated vests, intercoms, etc.
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  #7  
Old 08-03-2016, 06:02 PM
Robert Anglin Robert Anglin is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: houston, texas
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Default Ditto

We have the same socket as Todd has. It is used in most Cessna and other aircraft. Most "FBO's" will have a jump or ground power unit to plug into it for both 12 and 24 volt systems. We did not mount through the skin however. We found that we could make a bracket and mount the socket to the top of the motor mount, just to the rear of the oil filler door. We open the door and plug it in if we need it for hangar flying or if we need a jump. Our battery is on the firewall just below that location, so the positive cable goes on the battery side of the master relay and the ground cable goes to the engine mount. If you slant it back about 30* or so it will not be in the way of anything you need to get at through the oil filler door. Just what we found that works for us. Yours as always, R.E.A. III #80888
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  #8  
Old 08-05-2016, 11:10 AM
David Paule David Paule is offline
 
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Thanks, everyone!

Dave
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  #9  
Old 08-05-2016, 11:28 AM
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rotoiti rotoiti is offline
 
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Location: Bay Area, CA
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I have a powerlet on baggage bulkhead in my -10. Works great.
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  #10  
Old 08-05-2016, 12:21 PM
Waco01 Waco01 is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 29
Default EarthX Jump Pack

I am using the EarthX Jump Pack with their quick connect cable attached to my odyssey battery. The quick connect cable is readily accessible from the front baggage compartment of my RV-8 and only weighs less than 1.5 pounds with adequate starting power for better than six months without recharging.
Val Kozak
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