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  #1  
Old 07-24-2013, 03:01 PM
Hotscam Hotscam is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Bosschenhoofd, Netherlands
Posts: 152
Default Voltage regulator failure

Did an 1800 nM roundtrip through europe and touched 7 countries and great weather all the time. Temperatures most days around 100 to 105 deg F.
The 12 was great and I really love the autopilot and ADSB on these long stretches.

Overflying Slovakia however about an hour after departure the Amp reading started hunting between -8 and +8 and finally settled at -8 A i.e no more charge.
Switched off most consumers and landed after another hour at a voltge level of 11.8 Volts at a small bumpy grass airstrip in the middle of nowhere east of Bratislava.
After removing the cowl I found the regulator xtremely hot although the additional cooling hose is installed and blowing well on top of the regulator.
All other temps such as CHT and oil temp were quite normal during the flight.

Now the miracle ! We expected to be grounded for at least a couple of days.
However the owner (farmer) of the airfield which operates only 3 to 4 little planes came to us and we explained the problem using hands and feet.
He ran into the farmhouse and came back after a few minutes with an identical brand new regulator in a sealed bag.
We purchased it from him and 30 minutes later we were ready to fly again.
By now we flew another 10 hours and its quite ok.

The advantage of a widely used aircraft engine is clear but the regulator worries me a bit. I have heard others having temperature problems
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Jack Netherlands

PH-SEP and PH-SES

RV12 #120519 and #120790
Hobbs 700+ hours and 400+ hours
Dual SV1000 Skyview 15, Pocket FMS and Powerflarm 6.0 (ADSB)

RV10 PH-USN Hobbs 350 hours
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  #2  
Old 07-24-2013, 04:33 PM
mrt890 mrt890 is offline
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Friday Harbor, Wa
Posts: 300
Default

http://contrails.free.fr/elec_ducati_en.php

Here's an article about the regulator
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MRT890
120042 RV-12
N112XP
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  #3  
Old 07-24-2013, 06:39 PM
NASA515 NASA515 is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Hansville, Washington
Posts: 536
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hotscam View Post
He ran into the farmhouse and came back after a few minutes with an identical brand new regulator in a sealed bag.
Jack, with luck like that, you should have gone right out and bought a Lottery ticket. By now, you'd probably be reporting on your new Falcon jet.....

Bob Bogash
N737G
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  #4  
Old 07-24-2013, 11:30 PM
Hotscam Hotscam is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Bosschenhoofd, Netherlands
Posts: 152
Smile

Interesting article, but instead of the PC fan we use the hose which should have the same effect.
Looking at the diagram and the way it is buit it does not really look aircraft quality. On the other hand many thousands are using them, but it does not give me a good feeling.

I have never been lucky in lotteries
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Jack Netherlands

PH-SEP and PH-SES

RV12 #120519 and #120790
Hobbs 700+ hours and 400+ hours
Dual SV1000 Skyview 15, Pocket FMS and Powerflarm 6.0 (ADSB)

RV10 PH-USN Hobbs 350 hours
Reply With Quote
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