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09-01-2014, 04:42 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 7
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680 Issues
My RV7A had not flown much in the year before I bought it. The 680 was getting weak so I replaced it and also bought a 25A Odessy charger. That was 16 months ago. I fly about 3 to 5 times every two weeks and have had three instances where it would not crank in the past 6 weeks. It seems to charge back up but I no longer trust it. I plan on load testing it later this week and may replace it.
Regardless, I am wondering what, if anything, other folks are using for maintenance? Can you use a Battery Tender Plus? I have no problem leaving it plugged in when I am out of town but I know the literature says to only use their brand charger which I am afraid to leave on constantly.
Tom M.
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09-01-2014, 06:34 PM
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Senior Curmudgeon
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dayton Airpark, NV A34
Posts: 15,408
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TTM4
Regardless, I am wondering what, if anything, other folks are using for maintenance? Can you use a Battery Tender Plus? I have no problem leaving it plugged in when I am out of town
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I do not leave the battery on the charger any longer than needed to bring it up to charge.
I would not be leaving it on charge while you are out of town for only a week or two----------it should maintain more than enough charge in that short of a time.
__________________
Mike Starkey
VAF 909
Rv-10, N210LM.
Flying as of 12/4/2010 
Phase 1 done, 2/4/2011
Sold after 240+ wonderful hours of flight.
"Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it."
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09-01-2014, 07:06 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 875
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I have a PC680 and Battery Tender Plus. I always connect the Battery Tender to the PC680 after every flight. Whether it sits for a day or a week, it's always plugged in no matter what. I've done this without fail for 2 years and have not had any problems whatsoever with the battery. All the literature I've come across says that to ensure long term reliability, you need to maintain the batteries on a float charger. So far I've been happy with the results. Just another data point for you.
__________________
Karl, Goodyear, Arizona (KGYR) ATP, CFII
RV-14A, Flying
Extra 330LX, Flying
RV-8, Sold
RV-7, Sold
Bearhawk 4-Place, Sold
=VAF= donor 2020
Last edited by Gash : 09-01-2014 at 07:19 PM.
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09-01-2014, 07:30 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 1,499
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TTM4
My RV7A had not flown much in the year before I bought it. The 680 was getting weak so I replaced it and also bought a 25A Odessy charger. That was 16 months ago. I fly about 3 to 5 times every two weeks and have had three instances where it would not crank in the past 6 weeks. It seems to charge back up but I no longer trust it. I plan on load testing it later this week and may replace it.
Regardless, I am wondering what, if anything, other folks are using for maintenance? Can you use a Battery Tender Plus? I have no problem leaving it plugged in when I am out of town but I know the literature says to only use their brand charger which I am afraid to leave on constantly.
Tom M.
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Try cycling it a few times on the bench. I use a car headlight to run it down, drawing about 4 Amps. Then recharge using a 12 A Odyssey charger. My 3rd one mentioned in prior post drops down to 12.0 vdc after 2-3wks. Odyssey says you can leave them plugged into their list of recommended chargers indefinitely.
__________________
Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
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09-01-2014, 07:54 PM
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Senior Curmudgeon
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dayton Airpark, NV A34
Posts: 15,408
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__________________
Mike Starkey
VAF 909
Rv-10, N210LM.
Flying as of 12/4/2010
Phase 1 done, 2/4/2011
Sold after 240+ wonderful hours of flight.
"Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it."
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09-01-2014, 10:43 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 875
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Does anyone have experience with the EarthX ETX lithium batteries? (a VAF advertiser) The specs on their website compare favorably to the PC680. I'd like to hear from anybody who has tried going with one of their batteries.
__________________
Karl, Goodyear, Arizona (KGYR) ATP, CFII
RV-14A, Flying
Extra 330LX, Flying
RV-8, Sold
RV-7, Sold
Bearhawk 4-Place, Sold
=VAF= donor 2020
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09-01-2014, 11:05 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dothan, Alabama
Posts: 1,487
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gash
Does anyone have experience with the EarthX ETX lithium batteries? (a VAF advertiser) The specs on their website compare favorably to the PC680. I'd like to hear from anybody who has tried going with one of their batteries.
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Pretty good thread here. I believe EarthX rep comments on the thread as well.
http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...ghlight=earthx
__________________
Alton DeWeese
N526RV RV7A Tip Up, IO360 180 W/Hartzel BA prop.
Flying ~950 hours since Aug 2010
N4IDH
Construction Log
?The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.?
?Mark Twain
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09-02-2014, 12:37 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: lake oswego, OR
Posts: 161
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my pc680 just died after one year, which is why I am reading these posts. I left the master on while the charger was plugged in as well. the battery shows zero volts and I am told it is dead. I have had odyssey batteries before and left the master on and not had problems with recharging them. I use an intelligent charger I bought at batteries plus ($40?). obviously I need a more fool-proof system so that I quit leaving the master switch on [just been lazy not wanting to crawl under the panel]. what I am reading, however, makes me question buying another odyssey battery.
__________________
RV-6A 1500+hrs since 1997
O-320 D2J, FP, slo-bld
49 states, Bahamas, Canada
2014 - PAID
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09-02-2014, 01:14 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Mojave
Posts: 4,642
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My maintenance plan for PC680's is pretty simple - I do absolutely nothing. I got 6+ years out of my first one and didn't even charge it if the airplane sat for a month. All subsequent PC680's have been just as reliable. They just always turn the engine over with vigor. Couldn't ask for anything more from them.
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WARNING! Incorrect design and/or fabrication of aircraft and/or components may result in injury or death. Information presented in this post is based on my own experience - Reader has sole responsibility for determining accuracy or suitability for use.
Michael Robinson
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Harmon Rocket II -SDS EFI
RV-8 - SDS CPI
1940 Taylorcraft BL-65
1984 L39C
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09-03-2014, 08:04 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: West Chester, Pa
Posts: 583
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I have connected my Odyssey Battery after every flight for the last 4 -1/2 years to a Battery Tender Plus. Still working great
__________________
Jeff Vaughan
RV 12 N237VW ELSA
RV 7A N561EV Sold
West Chester Pa
2020 donation current
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