Alternator woes

[jcoloccia]

Originally Posted by gmcjetpilot

Your two year experience the last two years, with all respect, really does not mean anything unless you had an OV and the OVM came to the rescue. I suspect you will fly the rest of you life with the crow bar going along for the ride and doing nothing.

You misunderstand...I rent from an FBO who's maintenance is, shall we say, less than stellar. Half avionics are labled are NOOP or "unreliable" (whatever that means) and the low voltage idiot light/unusable comms is not all that uncommon.

They take care of the engines and airframes, at least...


edit: okay, I see the confusion now. I was referring to field as opposed to a contactor or the b-side. Yes, of course wire by the diagram exactly as you suggest. I should have been more precise, especially since we're getting into itty bitty details

[Phyrcooler]

Holy C***... do I have to be able to understand and speak this lingo before I start building? George/John - you guys are scaring me!

[Davepar]

Originally Posted by Phyrcooler

do I have to be able to understand and speak this lingo before I start building?

Not at all. There are plenty of people flying with B&C and Vans alternators. Pick one, install it, and move on. Personally I installed the Vans re-built unit, but will replace with the Plane Power model when/if it fails.

[mcphersn]

Well,
I've been handling this little problem by swapping out the failed unit for a recently rebuilt one. I keep the second one ready until the next failure. Four rounds so far. Anybody want to put in a bid for a rebuilt 60 amp unit when the next one goes? I think I'm going to switch instead of continuing the fight...
Miller McPherson
N3657X 780 hours RV6

[airguy]

Originally Posted by mcphersn

Well,
I've been handling this little problem by swapping out the failed unit for a recently rebuilt one. I keep the second one ready until the next failure. Four rounds so far. Anybody want to put in a bid for a rebuilt 60 amp unit when the next one goes? I think I'm going to switch instead of continuing the fight...
Miller McPherson
N3657X 780 hours RV6

Wait a minute - you've had four failures in 780 hours of flight so far? And you're still operating with that unit?

[Rick6a]

Originally Posted by Rick6a

After only 175 Hobbs hours or so, the 60 amp internally regulated alternator from Van's suddenly shot craps...........

Update. Upon removing the alternator for replacement, the following condition was noted. I sent these pictures to Van's and a well known employee there indicated his RV experienced the same failure mode and attributed it to a preload condition. Nevertheless, he also mentioned Van's no longer sells alternators using this bracket.



I installed the new Plane Power 60 amp alternator offered by Van's and note its attach bracket is a far more substantial design. In addition, the kit also includes an additional bracket that ties the alternator assembly into the adjacent starter motor housing. This reinforcement alone should beef up the installation considerably. Makes me suspect the designers are at least mildly acquainted with the same type of failure mode I experienced. As a data point, I did not have to remove the propeller because the belt is the same size used in the original installation. A 1/2 hour test flight proved uneventful.

Finally, if you have an alternator with this type bracket installed, it may well be worth your time to give it an extra special look-see from time to time.