Van's Air Force
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Alternator Load?
- Thread starter Tbone
- Start date
DGlaeser
Well Known Member
Alt size
Do a search on the AeroElectric list - Bob N has expounded about this a number of times.
In short, you'll have various scenarios: VFR Day, VFR Night, IFR Day, IFR Night where different equipment will be running. Make a list of amps drawn by everything in the plane (don't include temp loads like transmitting) for each scenario. Taxi and Landing lights don't need to be included as 'normal' items, but if you use them as wig-wags, that needs to be considered. Flap motor is a temp load.
Normal load should be no more than ~80% of alternator capacity for the highest load scenario.
Do a search on the AeroElectric list - Bob N has expounded about this a number of times.
In short, you'll have various scenarios: VFR Day, VFR Night, IFR Day, IFR Night where different equipment will be running. Make a list of amps drawn by everything in the plane (don't include temp loads like transmitting) for each scenario. Taxi and Landing lights don't need to be included as 'normal' items, but if you use them as wig-wags, that needs to be considered. Flap motor is a temp load.
Normal load should be no more than ~80% of alternator capacity for the highest load scenario.
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