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  #1  
Old 06-04-2020, 04:51 PM
Dave12 Dave12 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Elkton, Md.
Posts: 1,652
Default How much time is on your Plane Power Alternator?

I have read about the miserable experiences some have experienced with their PP Alternator. I have considered swapping mine for a B&C unit. I have about 550 hours on mine. I?m just curious if there are others who have racked up higher amounts of times on theirs. It goes a bit against my grain to fix the unbroken, but I do get the feeling it might be borrowing time.
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Wag Aero Sport Trainer built,sold and wrecked
N588DF RV12 #336 built, sold and alive and well in New York
N73DF RV12 #244 built, sold and alive and well in Florida
N91 RV RV9 I wish I could say I built this one! Mark Santoleri hit the ball out of the park on this gem.
Currently restoring a 1978 Citabria GCBC
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  #2  
Old 06-04-2020, 05:04 PM
Aussieflyer Aussieflyer is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia
Posts: 80
Default 300 hours

I got about 300 hours before the rear bearings failed. My buddies just got 200 hours and 600 hours before their regulators commenced to spike and cause the VPX to trip the Nav/Com and transponder circuits.

Alan
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  #3  
Old 06-04-2020, 05:21 PM
Walt's Avatar
Walt Walt is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Dallas/Ft Worth, TX
Posts: 5,686
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave12 View Post
I have read about the miserable experiences some have experienced with their PP Alternator. I have considered swapping mine for a B&C unit. I have about 550 hours on mine. I’m just curious if there are others who have racked up higher amounts of times on theirs. It goes a bit against my grain to fix the unbroken, but I do get the feeling it might be borrowing time.
By all means keep running it, you may get a few more hours out of it.
Definitely best to wait until you're stranded somewhere, with no tools, on a trip with the wife before you replace it
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Walt Aronow, DFW, TX (52F)

EXP Aircraft Services LLC
Specializing in RV Condition Inspections, Maintenance, Avionics Upgrades
Dynamic Prop Balancing, Pitot-Static Altmeter/Transponder Certification
FAA Certified Repair Station, AP/IA/FCC GROL, EAA Technical Counselor
Authorized Garmin G3X Dealer/Installer
RV7A built 2004, 1700+ hrs, New Titan IO-370, Bendix Mags
Website: ExpAircraft.com, Email: walt@expaircraft.com, Cell: 972-746-5154

Last edited by Walt : 06-04-2020 at 05:30 PM.
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  #4  
Old 06-04-2020, 06:01 PM
Dave12 Dave12 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Elkton, Md.
Posts: 1,652
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Walt View Post
By all means keep running it, you may get a few more hours out of it.
Definitely best to wait until you're stranded somewhere, with no tools, on a trip with the wife before you replace it
Bad day at work?
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Wag Aero Sport Trainer built,sold and wrecked
N588DF RV12 #336 built, sold and alive and well in New York
N73DF RV12 #244 built, sold and alive and well in Florida
N91 RV RV9 I wish I could say I built this one! Mark Santoleri hit the ball out of the park on this gem.
Currently restoring a 1978 Citabria GCBC
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  #5  
Old 06-04-2020, 06:27 PM
romaja romaja is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Portland Oregon Area
Posts: 81
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Walt View Post
By all means keep running it, you may get a few more hours out of it.
Definitely best to wait until you're stranded somewhere, with no tools, on a trip with the wife before you replace it
Lame post. A member asks an honest question and you barrage him with sarcasm.
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Rans S20 Raven Sold Built in 2016
ATP, CFI/II/MEI
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  #6  
Old 06-04-2020, 06:35 PM
schristo@mac.com's Avatar
schristo@mac.com schristo@mac.com is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: WA
Posts: 988
Default 2,350 on mine... so far ;)

2,350 on mine... so far

I have always had a blast tube on the regulator.
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RV7 powered by a lycoming thunderbolt IO-390
turning a whirlwind HRT prop

with more hours flying than building... 2,430 on the hobbs!
ORCA Flight
Race 771
margarita!
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  #7  
Old 06-04-2020, 06:50 PM
Dan Langhout's Avatar
Dan Langhout Dan Langhout is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Huntsville, AL USA
Posts: 546
Default 587 Hrs and 6 years . . . .

. . . . . of trouble free operation so far. I guess it could fail tomorrow . . . . .
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Dan Langhout
2020 =VAF= Dues PAID . . . . .
RV-7 N528DP slow build
First Flight July 26th, 2014
665 hours and counting . . . .
Now based at Moontown (3M5)
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  #8  
Old 06-04-2020, 07:20 PM
Walt's Avatar
Walt Walt is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Dallas/Ft Worth, TX
Posts: 5,686
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave12 View Post
Bad day at work?
Sorry can't blame it on that, I'm self employed, if I start having a rough day I just go home....

Quote:
Originally Posted by romaja View Post
Lame post. A member asks an honest question and you barrage him with sarcasm.
Guess you're not from NY, and I've been called way worse than 'lame'.

Perhaps I should have said something a little 'nicer' like:

'do yourself a favor and replace that POS before it fails and leaves you stranded'.... there is that better?
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Walt Aronow, DFW, TX (52F)

EXP Aircraft Services LLC
Specializing in RV Condition Inspections, Maintenance, Avionics Upgrades
Dynamic Prop Balancing, Pitot-Static Altmeter/Transponder Certification
FAA Certified Repair Station, AP/IA/FCC GROL, EAA Technical Counselor
Authorized Garmin G3X Dealer/Installer
RV7A built 2004, 1700+ hrs, New Titan IO-370, Bendix Mags
Website: ExpAircraft.com, Email: walt@expaircraft.com, Cell: 972-746-5154
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  #9  
Old 06-04-2020, 07:29 PM
YellowJacket RV9 YellowJacket RV9 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Clearwater, FL KCLW
Posts: 1,281
Default

I don't get all the fuss - There's over 500 hours on my $50 Suzuki alternator, and I can find a replacement at any autozone.

But to answer more productively, there was a poll a while back about alternator reliability, and it seems like theres a wide variety of experiences with every type. How much trouble will it be to replace your alternator if it does go bad? I don't recall it being a terrible job. Would it be a simple enough swap to just keep a cheap auto alternator on hand just in case you need something to get you home?

Chris
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RV-9A - Done(ish) 4/5/16! Flying 4/7/16

Last edited by YellowJacket RV9 : 06-04-2020 at 07:39 PM.
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  #10  
Old 06-04-2020, 07:37 PM
Walt's Avatar
Walt Walt is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Dallas/Ft Worth, TX
Posts: 5,686
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by YellowJacket RV9 View Post
I don't get all the fuss - There's over 500 hours on my $50 Suzuki alternator, and I can find a replacement at any autozone.

Chris
Last time I checked foreflight it didn't show the location of all the autozones in the USA or how to flight plan for that route.

Ok I'm gonna stop now...
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Walt Aronow, DFW, TX (52F)

EXP Aircraft Services LLC
Specializing in RV Condition Inspections, Maintenance, Avionics Upgrades
Dynamic Prop Balancing, Pitot-Static Altmeter/Transponder Certification
FAA Certified Repair Station, AP/IA/FCC GROL, EAA Technical Counselor
Authorized Garmin G3X Dealer/Installer
RV7A built 2004, 1700+ hrs, New Titan IO-370, Bendix Mags
Website: ExpAircraft.com, Email: walt@expaircraft.com, Cell: 972-746-5154

Last edited by Walt : 06-04-2020 at 07:43 PM.
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