Broken Alternator Questions

[Captain_John]

Hey guys,

Recently I was afflicted by a shortage of electrons and a group of highly skilled fellow aviators came to my rescue.

It seems that the alternator in the -6 went Tango Uniform. The unit is 108 hours old (as is the plane) and if you ask me, should have been serviceable for a much longer period of time.

Upon closer inspection I noticed this:



Ummmm, Soooo what seems to have burned out here?

Is there a fuse of some type that normally resides here?

Is this unit repairable?

Was it due to insufficient cooling?

We have a blast tube on the alternator. Should it be repositioned or made bigger?

What is your take on it?

CJ

[AZtailwind]

If this is like our auto Alt. It is critical that the blast tube be placed on the rear of the alternator where the rectifier is usually housed. More than 600 hours so far after a 160 hour failed unit due to cooling.
Your picture could have been a diode depending on the design of the circuit.
Type of Alternator?

[Captain_John]

It is a Vans Alternator. The blast tube was pointed directly on the rectifier.

I know that Van moved away from these alternators for this very reason and we will likely switch to a Plane Power one that they currently offer.

I just wanted to dwell in the minutia of this failure.

Hmmmmm, no sense in fixing the old unit anyways... I don't think?

I heard these were Suzuki Samurai alternators. Is that true?

CJ

[David-aviator]

Bummer, John.

I do not like cheap imitation starters and alternators.

Plane Power is pretty good, but B&C is the way to go - they won't let you down.

[YellowPeril]

Got a B & C in the Yellow Peril. You will need a separate Voltage Regulator, however...

[Captain_John]

Oh yah guys, I gotthe b&c for the -7 already but this planeisn't mine. I merely mooch it!

I think The owner is going Plane Power from Van instead.

Thanks!

. CJ