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robin1(at)mrmoisture.com
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 Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 1:02 pm Post subject: Ground Power Unit / Auxiliary Power Unit |
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I am approaching the point where I will need to have my glass
panel fully operational for hours on end while sitting in my hangar. I
was told that hooking up a battery charger to my battery while running
the avionics is a BAD idea as the electrical current out of the charger
is not "conditioned" and the power spikes could damage my avionics.
Whoops... Seems to me that for the price of a mid-sized luxury car made
in Stuttgart there would be an inline electrical conditioner as part of
the avionics suite.
Back to my question. I have placed several 12V cigarette
adapters including one in the baggage area plumbed direct to my primary
battery - hot all the time. What is the best way to continually provide
"safe" power to my battery to support my avionics for extended use on
the ground?
Thanks,
Robin
RV-4 Sold
RV-6A 425 Hours
RV-10 Avionics Up & Running (Draining)
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LarryRosen
Joined: 16 Jan 2006
Posts: 415
Location: Medford, NJ
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| Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 1:40 pm Post subject: Ground Power Unit / Auxiliary Power Unit |
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Below are two posts by Bob Nuckolls on the Aeroelectric list. Hope they
help. Larry
| Quote: |
<recapen(at)earthlink.net>
No replies to my initial post, so trying again....
Should there be any issues in running my electrical system with a
power supply instead of the alternater/engine running? I have a
battery in the circuit (PC680).
Do I need to connect the power supply directly to the battery or can I
hook it to my shunt to simulate the power coming from the alternator?
Just want to make sure that I don't fry anything.....
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Some years ago I sold a 13.8 volt, 25A switchmode
power supply along with instructions on how to wire
it to the aircraft such that it emulated the ship's
alternator. This allowed a builder to fire up all but
the heaviest loads on the electrical system and to
exercise all the systems just as if the engine were
running and the alternator was turned ON.
If you have a well behaved power supply (13.8 volts
preferred, current limited against accidental shorts)
then you can basically hook it up about anywhere. Across
the battery is fine. This makes the battery master
capable of disconnecting your supply from system by
turning the battery master OFF.
See:
http://www.mpja.com/prodinfo.asp?number=5386+PS
also, the various smart-chargers with more robust
outputs like those shown on pages 6 and 7 of:
http://www.schumacherproducts.com/assets/pdf/sec_catalog.pdf
can be used. Again, just connect across the battery,
plug into wall and use the battery master for
control.
Wall-Mart sells several of these models. Get one
with 10A or more capability.
Bob . . .
Second one:
At 09:50 PM 2/3/2006 -0500, you wrote:
| Quote: | >
><mcculleyja(at)starpower.net>
>
>Can someone recommend a source/model of bench power supply using 110V AC
>input with 12V DC output, capable of up to 15 amps DC? Thanks,
>
>Jim McCulley
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Do you really want 12v . . . or are you interested in
simulating an operating vehicle? 13.8v is a nominal bench
supply setting for emulating bus voltage. Here's a supply
I used to sell until they got so cheap that the margins
didn't fit my business model any more . . .
http://www.radiodan.com/misc/samlex1223.htm
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamps/3747.html
http://www.aaradio.com/cartfile/misc%20html/samlex.html
Bob . . .
Robin Marks wrote:
| Quote: |
I am approaching the point where I will need to have my glass
panel fully operational for hours on end while sitting in my hangar. I
was told that hooking up a battery charger to my battery while running
the avionics is a BAD idea as the electrical current out of the charger
is not "conditioned" and the power spikes could damage my avionics.
Whoops... Seems to me that for the price of a mid-sized luxury car made
in Stuttgart there would be an inline electrical conditioner as part of
the avionics suite.
Back to my question. I have placed several 12V cigarette
adapters including one in the baggage area plumbed direct to my primary
battery - hot all the time. What is the best way to continually provide
"safe" power to my battery to support my avionics for extended use on
the ground?
Thanks,
Robin
RV-4 Sold
RV-6A 425 Hours
RV-10 Avionics Up & Running (Draining)
|
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_________________
Larry Rosen
#40356
N205EN (reserved)
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dc71(at)netspace.net.au
Guest
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| Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 2:16 pm Post subject: Ground Power Unit / Auxiliary Power Unit |
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I've used an old computer ATX power supply - soldering several of the
12V wires together, as well as several of the ground wires together.
Battery bypassed altogether.
Cheap & effective.
Indran
On 22/05/2008, at 4:59 AM, Robin Marks wrote:
| Quote: |
I am approaching the point where I will need to have my glass
panel fully operational for hours on end while sitting in my hangar. I
was told that hooking up a battery charger to my battery while running
the avionics is a BAD idea as the electrical current out of the
charger
is not "conditioned" and the power spikes could damage my avionics.
