VansAirForceForums  
Home > VansAirForceForums

- POSTING RULES
- Donate yearly (please).
- Advertise in here!

- Today's Posts | Insert Pics


Go Back   VAF Forums > Avionics / Interiors / Fiberglass > Electrical Systems
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Today's Posts

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #11  
Old 12-30-2013, 09:01 PM
LifeofReiley's Avatar
LifeofReiley LifeofReiley is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Round Rock, TX
Posts: 3,778
Default

I take the **** in the title must of offended someone, welllllll I'm Sorry! Jeez.
__________________
Reiley
Retired N622DR - Serial #V7A1467
VAF# 671
Repeat Offender / Race 007
Friend of the RV-1
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 12-31-2013, 04:01 AM
flyer174 flyer174 is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Mosheim Tn
Posts: 30
Default

Might be a starter problem developing if the voltage is still good?....
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 12-31-2013, 04:22 AM
bobnoffs bobnoffs is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: n. wi
Posts: 777
Default

my first 625 lasted 1 1/2 yrs before it wouldn't hold a charge over 12 volts. i did keep a schumacher maintainer on 24/7. my new battery has been in service 2 yrs now. again i am using the maintainer.
seems like a common scenario here.
__________________
Bob Noffs
n. wi.
dakota hawk/jab 3300 built and flying. sold 6/18.getting serious about the 12. in the hangar now as of 10/15/19
RV-12 kit as of 9/13
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 12-31-2013, 04:47 AM
ao.frog ao.frog is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Manstad, Norway
Posts: 866
Default 7 years here

My PC680 is still holding up after approx 7 years sitting in my -7.
No charger or maintenace done, except in 2008: I charged it before the very first start.

Oh; and I also charged it a couple of years ago; when the plane had been sitting on the ground for about 6 weeks due to a snag.
I usually fly at once every week or every two weeks.

I always preheat the IO-360 engine during winter (when OAT's is below +5*C). Since the preheater warms up the entire engine compartment inluding the battery, the engine has never been cold-started.

A 60A Plane Power alternator is installed.

The battery still spins the engine nice and fast during start. It starts on the second or third blade. (love those P-mags!)

After start, the amp shows 8-10 for a few minutes, the goes back down to +1/+2 and 14,2-14.4V.

Love that battery!
__________________
Regards Alf Olav Frog / Norway
First RV-7 completed, (bought partly finished from a US-builder) 305 hrs per July 2014, SOLD
Second -7 had first flight Feb 25th 2014. 220 hrs pr July 2019. Life is good!

Last edited by ao.frog : 12-31-2013 at 04:54 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 12-31-2013, 05:06 AM
bhester's Avatar
bhester bhester is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Hopkinsville, KY
Posts: 957
Red face Charger

My seven yr old battery has only had a charger on it maybe 6 or 7 times for maybe 30 mins. each time. Sounds like I'll be keeping it till it dies.
__________________
Bobby Hester - Builder/Pilot/A&P
Surfing the web from Hopkinsville, KY
N857BH RV7A XP-O360 - Garmin G3X ADS-B IN/OUT 2020 Compliant
Web site: http://www.newtech.com/bobbyhester/RVSite.htm
Dec. 2019 VAF donator - alot better than any magazine subscription
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 12-31-2013, 06:02 AM
Brantel's Avatar
Brantel Brantel is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Newport, TN
Posts: 7,496
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by LifeofReiley View Post
Battery shows a full charge, just no CCA's at all... and I have not changed my maintenance schedule at all. Checked all and EVERY connection.
Reilly,

If you have time, follow the proceedure in this post and you most likely wil be able to restore the battery to a usable state:


http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...7&postcount=46

The issue is sufidation from storing the battery on something less than a full charge. I killed 2 of em before learning this.

The problem is that the smart chargers are not that smart. The Odyssee battery will never be fully charged unless it gets soaked for the proper time at the proper voltage. These smart chargers switch to trickle too soon if the battery has not been discharged enough and the trickle voltage is not enough to fully soak charge the battery. Does fine for maintaining just not fully charging.

If you always make a habit to discharge your battery a good amount before putting it on the smart charger, most likely your battery will last a long time.

