Battery Charging Question

[flyboy1963]

lots of good info here on charging....but I'd like to know if my battery is operating at full capacity, or is likely to leave me on some distant ramp!

Can I test the cranking amps with a typical load test unit, like the guys at the garage do for my car?... apparently this will show the CCA rating, and seriously discharges the battery, so a full re-charge is required.

Question #2;
I am not in a hangar, or near power, so does anyone have a successful solar charger setup? I put a little 9w panel on mine for the winter, but it didn't keep it at even 12.6 volts...the voltage kept dropping slowly.

This spring, after sitting for almost 9 months, my Concorde started the 0-320 several times at about 65 degrees F. It has been about 6 years in the plane, but even sitting for many winters with little activity, it has survived.
(Yes, I should remove it when it gets cold, but that requires pulling the lower cowl, which any sane person would avoid even in the balmiest climate!...plus, you never know when a nice day will come along. right?)

[N15JB]

Originally Posted by flyboy1963

Question #2;
I am not in a hangar, or near power, so does anyone have a successful solar charger setup? I put a little 9w panel on mine for the winter, but it didn't keep it at even 12.6 volts...the voltage kept dropping slowly.

Perry,

I use the BatteryMinder SCC-015-AA-S2, a 15W unit, and it works great in Colorado. Available from www.batteryminders.com for $135 with their trade in offer, which is interesting since you realy don't have to trade in anything.

Jim Berry
Rv-10

[Ron Lee]

I wouldn't trust a Concorde class battery more than about three years. Six years and it would not be in my plane unless I never left my airport.

[Don]

The EAA had a webinar on batteries a few months ago. I didn't expect to learn much but I was wrong. I urge you to watch the webinar - it will explain why the battery minder is the charger you want to use and why trickle chargers should be avoided with AGM batteries.

[flyboy1963]

Originally Posted by Ron Lee

I wouldn't trust a Concorde class battery more than about three years. Six years and it would not be in my plane unless I never left my airport.

Ron, my point exactly. Is my battery toast, or is it just fine, as I've only started the plane 100 times in the 6 years? How does one know for sure? It cranks nicely, even when below freezing. Go figure.

Don & Jim, thanks for the tips; the 15w solar panel battery minder looks perfect, just need to find one around here somewhere...and why there is a notice about it's compatibility with Concorde.

[Ron Lee]

Perry, I do not know. My three year (approximate) value is just based upon decades of car battery replacement using best recollection on how long they live.

The Odyssey's seems to have a much better life span.

Can you expect a gradual degradation that is a warning of impending failure? Or is it best to know the typical lifespan and replace them before failure. My preference is the latter if you go beyond your home airport.

If you just do pattern work and failure to start someday is not a problem, you can use a battery to failure.

[curtis]

The charger I recommend is not by any means cheap, but it has the most bang for the buck.  My charger utilizes 110LL to power the engine which in turn turns the battery charger (aka the alternator).  I try and make sure that I put the battery on charge at least once if not twice a week.

I'm sorry, I couldn't pass this up :-)

[N15JB]

Originally Posted by flyboy1963

Is my battery toast, or is it just fine, as I've only started the plane 100 times in the 6 years? How does one know for sure? It cranks nicely, even when below freezing.

Don & Jim, thanks for the tips; the 15w solar panel battery minder looks perfect, just need to find one around here somewhere...and why there is a notice about it's compatibility with Concorde.

The best way to determine the useful life of a battery is to do a capacity check once a year. Harbor Freight has a nice capacity checker usually for about $60US. The fact that it will still crank your engine means little. What you really want to know is how long your battery will keep your essential panel alive if you loose your alternator.

The note re compatibility just means the BatteryMinder puts out a charge profile that is best for a Concorde battery.

Jim Berry
RV-10

[flyboy1963]

Originally Posted by N15JB

The best way to determine the useful life of a battery is to do a capacity check once a year. Harbor Freight has a nice capacity checker usually for about $60US. The fact that it will still crank your engine means little. What you really want to know is how long your battery will keep your essential panel alive if you loose your alternator.

The note re compatibility just means the BatteryMinder puts out a charge profile that is best for a Concorde battery.

Jim Berry
RV-10

I agree, need to know the CCA or duration Ah,
and keep the thing charged up one way or another.
...........except;
Concorde shows an april 2010 service letter somewhat emphatically saying you can NOT use a 'batteryminder' brand charger, as it may put out too much voltage, etc. etc. Also refers to Gill.

http://www.thebatteryminder.com/manu...terytender.pdf

...then they go on to sell almost the exact same thing on their site!

could be some CYA lawyer talk.

no wonder I'm confused.

[flyboy1963]

for 2012 - the BatteryMinder site says:

CONCORDE has changed its recommended charge rate and effective temperature compensation range requirements for both their 12-V and 24-V sealed valve regulated AGM Aviation batteries (all sizes). Because the voltage requirements are now higher than those of Gill, we have developed the S-5s to be used exclusively on Concorde Sealed General Aviation AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) batteries. Concorde has done extensive testing and has determined that the life and performance of their batteries will be improved by BatteryMINDers using their new specifications for charging and maintenance.

so the model to use for the RG25 for instance, is the
BatteryMINDer Model 12248-AA-S5: 12 Volt, 8 Amp (12V 8A) Aviation Charger/Maintainer/Desulfator

not sure if there is a solar version of it yet.....don't really see how???