Whoops... Seems to me that for the price of a mid-sized luxury car
made
in Stuttgart there would be an inline electrical conditioner as part
of
the avionics suite.
Back to my question. I have placed several 12V cigarette
adapters including one in the baggage area plumbed direct to my
primary
battery - hot all the time. What is the best way to continually
provide
"safe" power to my battery to support my avionics for extended use on
the ground?
Thanks,
Robin
RV-4 Sold
RV-6A 425 Hours
RV-10 Avionics Up & Running (Draining)
|
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carl.froehlich(at)cox.net
Guest
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| Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 3:33 pm Post subject: Ground Power Unit / Auxiliary Power Unit |
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Standard Astron 20A regulated power supply, less than $100. There is no
need to have the battery connected.
Here is one of many places to buy one.
http://www.hamradio.com/web/newcat/hrocat6.pdf
Carl Froehlich
RV-8A (400 hrs)
RV-10 (flaps)
On 22/05/2008, at 4:59 AM, Robin Marks wrote:
| Quote: |
I am approaching the point where I will need to have my glass
panel fully operational for hours on end while sitting in my hangar. I
was told that hooking up a battery charger to my battery while running
the avionics is a BAD idea as the electrical current out of the
charger
is not "conditioned" and the power spikes could damage my avionics.
Whoops... Seems to me that for the price of a mid-sized luxury car
made
in Stuttgart there would be an inline electrical conditioner as part
of
the avionics suite.
Back to my question. I have placed several 12V cigarette
adapters including one in the baggage area plumbed direct to my
primary
battery - hot all the time. What is the best way to continually
provide
"safe" power to my battery to support my avionics for extended use on
the ground?
Thanks,
Robin
RV-4 Sold
RV-6A 425 Hours
RV-10 Avionics Up & Running (Draining)
|
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Dave(at)AirCraftersLLC.co
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| Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 8:58 pm Post subject: Ground Power Unit / Auxiliary Power Unit |
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Robin,
About 3 years ago I built an APU for our needs here in the shop. It
consists of four medium size Walmart car batteries, a sturdy cart, a small
automatic trickle charger, and an old volt meter. We use it for starting
and for general 12V power supply needs. The trickle charger is hard wired
so when it's plugged in, it's charging. We plug it in overnight about once
a week. I don't think I've ever seen it drop below about 11.5 volts. It's
jumped a lot of dead batteries and seen several people through the new panel
fiddling stage, completely worry free. I think I have about $200 in it.
Dave Saylor
AirCrafters LLC
140 Aviation Way
Watsonville, CA
831-722-9141
831-750-0284 CL
www.AirCraftersLLC.com
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orchidman
Joined: 10 Jul 2006
Posts: 277
Location: Oklahoma City - KRCE
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 5:15 am Post subject: Re: Ground Power Unit / Auxiliary Power Unit |
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Check out the article at
http://www.wikihow.com/Convert-a-Computer-ATX-Power-Supply-to-a-Lab-Power-Supply
I finished mine about a month ago and only did the 12v supply and left the other voltages alone. RadioShack had the banana connectors like I wanted for the plus and neg lead connectors and I used the switch on the back of the power supply as my on/off switch. RS also had the power resistor.
The amperage available will be based on the size of the power supply you use.
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Gary Blankenbiller
RV10 - # 40674
(N2GB Flying) |
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robin1(at)mrmoisture.com
Guest
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 11:35 am Post subject: Ground Power Unit / Auxiliary Power Unit |
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Thank you everyone for your quick and useful answers. It seems like an
industrious type can cobble one together for under $40.00. I opted for
the:
Samlex SEC1235M
30A unit for $129.95
http://www.hamradio.com/web/newcat/hrocat6.pdf
That unit includes a display meter for voltage/current. This is a lot
better choice than the one from ACS for $450+
Thanks,
Robin
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k5wiv(at)sbcglobal.net
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| Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 8:13 am Post subject: Ground Power Unit / Auxiliary Power Unit |
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Robin,
Take it from an old electronics guy (short on airplane experience, but lots
of automotive) the statement that the battery charger output is not
"conditioned" is correct. -- But, the battery itself acts as a very good
filter for the spikes and sags from the charger. the likelihood of damaging
your avionics is very small. I would not hesitate to operate it that way.
Jack & Cecilia Sargeant
1127 Patricia St.
Wichita, KS 67208-2642
316/683-5268
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robin1(at)mrmoisture.com
Guest
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| Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 10:54 pm Post subject: Ground Power Unit / Auxiliary Power Unit |
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Jack,
That was my thinking exactly however a $130.00 power supply was
cheap insurance against the potential claims that I voided any
manufacturer warranty. The panel was too expensive & I am too close to
first flight to get stuck in a pissing match with a manufacturer where I
am the one with the most to lose if something electronic were
nonfunctional regardless of the cause. It's really about all the $ tied
up in the panel at this point.
Thanks for your note,
Robin
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