This is all from the Odysee customer service people after they analyzed my dead batteries.
__________________
Brantel (Brian Chesteen),
Check out my RV-10 builder's BLOG
RV-10, #41942, N?????, Project Sold
---------------------------------------------------------------------
RV-7/TU, #72823, N159SB
Lyc. O-360 carbed, HARTZELL BA CS Prop, Dual P-MAGs, Dual Garmin G3X Touch
Track N159SB (KK4LIF)
Like EAA Chapter 1494 on Facebook
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 12-31-2013, 07:10 AM
LifeofReiley's Avatar
LifeofReiley LifeofReiley is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Round Rock, TX
Posts: 3,778
Default

Thanks for the link Brian, I will try this. If you get the why question answered please report back.
__________________
Reiley
Retired N622DR - Serial #V7A1467
VAF# 671
Repeat Offender / Race 007
Friend of the RV-1
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 12-31-2013, 07:16 AM
Bubblehead's Avatar
Bubblehead Bubblehead is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Keller, TX
Posts: 1,553
Default

There was a long discussion of these batteries and some problems people were having at the AeroElectric-List forum on matronics. (Sorry to plug the competitor, Doug.) http://forums.matronics.com/viewforum.php?f=3

I think people were putting them on battery maintainers and causing trouble with capacity.

I've had a PC 680 in my 8 for 4 years now without problems. I left the master switch on once a year ago when I was updating the SkyView software and ran the battery down. I used a normal battery charger which tripped off on high current a couple of times before staying on charge. The battery came back up to voltage just fine and it has started the engine normally ever since.
__________________
RV-8 180 hp IO-360 N247TD with 10" SkyView!

VAF Donations Made 8/2019 and 12/2019
"Cum omni alio deficiente, ludere mortuis."
(When all else fails, play dead.)
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 12-31-2013, 08:50 AM
db1yg's Avatar
db1yg db1yg is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 629
Default A Trend

My current PC680, purchased in early 2013, died this month.

I am on my third (soon to be fourth) Odyssey since 2006. The first was purchased in 2005 while I was finishing up my RV9a (first flight 3-06). The battery sat on the firewall with no charger for a year prior to first flight. I used it to test the flaps, the avionics, and flew with it for three years with no problem. The unit was replaced only because I was getting nervous about the age (all electric/IFR airplane) since my only experience at that time had been with lead acid batteries. I bought a new one in 2008 and gave the old one to a buddy who used it to test his flaps, avionics, etc on his RV7 and then flew with it for another two years--total life about 6 yrs.

My second battery was used for over four years before I replaced it--again not because it was no longer useable, but because of its age.

This last 680, purchased in early 2013 lasted less than a year. I have tried to rejuvenate it using the Odyssey procedure (6 cycles) and an Odyssey battery charger, to no avail--it will show full charge but when you hit the starter--no cranking amps. I contacted the vendor from which the battery was purchased, they gave me an RMA #, and it was returned. I expect they will test, find what I found, and send me a new battery since it had a two year warranty.

The first two batteries gave excellent service. However, it appears we may have a bad trend here on PC680s purchased in the last year or so.

BTW, the alternator does now and has always put out 14.2 volts.


Cheers,

db
__________________
Dave B.
RV9a/ECiIO360/James Cowl/WW RV200 Prop
Flying since 3/06 and still smiling!!!
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 12-31-2013, 09:20 AM
boomer's Avatar
boomer boomer is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Ladonia,Tx
Posts: 153
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brantel View Post
Reilly,

If you have time, follow the proceedure in this post and you most likely wil be able to restore the battery to a usable state:


http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...7&postcount=46

The issue is sufidation from storing the battery on something less than a full charge. I killed 2 of em before learning this.
I'm on my 4th Odyssey battery in 2.5 years. The first two I killed by running them down starting (before I learned how to hot start an IO-360). One just quit with no reason and would not recharge.

Interestingly, the battery before that would hold a charge but not CCA, so I used it for a year running a low amp sprayer on my tractor. I recharged it between uses with the Odyssey charger. While I was waiting for my latest battery to come via UPS, I put that one in the plane, and it has worked fine for over a month. My guess is that I unknowingly went through the reconstitution process by using it on the sprayer. I'll use it (with the new battery in the pickup) until I go cross country and then carry it as a backup.

BTW, I believe that Odyssey is telling the truth about using the proper charger. I used a no name charger on the first battery and it died. YMMV.

-John
__________________
John Banister
RV-8 Engine (IO-360), Prop (CS)
Flying Since Aug, 2011
2017 Dues Paid
Reply With Quote
Reply



Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:32 AM.


The VAFForums come to you courtesy Delta Romeo, LLC. By viewing and participating in them you agree to build your plane using standardized methods and practices and to fly it safely and in accordance with the laws governing the country you are located in.