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Current Limiter Questions

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art(at)zemon.name
Guest

Posted: Sun May 06, 2018 8:45 am Post subject: Current Limiter Questions

Folks,

I am installing the current limiters in my plane. The engine is a Lycoming IO-360 with a primary alternator (the belt driven one that came with the used engine) and a B&C Aero backup alternator. Here is the photo:

[img]cid:ii_jguvydjb0_16335c1f8da88efe[/img]

I tied the ends together with a piece of brass buss bar from B&C. Spec says that it is .025 x .5. Is that sufficient to carry the load for this plane? My analysis has these loads:

Typical 19 amps, 29 amps maximum

With all devices on, including pitot heat: typical 32 amps, 49 amps maximum

Also, B&C Aero shipped the current limiter holders with locknuts that have plastic inserts. Are those OK on the engine side of the firewall? I thought that I should only use all-metal locknuts on the engine side.

    -- Art Z.





-- 

https://CheerfulCurmudgeon.com/"If I am not for myself, who is for me? And if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?" Hillel

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Eric Page

Joined: 15 Feb 2017
Posts: 247

Posted: Sun May 06, 2018 10:09 am Post subject: Re: Current Limiter Questions

 	  art(at)zemon.name wrote: 	
		  Also, B&C Aero shipped the current limiter holders with locknuts that have plastic inserts. Are those OK on the engine side of the firewall? I thought that I should only use all-metal locknuts on the engine side. 	




See “Thermal Properties,” bottom half of this page...



http://www.usfastener.com/insertlocknut.html



Eric

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nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect
Guest

Posted: Sun May 06, 2018 12:07 pm Post subject: Current Limiter Questions

At 01:09 PM 5/6/2018, you wrote:

  	  Quote: 	
		  --> AeroElectric-List message posted by: "Eric Page" <edpav8r(at)yahoo.com>



 

 art(at)zemon.name wrote:

 > Also, B&C Aero shipped the current limiter holders with locknuts that have plastic inserts. Are those OK on the engine side of the firewall? I thought that I should only use all-metal locknuts on the engine side. 	


   The elastic nuts are fine off the engine.



 

 

   Bob . . .

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art(at)zemon.name
Guest

Posted: Sun May 06, 2018 5:27 pm Post subject: Current Limiter Questions

Bob,

Do you have any opinion on whether the "bus bar" has sufficient current carrying capacity? I have a gut feeling that it is OK, since there is plenty of airflow around it but I lack the engineering/practical knowledge to make an objective determination.

To save you looking for the original message, I used the brass bus bar supplied by B&C Aero as part of a backup alternator installation kit. The material is 0.025 x 0.5 x 2 inches. It needs to carry 19 amps typical load (32 amps with everything on). The maximum (all radios transmitting, both autopilot servos drawing full current, etc) is 49 amps.

    -- Art Z.

-- 

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user9253

Joined: 28 Mar 2008
Posts: 1927
Location: Riley TWP Michigan

Posted: Sun May 06, 2018 6:43 pm Post subject: Re: Current Limiter Questions

The area of your bus bar is 0.025 x 0.5 = 0.0125

0.0125 equals 12,500 circular mills which is slightly bigger than 10 AWG.

Your bus bar should be good for 30 to 40 amps depending on what wire table you look at.  If my calculations and reasoning is correct, your bus bar should be OK.

  You can make your own bus bar out of flattened copper pipe or tube.  I would clean the inside of the tube, then flatten and then solder the inside to keep out contaminants and prevent corrosion.

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_________________
Joe Gores

ceengland7(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Sun May 06, 2018 6:50 pm Post subject: Current Limiter Questions

On 5/6/2018 8:25 PM, Art Zemon wrote:

     

      	  Quote: 	
		                  Bob,

         

         

         Do           you have any opinion on whether the "bus bar" has sufficient           current carrying capacity? I have a gut feeling that it is OK,           since there is plenty of airflow around it but I lack the           engineering/practical knowledge to make an objective           determination.

