Matronics Email Lists :: View topic - Voltmeter/Ammeter Recommendations

Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists

Get Email Distribution Too! FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register

Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in

Voltmeter/Ammeter Recommendations

Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> AeroElectric-List

View previous topic :: View next topic

Author Message

revenson(at)comcast.net (
Guest

Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 4:22 pm Post subject: Voltmeter/Ammeter Recommendations

Bob:  I'd like some clarification on two apparent inconsistencies.



1. On page 4-9, you recommend a battery ammeter, but it appears that in the Z drawings, you show the ammeter (loadmeter) wired to show alternator output instead.  An inconsistency or am I just ignorant?



2.  On page 4-8 (figure 4-5), you show a voltmeter placed on the incoming and ground sides of the voltage regulator, and provide text on the implications of various readings.  However, Z-23 (note  seems to show a voltmeter recommendation on the alternator field instead (again with good troubleshooting notes).

 

I'm looking for installation recommendations for one voltmeter and one ammeter for a Z-11 approach (perhaps w/ 2 Pmags).



Roger, Tucson, AZ

- 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:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?AeroElectric-List

nuckolls.bob(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 5:46 am Post subject: Voltmeter/Ammeter Recommendations

At 12:19 AM 5/2/2008 +0000, you wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  



Bob:  I'd like some clarification on two apparent inconsistencies.



1. On page 4-9, you recommend a battery ammeter, but it appears that in 

the Z drawings, you show the ammeter (loadmeter) wired to show alternator 

output instead.  An inconsistency or am I just ignorant.


	




 	  Quote: 	
		  2.  On page 4-8 (figure 4-5), you show a voltmeter placed on the incoming 

and ground sides of the voltage regulator, and provide text on the 

implications of various readings.  However, Z-23 (note  seems to show a 

voltmeter recommendation on the alternator field instead (again with good 

troubleshooting notes).



I'm looking for installation recommendations for one voltmeter and one 

ammeter for a Z-11 approach (perhaps w/ 2 Pmags).


	


     Understand first that the book speaks to lots of options . . .

     not the least of which are a variety of architectures

     and choices for instrumentation. The options are so

     diverse that one should not take the whole as any

     sort of collective recommendation.



     Voltmeters and ammeters are not especially useful as

     aids to operating an airplane. 99.5% of the time they

     say the same thing every time you look at one. In

     other words, they only confirm a reading that's easily

     predictable. This leaves them with a duty of being a

     warning device . . . also not especially useful. Because

     they say the same thing most of the time, we tend to

     miss them in the scan of important things . . . or

     even ignore or dismiss the odd readings when they do

     occur.



     The PRIMARY electrical system monitor for use in flight

     is the active notification of low voltage. When

     the light tells you the alternator is not supporting

     ship's, there's nothing that a voltmeter or ammeter

     adds to knowledge that helps you get down without

     breaking a sweat. When the light comes on, you will,

     of course, have a plan-B in place that's accomplished

     in a timely manner and with minimum pilot workload.



     Once on the ground and with tools in hand, voltmeters

     and ammeters ARE useful for trouble shooting. Problem

     is, that your panel mounted ammeters and voltmeters tend

     to sample one place in the system. An objective trouble

     shooting activity depends on a host of measurements all

     over the system.



     Bottom line is, if you'd like to have some panel

     decoration that goes beyond the "genius-light", the

     options are diverse and no particular combination

     of choices is going to make your airplane any easier,

     more difficult or more costly to operate.



     If it were my airplane, I'd have a low voltage warning

     light on the main bus and any aux battery bus. I'd

     have a loadmeter on each engine driven power source.

     I'd instrument the voltage on the e-bus.



     Is that a recommendation? You may view it as such

     if you wish. In reality, it's a personal recipe

     for success consistent with my design goals and

     understanding of the system. You may have different

     goals. Know that risks associated with doing something

     different (within a boundaries of a well considered

     Plan-A/Plan-B modus operandi) are zero.



     Bob . . .

- 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:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?AeroElectric-List

Display posts from previous:

	Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> AeroElectric-List	All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

Jump to:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum