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04-23-2015, 06:16 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 703
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External power plug question
I am asking about the kind you see on Pipers and Cessnas that can be used to jump start the plane. If you installed one of these are you glad you did or if you did not, do you wish you had done so? Any thoughts or comments are welcome.
Thanks in advance!
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RV 7
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04-23-2015, 07:03 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SC
Posts: 12,887
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I bought a battery tender which has a small connector with ring terminals that go on the battery and a Molex connector that is secured by the oil door. When going on trips, I toss the charger in my tool bag. No need for the weight or complexity of an ugly wart of a power plug on the exterior of the plane.
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Bill R.
RV-9 (Yes, it's a dragon tail)
O-360 w/ dual P-mags
Build the plane you want, not the plane others want you to build!
SC86 - Easley, SC
www.repucci.com/bill/baf.html
Last edited by N941WR : 04-23-2015 at 08:18 PM.
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04-23-2015, 07:07 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 440
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I've installed or helped install two of these. Also I fabbed up a jumper to the external plug that allows me to jump it with an external battery or a battery charger. Works really good for sitting in the hanger running the setup on the radios while connected to the charger. Other wise it's a PITA to jump off the battery. It's a great thing to install and is very easy to do so.
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04-23-2015, 07:30 PM
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VAF Moderator / Line Boy
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Dayton, NV
Posts: 12,256
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A lot depends on your climate - it can be very nice to have in a cold climate if you are having a tough time getting fuel to light off and the battery is cold. In a warm climate, probably not as much. I use my airplanes in varying climates, and would rather have jump capability and not need it than need it and not have it. I grew up where it was bitter cold and hangars weren't alwasy available - in that case, a jump can sometimes be priceless.
These can be installed without "an ugly wart on the outside of your plane" (sorry Bill) with a little ingenuity.
Right now, we have three planes - one with external jump capability, one with an internal cable connection for jumping, and one with just a hidden charger/maintenance plug. So we cover the gamut.
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Paul F. Dye
Editor at Large - KITPLANES Magazine
RV-8 - N188PD - "Valkyrie"
RV-6 (By Marriage) - N164MS - "Mikey"
RV-3B - N13PL - "Tsamsiyu"
A&P, EAA Tech Counselor/Flight Advisor
Dayton Valley Airpark (A34)
http://Ironflight.com
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04-24-2015, 05:43 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: n. wi
Posts: 777
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exterior plug
fwiw,
the plug used on pipers can be bought MUCH cheaper at a semi trailer [kentucky, freuhauf] parts store than as an aviation part.it is used on the trailer to power winches, overhead cranes etc. and since some pipers were wired with aluminum cable to the battery you needed it.
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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
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04-24-2015, 06:13 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Dublin, GA
Posts: 256
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We have one
It is on the belly and although a wart for sure it is not very noticeable. Wished we had something like on the Kitfox on occasion. I guess I need to get off my duff and put one in.
IMHO: I would put in some sort of relatively easy access to jump start. Just in case. You will only need it once to be glad you did.
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Maxwell Duke
Kitfox S6/TD/IO240/SteamIFR Built it
RV10 IO540/AFS5600x3 Bought it
CH750 O200/AFS5500. Built it with 7 friends. DAR-Vic Syracuse
Maule M7-235C Sold it(kind of miss it)
VAF paid 5/2017
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04-24-2015, 06:39 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central IL
Posts: 5,516
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ironflight
<SNIP>
Right now, we have three planes - one with external jump capability, one with an internal cable connection for jumping, and one with just a hidden charger/maintenance plug. So we cover the gamut.
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No disrespect,  but it is either you learned something as time went by, you are running an experiment, or just couldn't decide. Kinda humorous - it is where I am -can't decide. I think maybe minimal flying lead (battery tender) for me. Modify if needed later. I gotta finish this thing!! Back to work.
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Bill
RV-7
Lord Kelvin:
“I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about,
and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you
cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge
is of a meager and unsatisfactory kind.”
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04-24-2015, 07:53 AM
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: X35 - Ocala, FL
Posts: 3,679
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For the RV-10 a ground power plug is a must-have IMHO. With a short plug/dongle, you can pull a car up behind the wing and use jumper cables to jump the plane. That has come in handy many times before we got the VP-200 installed. It is also great for hooking up a battery tender/minder when sitting in the hangar.
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Jesse Saint
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04-24-2015, 08:07 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: KAVL
Posts: 317
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Pictures?
I'm following this thread close as I'm at the point of deciding to install one or not. Does anyone have any pictures of their install?
Thanks
Jason
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04-24-2015, 08:42 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Mahomet, Illinois
Posts: 2,195
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For most of us, it was only a matter time before we get to the hangar and find the battery dead. It's a "when" situation, not an "if". When it happens you will definitely want an easy way to hook up a full-blown charger, not just a maintainer of trickle charger. Easy charging access to the battery quickly becomes a necessity, not an option. 
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Terry Ruprecht
RV-9A Tip-up; IO-320 D2A
S. James cowl/plenum
(Dues paid thru Nov '18)
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