False ELT alerts

[TShort]

I installed an ACK E-04 during the upgrade on the -10 a couple of years ago.

Since then, I have had 2 separate occasions where the thing has gone off and alerted the CAP.

Before all the comments about crummy landings come in, both events happened 2-3 days after I arrived. The first time the plane was on the ramp at KAEJ and had been there tied down overnight before the ELT went off.

The second was last month, I landed at KLMO and was tied down there for 2-3 days before I got the call that the ELT was active.

Has anyone else had similar issues?

Thanks
Thomas

[fixnflyguy]

My Ameriking 450 did same thing, but it was in my hangar and friends scanner caught it. I replaced batteries in the unit, and in the remote head. It was fine for a month, then did it again. AVX shop didnt have any good suggestions, so I got a used one to replace it.

[jmra72a]

Yes I had similar problems with mine. I called ACK and they advised it was water in the batteries or RF interference. My batteries were fine. A friend advised me to remove the ELT and wrap it in aluminum foil. Clamp it back in the holder making sure that the wrap was well grounded.

I did this 6 months ago and have not had a false activation since.

Give it a try.

[smt6]

Originally Posted by jmra72a

Yes I had similar problems with mine. I called ACK and they advised it was water in the batteries or RF interference. My batteries were fine. A friend advised me to remove the ELT and wrap it in aluminum foil. Clamp it back in the holder making sure that the wrap was well grounded.

I did this 6 months ago and have not had a false activation since.

Give it a try.

As wild as this sounds, I did this...and so far so good. I’ve fought this subpar ELT for four years. Numerous calls from Air Force, Coast Gaurd, ect. If I’d have known all I had to do was wrap it foil...wow

[TShort]

Originally Posted by RV8JD

I wonder if it has something to do with not having the static suppressor they supplied with later units:

http://www.ackavionics.com/wp-conten...SUPPRESSOR.pdf

Carl-

I'll have to look into that more, but I hope not, as I bought the unit new ~2 years or so ago...

[Canadian_JOY]

If purchased two years ago it should have had the static suppressor included in the installation kit.

[smt6]

I installed the static suppressor after having many false alerts. It did nothing. The ACKs are junk. Buy an Artex

[Canadian_JOY]

Originally Posted by smt6

I installed the static suppressor after having many false alerts. It did nothing. The ACKs are junk. Buy an Artex

I'll second this recommendation that the ACK's are a substandard device.

My first recommendation remains the Kannad, despite their expensive battery pack replacement. Their in-service record is at the top of the pack.

The Artex comes next in line.

The ACK E-04 is at the top of my list of "do not install" equipment.

[Raymo]

Originally Posted by smt6

I installed the static suppressor after having many false alerts. It did nothing. The ACKs are junk. Buy an Artex

My ARTEX had false alerts on different days. Replaced with ACK-E04. Buy ACK, ARTEX are junk

My antenna is mounted internally, so the static buildup issue can't occur.

[hpmicrowave]

When weird unexplained electronic event's like this happened during the F35 development program I was involved in Lockheed would close out the issue by stating it was caused by Cosmic Rays, while I was pretty skeptical as far as I remember the Program Office never complained with this excuse.

So wrong time software reboots, autopilot misbehavior, random ELT activations, messed up GPS approaches, ADSB tracks straying into Restricted airspace, wrong frequencies, the list of things that Cosmic Rays can mess up gets bigger every year as we move into the age of Cosmic Avionics.

If this excuse works for a $25 billion dollar jet fighter program it can work for you too!