VansAirForceForums  
Home > VansAirForceForums

- POSTING RULES
- Donate yearly (please).
- Advertise in here!

- Today's Posts | Insert Pics


Go Back   VAF Forums > Main > RV General Discussion/News
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #21  
Old 02-04-2020, 09:21 AM
Carl Froehlich's Avatar
Carl Froehlich Carl Froehlich is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Dogwood Airpark (VA42)
Posts: 2,596
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by DennisRhodes View Post
Can one of you help me understand why avionics should not be powered via a 12 v dc battery AND external digital charger such as a Battery Minder operated at the same time. Would this not be the same as the alternator charging while the AC is in Service? Because I do this often!!!
No - this is not at all the same as normal operations with your alternator on line.

Battery chargers are just that - battery chargers. They are not designed to power electronics. As such, you are hit or miss on ?garbage? coming out of the charger in terms of floating AC, switching noise and such. Some vendors, such as pMag, have a specific warning about not having a battery charger connected if the pMag has power - for this reason.

But the good news is a real power supply can charge your battery(s) as well - and since most real power supplies allow you to set your output voltage you can run your avionics with battery(s) connected for days not not worry about overcharging your battery - just like your alternator voltage regulator works. Now overlay the sketchy history of some battery chargers (or minders) routine use trashing otherwise healthy batteries and the choice is easy. I?m sure many do this and get away with it - so you decide.

Here is one of many options for a nice, light supply that will do everything you need: https://www.dxengineering.com/search...rder=Ascending

Carl
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 02-04-2020, 09:21 AM
Saville's Avatar
Saville Saville is offline
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: KBVY Massachusetts
Posts: 1,100
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pilot135pd View Post
I have 2 of the C-Tek chargers and love them. They come as OEM equipment from Corvettes to Bentleys and other really expensive cars so they're proven good. They have the Power Supply setting that gives great clean power (checked on my spectrum analyzer) and I use them when I'm doing anything in the plane with the engine off.

Ok so in reading the C Tek specs I see that it's an 8 stage charger.

I have an Odyssey 20 Amp fully automatic six-stage charger.....

Can I use the output of that to run avionics on the bench? I thought I couldn't because of that "staging".....
__________________
Flying RV-8 N880BC
2019 Dues - happily paid.
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 02-04-2020, 09:26 AM
Saville's Avatar
Saville Saville is offline
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: KBVY Massachusetts
Posts: 1,100
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by SeanB View Post
Saville, that could work for you.

What I did:
Went to local hardware store and got about 10 feet of multistrand power cord, then crimped large aligator clips with boots on one end, lugs on the other end. This power supply has a header you attach your power and ground to and there is a certain size to keep in mind. I belive that information is in the Owner's Manual, linked on the site.

For my bench, I used two forest of tabs (B&C).
https://bandc.com/product/ground-blo...-firewall-kit/

One for power, one for ground. Kept them far away from each other. I connected to each device off of these with an inline automotive fuse on the positive side.
https://bandc.com/product/in-line-fu...der-atc-style/







This worked great for me. Had no noise and was fully functional on the bench. Just used on/off switch from power supply to operate.
Gotcha. Sort of what I had in mind. Thanks - good to get corroboration.
__________________
Flying RV-8 N880BC
2019 Dues - happily paid.
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 02-04-2020, 09:43 AM
intothinair's Avatar
intothinair intothinair is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ...
Posts: 112
Default

Another option. 30 amps, light, and compact.

https://www.gigaparts.com/mfj-4230mv...xoC-foQAvD_BwE
__________________
John Koehler
N944JK / RV-9A (600 hrs)
1st Flight (2015), Instrument rating (2017)
World Flight (2018), Mexico (2020)
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 02-04-2020, 09:44 AM
Pilot135pd's Avatar
Pilot135pd Pilot135pd is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Vaca Moo Airport - TA37 in East TEXAS
Posts: 1,331
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Saville View Post
Ok so in reading the C Tek specs I see that it's an 8 stage charger.

I have an Odyssey 20 Amp fully automatic six-stage charger.....

