|
-
POSTING RULES

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

12-30-2016, 12:22 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Salem, OR
Posts: 10
|
|
Ameri-King ELT
Just read Doug's post on "Condition Inspection Hiccup" a day after I was looking to replace the lithium batteries in my Ameri-King #451 ELT. Evidently I haven't been paying attention and did not know of Ameri-King's misdeeds. Does anyone know if I can replace these batteries from another source or am I just shopping for a new ELT?
__________________
Tom Newell
RV-9A
Phase 2- 198 hrs.
Looking for a painter!
|

12-30-2016, 01:07 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,291
|
|
The technically/legally correct answer is that you need to look for a new ELT. Sorry - it's an ugly situation for all involved.
Why is a new ELT required? The battery pack is an integral part of the TSO approval of the ELT. Sure, you can likely find replacement lithium cells which will be direct replacements for the ones in the TSO'd battery pack, but, because they were not sourced from the approved manufacturer of the battery pack, they are not TSO'd and thus the ELT is no longer a TSO'd device with these "aftermarket" batteries installed. Since Ameri-King has lost its ability to produce TSO'd devices, there is no longer a legal source for these battery packs.
Mumble grumble mumble grumble. Yeah, it's not a nice situation to be in, and I'm sorry so many find themselves in this predicament. For years I've been telling people to stay away from Ameri-King products because they were largely junk and the factory support was even worse. Finally the FAA stepped in to do what they should have done years ago.
|

12-30-2016, 01:18 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: KSGJ / TJBQ
Posts: 2,039
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tflyer
Just read Doug's post on "Condition Inspection Hiccup" a day after I was looking to replace the lithium batteries in my Ameri-King #451 ELT. Evidently I haven't been paying attention and did not know of Ameri-King's misdeeds. Does anyone know if I can replace these batteries from another source or am I just shopping for a new ELT?
|
Yes you can if installed in a US registered experimental airplane because a TSO is not required here. Be careful you get the "D" SIZE lithium batteries not the "D" CELL alkaline ones or it doesn't meet the performance requirements of the TSO.

__________________
Galin
CP-ASEL-AMEL-IR
FCC Radiotelephone (PG) with Radar Endorsement
2020 Donation made
www.PuertoRicoFlyer.com
Last edited by GalinHdz : 12-30-2016 at 01:29 PM.
|

12-30-2016, 01:27 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: 57AZ - NW Tucson area
Posts: 10,011
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by GalinHdz
Yes you can if installed in an experimental airplane in the US because a TSO is not required. Be careful you get the "D" SIZE lithium batteries not the "D" CELL alkaline ones or it doesn't meet the performance requirements of the TSO.

|
But the FAR is in Part 91 and calls for "approved ELTs".
Is a DIY battery replacement approved?
http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Gu...0!OpenDocument
__________________
Gil Alexander
EAA Technical Counselor, Airframe Mechanic
Half completed RV-10 QB purchased
RV-6A N61GX - finally flying
Grumman Tiger N12GA - flying
La Cholla Airpark (57AZ) Tucson AZ
|

12-30-2016, 01:28 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Livermore, CA
Posts: 6,797
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by GalinHdz
Yes you can if installed in an experimental airplane in the US. TSO not required. Be careful you get the "D" SIZE lithium batteries not the "D" CELL alkaline ones or it doesn't meet the performance requirements of the TSO.

|
If the FAA asks, how will you prove to them that it meets the TSO performance requirements? Especially since no one seems to know exactly what this means.
|

12-30-2016, 02:01 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: KSGJ / TJBQ
Posts: 2,039
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by BobTurner
If the FAA asks, how will you prove to them that it meets the TSO performance requirements? Especially since no one seems to know exactly what this means.
|
Easy. It has a TSO with those exact same batteries. Even the AmeriKing manual specifies the part number for the batteries.

__________________
Galin
CP-ASEL-AMEL-IR
FCC Radiotelephone (PG) with Radar Endorsement
2020 Donation made
www.PuertoRicoFlyer.com
|

12-30-2016, 02:03 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: KSGJ / TJBQ
Posts: 2,039
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by az_gila
|
Who in the FAA said it isn't?

__________________
Galin
CP-ASEL-AMEL-IR
FCC Radiotelephone (PG) with Radar Endorsement
2020 Donation made
www.PuertoRicoFlyer.com
|

12-30-2016, 02:05 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,291
|
|
A DIY battery replacement is absolutely not approved. The approved "part number" is for the battery pack, not the individual cells, thus the "assembly" is what's approved under TSO. If the manufacturer didn't build the "assembly" then it's not TSO'd.
Keep in mind the 406MHz unit is different from the 121.5 unit. The owner of an Ameri-King 121.5 unit was perfectly within his/her legal right to source the Duracel D-cell batteries listed in the approved installation/operation manual for the 121.5 unit. The 406 is a different bird because it uses a battery which has an Ameri-King part number (4500010-1) rather than a commercial part like the Duracel D-cells, thus the 406 batteries MUST be labelled with the Ameri-King part number.
If you can't reference where you sourced the approved part-numbered battery pack, then you effectively are in violation of the FARs. Similarly, if you sourced the batteries after the FAA issued its Cease and Desist order then you're likely skating on some very thin ice. In the narrow mind of the law, the approved battery pack is required to be installed in order for your aircraft to be deemed to have an approved ELT installed. There is no grey area here.
Last edited by Canadian_JOY : 12-30-2016 at 02:14 PM.
|

12-30-2016, 02:42 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Salem, OR
Posts: 10
|
|
Ameri-King ELT
To be clear, the 4 D sized lithium manganese dioxide 3v batteries that are in this ELT are Ultralife [Hirate branding. They are not taped together as a pack so I assumed that I would be able to replace them with like batteries if I could find them
__________________
Tom Newell
RV-9A
Phase 2- 198 hrs.
Looking for a painter!
|

12-30-2016, 02:48 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,291
|
|
Tom - it's worth a minute of your time to look at the Ameri-King installation/operation manual. What battery part number is listed there? If it lists the batteries by their Ultralife Hirate part number, then you can source those parts and replace the batteries. If, however, you find the part is listed using the Ameri-King part number 4500010-1, then the only approved source for batteries is the "manufacturer" of that part number, Ameri-King. As much as I hate to say it, I think you'll find the manual calls up the Ameri-King part. I look forward to hearing back after you've had a chance to check the manual.
|
| 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 07:17 AM.
|