Power on the ground

[Dugaru]

Next question about my new-to-me RV-9A:

It has a Horizon WS EFIS and an EIS 2000. There's certainly a learning curve here compared to my Warrior's six-pack. What's the best way to power these gadgets while I sit on the ground and figure them out?

Currently I have a Batteryminder AGM-2012, which Odyssey apparently approves for use with my 680. So when fiddling with the Horizon gear, I turn off everything other than the EFIS and EIS and leave the Batteryminder connected. But it's a charger, not a ground power unit, and I don't want to damage the battery.

Thanks!
Doug
p.s. I loved my Warrior. A great design and a great aircraft. But let's just say the performance of the RV-9A is.... an improvement in many material respects.

[wjb]

For working on the ground, you can disconnect the battery or add a extra contactor for ground power and then feed it with a DC power supply, similar to

http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-004423

(primary use: ham radio; $90)

This one is 9A continuous, which should be fine for the cockpit stuff (glass panel, cockpit lighting, etc). These supplies come in a wide range of current capacities, so you can go up or down in current rating. A typical ham radio supply for a 100W transmitter will put out 20A continuous at 13.8V.

[Carl Froehlich]

Originally Posted by wjb

For working on the ground, you can disconnect the battery or add a extra contactor for ground power and then feed it with a DC power supply, similar to

http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-004423

(primary use: ham radio; $90)

This one is 9A continuous, which should be fine for the cockpit stuff (glass panel, cockpit lighting, etc). These supplies come in a wide range of current capacities, so you can go up or down in current rating. A typical ham radio supply for a 100W transmitter will put out 20A continuous at 13.8V.

I found my 20amp power supply (15 amp continuous) to be on the hairy edged running a dual screen SkyView (will all the stuff connected) and a very power hungry GTN-650. Recommend a 25-30 amp supply. For this application a switching supply will be fine (lighter and cheaper). I never run the panel with any kind of battery charger on line. One of these boxes should be fine: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Produc...tid=mfj-4225mv
http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Produc...uctid=MFJ-4128

Carl

[lr172]

I use a battery charger for this type of activity and it should not cause any problems for you. A good charger will go into float mode once the battery is charged and won't overcharge.

[Raymo]

I concur that a you should have no issues if using a proper charger. The one you have is a 2 amp, from what I could find.

Here is a link to a PDF from Odyssey on recovering a discharged battery but it has other useful information as well.

I run dual Dynon 1000T screens with my BatteryMINDer 128CEC1 charger set to 8 amps and it will still charge the PC680 and the Dynon backup batteries on each screen.

[gfb]

I built a simple ground power unit for this exact need:

[BillL]

Originally Posted by Carl Froehlich

I found my 20amp power supply (15 amp continuous) to be on the hairy edged running a dual screen SkyView (will all the stuff connected) and a very power hungry GTN-650. Recommend a 25-30 amp supply. For this application a switching supply will be fine (lighter and cheaper). I never run the panel with any kind of battery charger on line. One of these boxes should be fine: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Produc...tid=mfj-4225mv
http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Produc...uctid=MFJ-4128

Carl

Thanks for the post Carl. I will need a PS soon. I just ordered this one. My 10-friend had trouble with RF noise from a normal charger on his external power connection. This one had good reviews for little to no RF produced, and a good price/amp too.

[Dugaru]

Many thanks to everyone for the info.

GFB, it is fair to say that you have more skills in this department than I do. That thing is cool!

The idea that I could whip one of those up from scratch is... well.... preposterous.

[Dugaru]

Carl, how would you hook one of these up to the plane?

Assume you are talking to a guy who once hooked a car battery up backwards.*

Thanks
Doug

*I really did manage to do this (long story). My Dad laughed so hard I thought he was going to herniate himself. I didn't blame him.

Originally Posted by Carl Froehlich

I found my 20amp power supply (15 amp continuous) to be on the hairy edged running a dual screen SkyView (will all the stuff connected) and a very power hungry GTN-650. Recommend a 25-30 amp supply. For this application a switching supply will be fine (lighter and cheaper). I never run the panel with any kind of battery charger on line. One of these boxes should be fine: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Produc...tid=mfj-4225mv
http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Produc...uctid=MFJ-4128

Carl

[Ironflight]

Originally Posted by Dugaru

Assume you are talking to a guy who once hooked a car battery up backwards.*

Thanks
Doug

*I really did manage to do this (long story). My Dad laughed so hard I thought he was going to herniate himself. I didn't blame him.

Don't feel bad - I once saw this done in the parking lot at work - by a guy who had walked on the moon!!!