Can I use the output of that to run avionics on the bench? I thought I couldn't because of that "staging".....
If you use it to charge then yes it?s a charger but look on the panel in the picture and you?ll see there?s a SUPPLY setting. That?s not a charger but a very well regulated clean power supply.
__________________
RV-8 N52VM: OnSpeed Gen2 AOA-3D, Dynon D-180, Autopilot, Titan 0-360A1A, Hartzell C/S, INS-429 IFR & GPS496, WingX & Stratux for backup & ADS-B IN. Enjoying life while building an airpark with FREE campsite for pilots www.facebook.com/VacaMooAirport/

Exempt by 3 out of the 10 ways but I still donated.
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 02-04-2020, 10:00 AM
Saville's Avatar
Saville Saville is offline
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: KBVY Massachusetts
Posts: 1,100
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pilot135pd View Post
If you use it to charge then yes it’s a charger but look on the panel in the picture and you’ll see there’s a SUPPLY setting. That’s not a charger but a very well regulated clean power supply.
Well I went downstairs into the shop and looked at the unit - no word "supply" anywhere nor a switch to select that sort of option.

Didn't see it in the manual either.

Maybe you are looking at the C-Tek. Mine is Odyssey model number OBC-20A - that's the one I was considering using.
__________________
Flying RV-8 N880BC
2019 Dues - happily paid.
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 02-04-2020, 10:12 AM
Pilot135pd's Avatar
Pilot135pd Pilot135pd is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Vaca Moo Airport - TA37 in East TEXAS
Posts: 1,331
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Saville View Post
Well I went downstairs into the shop and looked at the unit - no word "supply" anywhere nor a switch to select that sort of option.

Didn't see it in the manual either.

Maybe you are looking at the C-Tek. Mine is Odyssey model number OBC-20A - that's the one I was considering using.
Sorry, I didn't understand your question. I don't have an Odyssey so I wouldn't know. I was just talking about the C-Tek.
__________________
RV-8 N52VM: OnSpeed Gen2 AOA-3D, Dynon D-180, Autopilot, Titan 0-360A1A, Hartzell C/S, INS-429 IFR & GPS496, WingX & Stratux for backup & ADS-B IN. Enjoying life while building an airpark with FREE campsite for pilots www.facebook.com/VacaMooAirport/

Exempt by 3 out of the 10 ways but I still donated.
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 02-04-2020, 10:17 AM
Saville's Avatar
Saville Saville is offline
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: KBVY Massachusetts
Posts: 1,100
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pilot135pd View Post
Sorry, I didn't understand your question. I don't have an Odyssey so I wouldn't know. I was just talking about the C-Tek.
No prob. Thanks for the info.
__________________
Flying RV-8 N880BC
2019 Dues - happily paid.
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 02-04-2020, 02:59 PM
GeoffP's Avatar
GeoffP GeoffP is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: NSW, Australia
Posts: 156
Default

I've used my power tool batteries, red in colour, and 12volts, then done something very similar to Sean. Used a fuse box with different sized fuses sitting in there so I can check different sized circuits. Also bought alligator test leads just to make hooking up for testing easier. No switches in the circuit, I just don't connect the battery +12v until everything else is ready.

The batteries I have accept a standard 1/4" male spade terminal in their "slot", I've got a few in different capacities, and when they go flat I just charge them again. So far I've only used this to test simple stuff like light circuits or contactor switching, and haven't really got a panel together, but the basic set-up should give enough juice for panel testing when the time comes.
__________________
RV-9, Tail Feathers done, Wings almost done.
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 02-04-2020, 03:36 PM
David Paule David Paule is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 4,435
Default

I used a DeWalt 12 V power tool battery to test the landing light wiring. Worked fine. But afterwards the battery wouldn't hold a charge.

Maybe I drained it too far, or maybe the draw was too high. Or maybe it was just time. Still....

Dave
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:28 AM.


The VAFForums come to you courtesy Delta Romeo, LLC. By viewing and participating in them you agree to build your plane using standardized methods and practices and to fly it safely and in accordance with the laws governing the country you are located in.