Mike S
Senior Curmudgeon
Engine is IO320 with Nippon Denso 40A alternator modified for external regulator. Regulator is B & C LR3D-14. Modification was done following instructions in Kit Planes article from a few years back.
On the second flight, the field breaker (5A) was popped when the plane was back at the hangar. No idea when it popped. Pushed the breaker back in with the battery still on, and it refused to reset. Turned the battery off, pushed the breaker in and it worked just fine. Turned the battery back on, and the breaker stayed in, so we tried a ground run, all fine until the engine was shut off, then the breaker popped.
Took a couple days off, and thought about the cause and came up with a possibility-----I suspected a loose field wire, or possibly the field wire has an intermittent short to ground.
Today I pushed the breaker in and it reset just fine. I turned the battery on, and powered up the system and shook, wiggled, moved the entire field wire FF including the fast on connectors at the alternator-----breaker stayed in.
Another possibility was trying to reset the breaker with the battery on. I also tried that today and it reset just fine.
Out of ideas at the moment.
What does the VAF brain trust have to say?
On the second flight, the field breaker (5A) was popped when the plane was back at the hangar. No idea when it popped. Pushed the breaker back in with the battery still on, and it refused to reset. Turned the battery off, pushed the breaker in and it worked just fine. Turned the battery back on, and the breaker stayed in, so we tried a ground run, all fine until the engine was shut off, then the breaker popped.
Took a couple days off, and thought about the cause and came up with a possibility-----I suspected a loose field wire, or possibly the field wire has an intermittent short to ground.
Today I pushed the breaker in and it reset just fine. I turned the battery on, and powered up the system and shook, wiggled, moved the entire field wire FF including the fast on connectors at the alternator-----breaker stayed in.
Another possibility was trying to reset the breaker with the battery on. I also tried that today and it reset just fine.
Out of ideas at the moment.
What does the VAF brain trust have to say?
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