         

         

         To           save you looking for the original message, I used the brass           bus bar supplied by B&C Aero as part of a backup           alternator installation kit. The material is 0.025 x 0.5 x 2           inches. It needs to carry 19 amps typical load (32 amps with           everything on). The maximum (all radios transmitting, both           autopilot servos drawing full current, etc) is 49 amps.

         

         

                        -- Art Z.

           

         

       

     	
     Art,

     

     1st, determine what gauge wire you'd need for 50 amps. Easy to find     it in the book, or the internet, But to save time, it's 8 awg. You     can use the internet to find its cross sectional area (~0.0130 sq     in). Then calculate the cross section if your strap (~0.0125 sq     in).  Probably would be fine, but it would be really easy to just     add another layer of the brass strap. Or cheap out like me &     flatten a section of copper tubing to make the strap. 

     

     Charlie

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art(at)zemon.name
Guest

Posted: Sun May 06, 2018 7:05 pm Post subject: Current Limiter Questions

Joe,

Thank you for that calculation. It sounds like thicker material would be better. I think that I will try flattening a piece of copper tube. Any excuse to play with a hydraulic press and solder in the same day is a good excuse 😜

    -- Art Z.



On Sun, May 6, 2018 at 9:43 PM, user9253 <fransew(at)gmail.com (fransew(at)gmail.com)> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  --> AeroElectric-List message posted by: "user9253" <fransew(at)gmail.com (fransew(at)gmail.com)>

 

 The area of your bus bar is 0.025 x 0.5 = 0.0125

 0.0125 equals 12,500 circular mills which is slightly bigger than 10 AWG.

 Your bus bar should be good for 30 to 40 amps depending on what wire table you look at.  If my calculations and reasoning is correct, your bus bar should be OK.

   You can make your own bus bar out of flattened copper pipe or tube.  I would clean the inside of the tube, then flatten and then solder the inside to keep out contaminants and prevent corrosion.

 

 --------

 Joe Gores 	


-- 

https://CheerfulCurmudgeon.com/"If I am not for myself, who is for me? And if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?" Hillel

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BARRY CHECK 6

Joined: 15 Mar 2011
Posts: 738

Posted: Fri May 11, 2018 3:58 am Post subject: Current Limiter Questions

Art:

When you ask a question about 'are Elastic Stop Nuts being  OK', you step out  of  the realm of experimental into certified.

NO!  Elastic Stop Nuts are not acceptable anywhere under the engine cowl.  <---  That is per a Certified Plane.  Which side of the fence do you want sit on?

Not even with star-washers under them.

  Now!  Is the Manufacture of the current limiter correct in supplying Elastic Stop Nuts?  Maybe?  Maybe they are just being nice supplying them.  After all, they Do Not Know where you are installing them!  



The other question that comes up is the location of the 'current limiters'  - Putting them in an air flow INCREASES the current limiting point of the limiter.  What does the specs say about the safety range of them?  What was the ambient temperature of the testing?

Barry





On Sun, May 6, 2018 at 10:07 AM, Art Zemon <art(at)zemon.name (art(at)zemon.name)> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  Folks,

I am installing the current limiters in my plane. The engine is a Lycoming IO-360 with a primary alternator (the belt driven one that came with the used engine) and a B&C Aero backup alternator. Here is the photo:

[img]cid:ii_jguvydjb0_16335c1f8da88efe[/img]

I tied the ends together with a piece of brass buss bar from B&C. Spec says that it is .025 x .5. Is that sufficient to carry the load for this plane? My analysis has these loads:

Typical 19 amps, 29 amps maximum

With all devices on, including pitot heat: typical 32 amps, 49 amps maximum

Also, B&C Aero shipped the current limiter holders with locknuts that have plastic inserts. Are those OK on the engine side of the firewall? I thought that I should only use all-metal locknuts on the engine side.

    -- Art Z.





-- 

https://CheerfulCurmudgeon.com/"If I am not for myself, who is for me? And if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?" Hillel

- The Matronics AeroElectric-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

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