Just completed a 3 hour cross-country flight. One hour into the flight at about sunset, the alternator output voltage dipped to 13.5 volts. It wavered there a bit then slowly climbed back up to 13.9-14.0 volts, where it was when I landed.
I knew the last 2 hours of the flight would be at night. So, I plotted my strategy of maybe landing somewhere while there was still some daylight, but I decided to continue on and watched the voltage like a hawk. I planned to divert at any time. It was about as unnerving as watching a gas gauge decrease and hoping you have enough to make it to a gas station.
Anyway, the alternator (NAPA Gold) has about 850 hours on it. I'm looking to proactively replace it rather than have it fail at some inopportune time/place. Of the 4 alternators I've had over the past 1800 hrs., this one has lasted the longest. 1) NipponDenso from Vans finishing kit (lasted 182 hrs.), 2) Had a local shop rebuild the unit from Vans (lasted 664 hrs.), 3) Purchased rebuilt NAPA Gold (lasted 100 hrs.) 4) The current NAPA Gold unit.
I seem to recall on these forums that a 14.5 volt output is considered good. The question is: Does a vendor consider an output voltage of 14.0 volts to be defective?
I knew the last 2 hours of the flight would be at night. So, I plotted my strategy of maybe landing somewhere while there was still some daylight, but I decided to continue on and watched the voltage like a hawk. I planned to divert at any time. It was about as unnerving as watching a gas gauge decrease and hoping you have enough to make it to a gas station.
Anyway, the alternator (NAPA Gold) has about 850 hours on it. I'm looking to proactively replace it rather than have it fail at some inopportune time/place. Of the 4 alternators I've had over the past 1800 hrs., this one has lasted the longest. 1) NipponDenso from Vans finishing kit (lasted 182 hrs.), 2) Had a local shop rebuild the unit from Vans (lasted 664 hrs.), 3) Purchased rebuilt NAPA Gold (lasted 100 hrs.) 4) The current NAPA Gold unit.
I seem to recall on these forums that a 14.5 volt output is considered good. The question is: Does a vendor consider an output voltage of 14.0 volts to be defective?