Tip: Don't use a 5 amp fuse on your electric flaps!

[Brantel]

Not sure how I missed all the post about not using a 5 amp fuse on your electric flaps but I did and my fuse blew at the worst moment it could have.

Since I am but a pup on this whole taildragger experience, I sometimes need to "go around". It is not cool when your realize too late that your electric flaps are not retracting and you must manage power, altitute and speed to get turned around and back on the ground! Expecially when you are only 5 hours into Phase I on a brand new airplane.

Apparently my fuse blew either when extending the flaps for the landing or when I tried to raise them for the go around.

All went OK but the pilot needed a break after that ordeal. I put in a 7.5 amp and flew later in the evening and all was well.

Anyway, it is nice to know that an RV7 with a O-360/FP with a DA of around 3000ft does have enough performance to climb to safe turn around altitude even with full flaps. Matter of fact you must be carefull not to exceed flap speed.

[marchudson]

Brian

Glad to hear that everything turned out ok in the end. I'm glad that you highlighted the 5 vs 7.5 amp fuse for the flaps. I missed that one also.

[Jamie]

This is a very common failure mode. This has been discussed quite a bit here. The motor pulls more amps when it has air load on it. There really should be a mention of this somewhere in the manual.

[AirbusPilot]

I have installed in my 8 a 3 amp circuit braker and a TCW Tech Flap Controller and works absolutely fine.

[AZtailwind]

Originally Posted by Brantel

I put in a 7.5 amp and flew later in the evening and all was well.

I would put a braker in line of an electric flap motor, probably dosn't matter to much in an RV ...but a C-150...

[flickroll]

Originally Posted by AirbusPilot

I have installed in my 8 a 3 amp circuit braker and a TCW Tech Flap Controller and works absolutely fine.

I use the TCWTech Intelligent Flap Controller with a 5 amp breaker and have about 80 hours on my -8 and have never popped a flap breaker.

[Snowflake]

You could probably fly the circuit with flaps at 40 degrees without too much trouble. As you found out, the RV typically has a lot more power than it needs for takeoff. You'd need a bunch of trim, and to keep the power back to avoid overspeeding the flaps, but there's nothing wrong with flying circuits at 90-100mph. The Cessnas around you will thank you.

[Brantel]

Maybe the 8's are different somehow in the load on the flap motor. I doubt the controller has anything to do with it unless it is some kind of magic, perpetual motion machine.

Originally Posted by flickroll

I use the TCWTech Intelligent Flap Controller with a 5 amp breaker and have about 80 hours on my -8 and have never popped a flap breaker.

Originally Posted by AirbusPilot

I have installed in my 8 a 3 amp circuit braker and a TCW Tech Flap Controller and works absolutely fine.

[apkp777]

Originally Posted by lcnmrv8r

Manual flaps. Glad you got it back safe and sound with no issue. I've had three electric flap failures and that is essentially why I went with manual flaps.

Can you share more about your manual flap installation? I am not a big fan of electric flaps (I owned a Cherokee).

[L.Adamson]

Originally Posted by lcnmrv8r

Manual flaps. Glad you got it back safe and sound with no issue. I've had three electric flap failures and that is essentially why I went with manual flaps.

I hate manual flaps in side by side RV's!

They're nothing like the flap handle in a Piper. They are squished between the seats and can be awkward, especially when there is a passenger.

I've had a failure too. Turns out the wires coming out of the motor were pulled at a too tight 90 degree angle & frayed. The fix wasn't too difficult.

In the meantime, I prefer keeping one hand on the throttle where I can easily flip the flap switch with one finger, while the other hand is on the stick.

L.Adamson --- RV6A