Cool new device

[gmcjetpilot]

http://www.miracleantenna.com/Smoothie.htm

This baby does it all. One thing that I found interesting according to the manufacture is sometime electronics like engine monitors can make noise and 'pollute' the electical system. It protects from transient voltage and a massive OV. This may be the ticket if you want peace of mind, to protect your fancy EFIS. It is also has adjustable volts. Some electronics may be happier at say 12.8 volts than 14.5 volts, which just makes more heat. The only limit I can see is its good for only about 4 amps, so you might need two to protect all your expensive goodies. I might put it on my Comm, Intercom and EIS4000 engine monitor. My transponder is an older Collins with no voltage protection, so it might benefit from this device as well. My Dynon EFIS is suppose to be spike protected. I suppose this device would allow you to keep avionics on during start, which might be handy for engine monitors and EFIS. However I probably would continue to follow my practice of avionics off during start.

[Greg Arehart]

I would be interested to hear of anyone with personal experience with this. Sounds very useful.

greg

[Bevan]

George,

Isn't the perceived problem for electronics during engine start is voltage sag (I call it brown-out) due to the large current draw of the starter? If so, this device, while good for smoothing power, wouldn't help much for a prolonged sag? I wonder how long of a voltage sag event this regulator could prevent from arriving at the avionics buss?

Bevan
Rv7A wiring

[gmcjetpilot]

Originally Posted by Bevan

George,

Isn't the perceived problem for electronics during engine start is voltage sag (I call it brown-out) due to the large current draw of the starter? If so, this device, while good for smoothing power, wouldn't help much for a prolonged sag? I wonder how long of a voltage sag event this regulator could prevent from arriving at the avionics buss? Bevan Rv7A wiring

You are right and I did not ask them this specific question. It does have a good size capacitor but now that you mention it, it probably is not enough to keep the lights lit during start? Good catch. I was just thinking of transient suppression, which they claim it does in spades.

[RV7Guy]

Looks interesting but would like to hear from someone who has actually used one on a real airplane.

[AltonD]

Originally Posted by gmcjetpilot

http://www.miracleantenna.com/Smoothie.htm

Some electronics may be happier at say 12.8 volts than 14.5 volts, which just makes more heat.

OKay, I am going to lay it out there and argue with an engineer. The electronics might be happier at 12.8, I don't know. I would have to ask the OEM. but. . . Higher voltage makes less heat. Power loss is current squared times resitance. Power = volts X current. Higher voltage, less current, less power loss (heat).
This is why utilites run 500KV+ on distribution lines. Cuts their losses due to heating.

No flames, just my two cents.

[Jeff R]

Higher voltages can indeed mean higher power losses. If you are feeding something with 12 volts that is internally regulated to, say, 5 volts, the intenal voltage regulator has to drop 7 volts. Compare that if the input voltage is 24 volts, where it would have to drop 16 volts. If the voltage regulator is a linear one, and if the 5 volt current is 1 A, the voltage regulator power loss will be 7W with 12 volts, or a whopping 19 W with 24 volts. If a switching regulator is used, the losses in both cases will typically be much less, which is why switching regulators are so popular. But, Alton, higher voltages often make more heat.

Anyway, I am an EE who designs power supplies professonally, and this filter seems like all hype to me. There is no way that it can be a "brickwall filter", and I don't believe for one second that those oscilloscope displays depicted on the web site are an accurate representation of that filter.

[AltonD]

Originally Posted by Jeff R

Anyway, I am an EE who designs power supplies professonally. . . .

I guess that settles it. Thanks for setting me straight.

[gmcjetpilot]

Originally Posted by AltonD

OKay, I am going to lay it out there and argue with an engineer. The electronics might be happier at 12.8, I don't know. I would have to ask the OEM. but. . . Higher voltage makes less heat. Power loss is current squared times resitance. Power = volts X current. Higher voltage, less current, less power loss (heat). This is why utilites run 500KV+ on distribution lines. Cuts their losses due to heating. No flames, just my two cents.

Alton, I hear you, I got it, but that is what the engineer guy said on the phone, just passing it on. I did not argue either (can you believe it). My ICOM does say 13.8 volts and my TDR950 transponder 14 volts, not 14.5 volts. As you say higher volts is more efficent. He may have been referring to the happiness of semiconductors with higher volts and life, not efficiency? Good catch though.

Originally Posted by Jeff R

I am an EE who designs power supplies professonally, and this filter seems like all hype to me. There is no way that it can be a "brickwall filter", and I don't believe for one second that those oscilloscope displays depicted on the web site are an accurate representation of that filter.

Jeff, the way it was explained (and I did ask this two or three times) it protects from a steady-state gross over-voltage in a nut shell by sacrificial destruction of the capacitor, which in turn would blow the fuse/CB. During this melt down, if you will, the voltage regulator I was told would hold the voltage until the capacitor failed and popped the fuse/cb. What do you think? I asked if they tested it. I was told they did many intentional OV destruction tests.

This is why I put it up here Guys, to throw stones and darts at it.

[asav8tor]

30 years ago when I was in high school and college I worked at Radio Shack. We sold lots of stuff to; stop engine whine in your car stereo, eliminate static in your TV, demagnetize the head of your 8 track, etc. Much of the junk was a cure looking for a problem. Most of it did not work. Some of it came back for refunds but I suspect most of it got thrown in the garbage. Best case, that thing will probably do nothing for you; worst case it catches on fire and brings the plane down. Looks like $ 15 worth of non aerospace grade parts/construction.