Hi,
I hope this description of my problems is not too confusing.
I have a Plane Power generator, factory mounted on a new engine. Aircraft first flight in 2022. I also have the VPX Pro installed.
Three years ago, with only 25 hours on the installation, my generator started to cut out during some flights and resetting randomly.
After a couple of more flights the VPX started to randomly cut different avionics out and sometimes restarted some of them. Both on ground with engine shut down and in flight, Some I manually had to reset in the VPX G3X menu. I checked all cables and switches which where all ok.
As I have IBBS backup power installed, I do not understand why it did not take over the power supply to the units connected to the IBBS so they did not have to restart.
Talked to Plane Power and they thought the voltage regulator was the problem and sent me a new 100-dollar regulator. Had to pay for it as warranty had expired, even if the hours were very low…
Everything worked ok for some flights, but the problem came back….
After a lot of communication with Astronics VPX support it was decided that I should send the VPX for troubleshooting. Did so, and they found a defective board, charged me 1100 dollars and sent it back to me.
Everything worked for a little over a year, but now the amps annunciation has reappeared on my G3X, and the VPX intermittently shuts down some avionics. The symptoms are more or less the same as before.
Downloaded data from the G3X and it seems like the voltage is slightly lower than normal (steady 14.4 previous flight). Voltage not stable, variating 13.1-14,7 Volts. Low amps message several times, looking at the panel during those events the VPX generator box get blank and filled randomly, so it seems as the VPX try to reconnect the generator. Turning back to my home airfield and the system worked ok…..
In the attached file I have cut out some data from the G3X from that flight, hope they make some sense.
I have tried to reach out to Astronics, but not got any answer.
I have no idea what can cause the problem, maybe vibrations doing harm to the VPX or generator? I have done a forum search, and it looks like another owner with same electronics as me had the same problem. But it was posted long time ago, 2015. No final solution posted as far as I could see.
So, my thoughts go to the generator or voltage regulator, but how come the VPX is doing strange things after a generator failure as both battery and IBBS power are available?
As of now I only dare to do local flights, my objective building an airplane was to get around to different more distant destinations. Not going to do that until problem is finally solved.
I hope this description of my problems is not too confusing.
I have a Plane Power generator, factory mounted on a new engine. Aircraft first flight in 2022. I also have the VPX Pro installed.
Three years ago, with only 25 hours on the installation, my generator started to cut out during some flights and resetting randomly.
After a couple of more flights the VPX started to randomly cut different avionics out and sometimes restarted some of them. Both on ground with engine shut down and in flight, Some I manually had to reset in the VPX G3X menu. I checked all cables and switches which where all ok.
As I have IBBS backup power installed, I do not understand why it did not take over the power supply to the units connected to the IBBS so they did not have to restart.
Talked to Plane Power and they thought the voltage regulator was the problem and sent me a new 100-dollar regulator. Had to pay for it as warranty had expired, even if the hours were very low…
Everything worked ok for some flights, but the problem came back….
After a lot of communication with Astronics VPX support it was decided that I should send the VPX for troubleshooting. Did so, and they found a defective board, charged me 1100 dollars and sent it back to me.
Everything worked for a little over a year, but now the amps annunciation has reappeared on my G3X, and the VPX intermittently shuts down some avionics. The symptoms are more or less the same as before.
Downloaded data from the G3X and it seems like the voltage is slightly lower than normal (steady 14.4 previous flight). Voltage not stable, variating 13.1-14,7 Volts. Low amps message several times, looking at the panel during those events the VPX generator box get blank and filled randomly, so it seems as the VPX try to reconnect the generator. Turning back to my home airfield and the system worked ok…..
In the attached file I have cut out some data from the G3X from that flight, hope they make some sense.
I have tried to reach out to Astronics, but not got any answer.
I have no idea what can cause the problem, maybe vibrations doing harm to the VPX or generator? I have done a forum search, and it looks like another owner with same electronics as me had the same problem. But it was posted long time ago, 2015. No final solution posted as far as I could see.
So, my thoughts go to the generator or voltage regulator, but how come the VPX is doing strange things after a generator failure as both battery and IBBS power are available?
As of now I only dare to do local flights, my objective building an airplane was to get around to different more distant destinations. Not going to do that until problem is finally solved.
