I have an RV-6 that has been flying for about 4 years (about 200 hrs). It is equipped with a Mark Landoll alternator using a motorola M5-150A external voltage regulator (purchased from Van's) and is equipped with OVM 14 overvoltage protection unit (purchased from AeroElectric). It has worked beautifully for most of that time. In the past couple of months, it has tripped the field breaker a few minutes after startup, but when the breaker was reset things proceeded normally for the remainder of my flight (an hour or so). Yesterday, it started tripping the field breaker, and would not stay reset after it was reset.
I disconnected the OVM 14 (kept avionics master off) to diagnose. Breaker no longer kicks off, but notice that voltage on the buss will be 13.8 volts most of the time, but for a few seconds will get to the 18 volt range and then return to 13.8 volt range.
The bird has a gel cell battery that is about 5 years old, and is kept plugged into a "battery minder" trickle charger most of the time it is in the hanger.
Anybody have any ideas as to the likely failure point(s) (alternator, regulator, battery or some combination). I seem unable to find a direct replacement voltage regulator as Van's no longer seems to carry it.
Jerry Ludwig
SN 22439
N925JL
I disconnected the OVM 14 (kept avionics master off) to diagnose. Breaker no longer kicks off, but notice that voltage on the buss will be 13.8 volts most of the time, but for a few seconds will get to the 18 volt range and then return to 13.8 volt range.
The bird has a gel cell battery that is about 5 years old, and is kept plugged into a "battery minder" trickle charger most of the time it is in the hanger.
Anybody have any ideas as to the likely failure point(s) (alternator, regulator, battery or some combination). I seem unable to find a direct replacement voltage regulator as Van's no longer seems to carry it.
Jerry Ludwig
SN 22439
N925JL
