Do I need a bigger alternator?

[AAflyer]

OMG?After finally finalizing the final electrical load plan for my RV-8, it looks like I'll need a 70 amp alternator. Wha!?!

I'm installing a Vertical Power VP-X electronic circuit breaker system, along with a straight-forward 10" Dynon SkyView; single comm, Transponder, ADS-B, EMS. My big loads are: landing/taxi lights, cigarette-lighter style power port ( possible electric heater?) LED strobes/position lights, heated pitot.
When I add all the stuff up I get load of over 60 amps!
Can I consider the landing lights as intermittent? How about the pitot heat?
I can't believe I've got THAT much more than today's average -8.
Comments?

 

[gfb]

Out of curiosity, can you break down the individual loads? I'm curious how much you are assigning to each. Thanks!

 

[Richard Connell]

Landing/taxi lights?

My plane had a theoretical max draw approaching 60 amps.
I have a 60a B&C alternator.
EFIS 2 nav comm, XPDR, a/p, heated pitot etc...
I never really saw cruise flight draws greater than say 45a. But always thought I could stress the alternator less.

Over time I replaced the whelen strobes with LED and the HID landing and taxi lights with Parmetheus. Comfortably reduced the max draw by 10a.

Also got an extra 30nm VOR range.... my (2008 vintage) HIDs were horrible for radio noise.

 

[cjensen]

You most likely never have all of your devices on at one time. I see this a lot on VP-X config reviews. I'm more than happy to take a look at your system configuration if you want to send me the request for review.