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charging on 912

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jvanlaak(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:43 am Post subject: charging on 912

Folks,

    

   After months of looking for a good MkIIIX I ended up with a 912 powered Rans S7 Courier.  Although not a Kolb, it is actually a very nice plane with very good performance.  With VGs it takes off in 150 feet no wind and climbs at 1200 fpm.  Approach at 40 with a landing at 30.  Cruise is 110 at high cruise, but running around at 80 mph is only about 3.5 gph.  Wings will fold but it would take more than an hour, and it does not have the Kolb visibility.  On the other hand, both doors open in flight.  Nice enough for now.

    

   I hope nobody minds if I pulse the experience of this group to ask about troubleshooting the charging circuit on the 912.  It has only the built in charging circuit (no external alternator) and has suddenly quit charging.  It was intermittent for a while but has decided to take a vacation.  I spent the morning checking all conections secure and doing the other routine things.  The ammeter was not very useful so I added a voltmeter when I bought it which clearly shows when it is charging and when not.  Even with all loads off it still is not charging at all (voltage just under 12).  When it was charging it would show about 13.5 volts no load.

    

   I am thinking the regulator is the most likely item to change out.  Any other ideas?  What is the cheapest source?

    

   Thanks

    

   Jim

 

 

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rickofudall

Joined: 19 Sep 2009
Posts: 1392
Location: Udall, KS, USA

Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 9:09 am Post subject: charging on 912

John, Have you checked both sides of the regulator for AC voltage. Input S/B AC, output should not (there may be a little as the diodes in the regulator may leak a little, but it should be very little). Grounds, checked all? Do you have the big capacitor on the regulator output? Take it out and see if things improve. The Aeroelectric forum here on the Matronics lists is another very good source of diagnostic help. 



Rick Girard

do not archive



On Sun, Oct 11, 2009 at 11:37 AM,  <jvanlaak(at)aol.com (jvanlaak(at)aol.com)> wrote:

[quote]  Folks,

    

   After months of looking for a good MkIIIX I ended up with a 912 powered Rans S7 Courier.  Although not a Kolb, it is actually a very nice plane with very good performance.  With VGs it takes off in 150 feet no wind and climbs at 1200 fpm.  Approach at 40 with a landing at 30.  Cruise is 110 at high cruise, but running around at 80 mph is only about 3.5 gph.  Wings will fold but it would take more than an hour, and it does not have the Kolb visibility.  On the other hand, both doors open in flight.  Nice enough for now.

     

   I hope nobody minds if I pulse the experience of this group to ask about troubleshooting the charging circuit on the 912.  It has only the built in charging circuit (no external alternator) and has suddenly quit charging.  It was intermittent for a while but has decided to take a vacation.  I spent the morning checking all conections secure and doing the other routine things.  The ammeter was not very useful so I added a voltmeter when I bought it which clearly shows when it is charging and when not.  Even with all loads off it still is not charging at all (voltage just under 12).  When it was charging it would show about 13.5 volts no load.

     

   I am thinking the regulator is the most likely item to change out.  Any other ideas?  What is the cheapest source?

    

   Thanks

    

   Jim

 

 

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_________________
The smallest miracle right in front of you is enough to make you happy....

John Bickham

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 170
Location: St. Francisville, LA

Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 1:54 am Post subject: Re: charging on 912

I defer to the electricians in the group.  I'll just throw these two things out for you to consider if all else fails.



1)  How old is your engine?  There was a Service Bulletin and stator replacement program for 912's around 2004.  You could check the ROAN site and cross reference your engine serial number to see if it fell in that group.



2) This one is based on my personal experience.  Correct wire gauge and good connections are critical.  I originally installed what I thought was the correct wire size (not good with metric) and my system never charged.  I didn't know I had a problem till the first time I flew with John H, John W, Gary H, and Steven G.  They were running all kind of gadgets off their systems.  Got home from the trip to Kitty Hawk and TNK and change out the wire to a heavier gauge and suddenly every thing started working.  I got gadgets running now!  So a bad wire or loose connection that would increase resistance can be a problem for this system.



Good luck.

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_________________
Thanks too much,

John Bickham
Mark III-C w/ 912UL
St. Francisville, LA

I know many pilots and a few true aviators. There is a distinct difference that I have the greatest respect for.

jvanlaak(at)AOL.COM
Guest

Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 4:39 am Post subject: charging on 912

Thanks to all who commented.

    

   John, the builder did fine on the airframe but wiring is not his strong suit.  I am in fact rewiring much of the plane not so much because the wire is too small as the lengths are too long and there are too many splices.  Shorter, cleaner wires should help.

    

   The engine is a 2000 model and the builder seems to be up to date on service bulletins but I will check again.  The plane was charging OK but now is not charging at all.  Even when it was it was marginal with the strobes on.

    

   Jim

 

 

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rickofudall

Joined: 19 Sep 2009
Posts: 1392
Location: Udall, KS, USA

Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 4:43 am Post subject: charging on 912

On Mon, Oct 12, 2009 at 7:31 AM,  <jvanlaak(at)aol.com (jvanlaak(at)aol.com)> wrote:

[quote]  Thanks to all who commented.

    

   John, the builder did fine on the airframe but wiring is not his strong suit.  I am in fact rewiring much of the plane not so much because the wire is too small as the lengths are too long and there are too many splices.  Shorter, cleaner wires should help.

     

   The engine is a 2000 model and the builder seems to be up to date on service bulletins but I will check again.  The plane was charging OK but now is not charging at all.  Even when it was it was marginal with the strobes on.

     

   Jim

 

 

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_________________
The smallest miracle right in front of you is enough to make you happy....

by0ung(at)brigham.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 6:25 am Post subject: charging on 912

If the charging is marginal with the strobes….   How much power do they pull?   How much power do the other gadgets pull?  How much power does the engine produce?  It may be that you are using all that the generator can produce.  

   

Boyd Young  

   

   

   

 	  Quote: 	
		  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>   

The engine is a 2000 model and the builder seems to be up to date on service bulletins but I will check again.  The plane was charging OK but now is not charging at all.  Even when it was it was marginal with the strobes on.  
	


   

Jim  

   

       [quote][b]

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John Bickham

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 170
Location: St. Francisville, LA

Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 8:06 am Post subject: Re: charging on 912

Sorry I was wrong.



The Service Bullentin for the stator replacement was SB-912-026UL.  It was issued December, 1999.



I loose track of time and even reality sometimes!

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dalewhelan

Joined: 11 Nov 2008
Posts: 105
Location: USA ARIZONA fountain hills

Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 9:25 am Post subject: Re: charging on 912

You have 3 components in the charge system.

Here is a basic way to get close to the problem.

Run the plane, if the regulator get warm the stator is likely good.

If the regulator is cold the stator is likely bad.

Get a headlight from a car or motorcycle, connect high to one stator ac lead and low to another ac lead, do not use the bulbs ground. Stator should light the bulb, if you rev the motor you will need another bulb.

A weak battery can damage your charging system.

I like amp meters but if you do a voltage drop on a battery cable and then start the motor, you will see the voltage reading change polarity on a working system regardless of battery condition.

If you want more technical answers than what I have given you you can send me a message and I will spare others the headache.

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Dale Whelan
503 powered Firestar II, Luscombe 8A
Projection, A simple and interesting Psychological concept

jvanlaak(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:17 am Post subject: charging on 912

Thanks.

 

 

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