1flyingyogi
Well Known Member
Lately I've been having a hard time starting the engine - it would always start, but I had to crank a lot longer than normal. We checked the timing and load tested the battery and both seem ok. (the load tester read "weak", but not bad enough to "replace").
Yesterday, just to see if it's a weak battery that was causing my problems, we used an external battery to directly crank the starter - it started up right away. Probably one of the easiest starts I've ever had on my -4.
But here's the interesting/ difficult part - when I turn on the master switch, I can see the battery voltage dropping right before my eyes and within 15 seconds, I'm down to about 12.3volts (starting at 14.0). And my ammeter shows that something is drawing about 8amps as soon as the master is flipped on. Engine not running. (nothing else running. lights, radio, etc. all off) The only thing that the master turns on is the turn coordinator, which I cant imagine would draw 8amps. So this would explain my hard starting problem - I turn on the master switch, it drains the battery, and by the time I'm ready to crank the engine, there's not enough juice left to start the engine. But the question is WHY is my battery getting drained just from the master being on?
So do I have a short somewhere in the system? Is it normal for my system to draw 8 amps just sitting with the master switch on?
I have a very simple panel with steam gauges and radio/ transponder/ lights and manual flaps, trim. No EFIS or other electronics.
I have charged up the battery three times and every time it would charge to full, but as soon as I flip my master switch, it would run down.
Not sure if it's related, but a month ago, I dropped a screw into the area where the circuit breakers are and tried to locate and retrieve the screw but just could not do it. I thought to myself, "I hope that screw doesnt make contact with the terminals in the breaker and cause a short". It's in a super tight space and really hard to get to. I will check that next.
Any ideas, guys??
Yesterday, just to see if it's a weak battery that was causing my problems, we used an external battery to directly crank the starter - it started up right away. Probably one of the easiest starts I've ever had on my -4.
But here's the interesting/ difficult part - when I turn on the master switch, I can see the battery voltage dropping right before my eyes and within 15 seconds, I'm down to about 12.3volts (starting at 14.0). And my ammeter shows that something is drawing about 8amps as soon as the master is flipped on. Engine not running. (nothing else running. lights, radio, etc. all off) The only thing that the master turns on is the turn coordinator, which I cant imagine would draw 8amps. So this would explain my hard starting problem - I turn on the master switch, it drains the battery, and by the time I'm ready to crank the engine, there's not enough juice left to start the engine. But the question is WHY is my battery getting drained just from the master being on?
So do I have a short somewhere in the system? Is it normal for my system to draw 8 amps just sitting with the master switch on?
I have a very simple panel with steam gauges and radio/ transponder/ lights and manual flaps, trim. No EFIS or other electronics.
I have charged up the battery three times and every time it would charge to full, but as soon as I flip my master switch, it would run down.
Not sure if it's related, but a month ago, I dropped a screw into the area where the circuit breakers are and tried to locate and retrieve the screw but just could not do it. I thought to myself, "I hope that screw doesnt make contact with the terminals in the breaker and cause a short". It's in a super tight space and really hard to get to. I will check that next.
Any ideas, guys??
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