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ricklach
Joined: 20 Jun 2006
Posts: 127
Location: Kernville, Calif.
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 Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 7:22 am Post subject: Trouble shooting the Rotax Rectifer/Regulator |
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I am having trouble with the 912 Rectifier/Regulator. It seems to work fine at first start up and for the next 20 to 30 minutes. But some time after start-up when the heat of summer soaks in the output start to go down to what looks like battery voltage of around 11.9 to 12.2. After looking everywhere and reading all the available manuals I find almost nothing about how to check out the system. Can anyone help with some good trouble shooting information like?
1. When checking out the engine alternator output do you disconnect the two leads to check the voltage or just measure it at the Rectifier/Regulator?
2. How do you check out the rectifier/regulator?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Rick
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701Driver
N35 26.700, W118 16.743 |
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peteohms
Joined: 31 Oct 2007
Posts: 224
Location: Leander, TX
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| Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 7:55 am Post subject: Trouble shooting the Rotax Rectifer/Regulator |
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Been there, done that, replaced Rectifier/Regulator and that worked.
http://www.kitfoxaircraft.com/ has them at a good price. I wasted a week
trying to troubleshoot.
Pete
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Pete
Leander, TX
Kitfox III, 912ul, Grove |
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Float Flyr
Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 2704
Location: Campbellton, Newfoundland
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| Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 12:18 pm Post subject: Trouble shooting the Rotax Rectifer/Regulator |
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The load must be removed from the alternator to read it's output. Remember
to use the ACV setting on your meter and the range should be in the
neighbourhood of 40VAC. I have never heard of insulation on an alternator
breaking down with heat of operation and restoring again once it has cooled
down. As I said I've never heard of it but I guess it is possible.
The rectifier/ regulator should maintain a 13.8V output. If that changes it
may be one of the components of the rectifier /regulator breaking down.
Make sure your case is in good contact with the ground and the cooling fins
are open to good air flow for cooling.
Noel
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Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats |
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hgmckay
Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 397
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| Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 2:11 pm Post subject: Trouble shooting the Rotax Rectifer/Regulator |
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Gentlemen:
All of a sudden I am seeing a lot of posts concerning trouble shooting the
Rotax voltage regulator. Also, a lot of comments that the Rotax regulator is
a piece of junk! I don't understand, I have the normal voltage regulator
that comes with the Rotax 912UL engine on my Allegro 2000 and have been
flying with it for three years. The only monitoring of voltage and current
that I have is a dual Voltage/Ampere meter on my panel as well as a red
warning light that will come on if I am drawing power from the battery
rather than the engine. Under normal operation the volt meter shows about 14
volts.
My basic question is how would I know if I was or was not having a problem
with the regulator with my set-up? Right now I am assuming that if that
little red light comes on the charging voltage from the engine to the
regulator and hence to the battery is less than the battery voltage and I am
drawing the battery down. If this would ever happen I would land immediately
and begin to find out what is causing the low voltage. Is there something I
am missing to alert me that my regulator may be going bad? After reading all
the posts about this subject I am a little confused.
Hugh McKay
Allegro 2000
Rotax 912UL
N661WW
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Float Flyr
Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 2704
Location: Campbellton, Newfoundland
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| Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 3:39 pm Post subject: Trouble shooting the Rotax Rectifer/Regulator |
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The alternator on your engine has a finite amount of current it can
generate. If you are using too much current the little red light may come
on. In that case ti is only telling you that you have too much "stuff"
drawing power. If however at the same time you notice the Voltmeter also
drops to around 11 V then you know your charging system has gone for a
holiday and it would be a good idea for you to head for terra firma.
If however you notice that the voltage heads north of 15V it would be a good
idea to pull the breaker on the charging circuit and again head for terra
firma.
If you are quick at noticing these things you can estimate how long your
battery will last before your radio and avionics go south. The best thing
to do with a low voltage and red light on is to shut off anything electric
that is not absolutely necessary to your flight. And continue your trip,
landing at a convenient air field. Remember if you are using large
quantities of current from the battery you may need a charge to get your
engine started again.
Spam cans have a slightly different type of alternator which has been
discussed. One interesting fact about their little red light is it is an
overvoltage light. It comes on if the regulator allows the voltage to go
above 15V. At that point a special device turns on the overvoltage light
and kicks the alternator offline to protect your avionics. The SOP is to
reset the alternator breaker once... if it goes overvoltage again leave it
off and find a convenient place to land.
Noel
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Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats |
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Arty Trost
Joined: 25 May 2006
Posts: 206
Location: Sandy, Oregon
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| Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 5:44 pm Post subject: Trouble shooting the Rotax Rectifer/Regulator |
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On a Rotax 503 DCDI: If you're having low (and sometimes 0 ) voltage numbers between the rectifier and the engine (from the rectifier forward to the battery, all numbers are right on,) could that indicate a problem with the engine lighting coils?
Also, what OHM reading should I be getting from the engine lighting coils?
Thanks for your help -
Arty
Sandy, Oregon
www.LessonsFromTheEdge.com/uladventure2009.htm
"Life's a daring adventure or nothing"
Helen Keller
"I refuse to tip toe through life just to arrive safely at death."
--- On Thu, 5/28/09, Pete Christensen <apeterchristensen(at)sbcglobal.net> wrote:
[quote]
From: Pete Christensen <apeterchristensen(at)sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Re: Trouble shooting the Rotax Rectifer/Regulator
To: rotaxengines-list(at)matronics.com
Date: Thursday, May 28, 2009, 8:49 AM
troubleshoot.
Pete
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Float Flyr
Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 2704
Location: Campbellton, Newfoundland
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| Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 6:39 pm Post subject: Trouble shooting the Rotax Rectifer/Regulator |
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One of the responses I think said around .7 Ohm. Most Ohm meters will not read that small a resistance accurately. Generally coils can only really be tested for continuity with an Ohm meter. To do a proper test you need an AC source for the meter similar to the buzz box used to set points on the old ignition coils. With the AC, a good coil will develop a high impedance which is easy to meter. Any short in the coil will result in a low impedance and also will be picked up by the meter.
Noel
From: owner-rotaxengines-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rotaxengines-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of TheWanderingWench
Sent: 28 May 2009 11:13 PM
To: rotaxengines-list(at)matronics.com
Subject: Re: Trouble shooting the Rotax Rectifer/Regulator
On a Rotax 503 DCDI: If you're having low (and sometimes 0 ) voltage numbers between the rectifier and the engine (from the rectifier forward to the battery, all numbers are right on,) could that indicate a problem with the engine lighting coils?
Also, what OHM reading should I be getting from the engine lighting coils?
Thanks for your help -
Arty
Sandy, Oregon
www.LessonsFromTheEdge.com/uladventure2009.htm
"Life's a daring adventure or nothing"
Helen Keller
"I refuse to tip toe through life just to arrive safely at death."
--- On Thu, 5/28/09, Pete Christensen <apeterchristensen(at)sbcglobal.net> wrote:
From: Pete Christensen <apeterchristensen(at)sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Re: Trouble shooting the Rotax Rectifer/Regulator
To: rotaxengines-list(at)matronics.com
Date: Thursday, May 28, 2009, 8:49 AM
--> RotaxEngines-List message posted by: "Pete Christensen" <[url=/mc/compose?to=apeterchristensen(at)sbcglobal.net]apeterchristensen(at)sbcglobal.net[/url]>
Been there, done that, replaced Rectifier/Regulator and that worked. http://www.kitfoxaircraft.com/ has them at a good price. I wasted a week trying to troubleshoot.
Pete
---
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Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats |
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