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  #1  
Old 08-21-2017, 10:10 AM
PCHunt PCHunt is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 1,670
Default Alternator help needed

My alternator is dying, some alternator"whine" in the headset, and only comes on line at 2000 rpm and above.
I strongly suspect a diode failure.
I'm wondering if it will do any harm to use the alternator under these conditions to get home. I'm currently at a back-country strip in Idaho.
Thanks......
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Pete Hunt, [San Diego] VAF #1069
RV-6, RV-6A, T-6G
ATP, CFII, A&P

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  #2  
Old 08-21-2017, 02:20 PM
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F1Boss F1Boss is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Taylor Texas
Posts: 811
Default Plan A

It will run until it quits; 5min or 5 miles or?? If you have mags, you are good to go! Shed the elec load until you need to use the radio, then light it up again & get on the ground. Almost ANY alternator shop will have a diode board to sell you, and changing that out is a 20 min job once the cowl is off.

My second plane is a 65hp Champ, so no elec is not problem for me - as long as I can get it started.

If the alt bearings are good (no crunchy noises), you can continue to a place where you can get parts. If the alt sounds bad too, cut the belt and get out of there.

Best,
Mark
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  #3  
Old 08-25-2017, 06:25 PM
PCHunt PCHunt is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 1,670
Default

Thanks for the answer. Plane is home safely now, the alternator put out about 12.3 volts, and slowly decreasing amps for about 4 hours of flying before it failed completely.

Was able to fly the last leg on battery power only, and turned the master off for most of the leg.

All's well that ends well!
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Pete Hunt, [San Diego] VAF #1069
RV-6, RV-6A, T-6G
ATP, CFII, A&P

2020 Donation+, Gladly Sent
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  #4  
Old 08-25-2017, 06:35 PM
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Dbro172 Dbro172 is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: West Fargo, ND
Posts: 1,073
Default

Glad you made it home, Pete! And that you were not flying one of these newfangled all electric ignition and injection systems.

How was Idaho and where did you go?
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Derek Hoeschen
EAA Tech Counselor
RV-9A #92103 - N803DK
G3X, Superior XO-320, Dual Pmags, Catto 3B
www.mykitlog.com/dbro172/

1974 Bellanca Super Viking - N16AW - Flying
RV-8 #83565 - N184DK - building
1968 Mooney M20C - N6801N - Sold
1956 C-182 - N744W - Sold
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  #5  
Old 08-25-2017, 06:47 PM
PCHunt PCHunt is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 1,670
Default

Idaho and the Total Eclipse were GREAT! We landed at a strip 1 mile east of Atlanta, ID (55H). My first back-country experience!
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Pete Hunt, [San Diego] VAF #1069
RV-6, RV-6A, T-6G
ATP, CFII, A&P

2020 Donation+, Gladly Sent
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