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Charging Problem Solved

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jeff(at)rmmm.net
Guest

Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:12 pm Post subject: Charging Problem Solved

HI All,

Several people have been asking so I sent this out the other day. For  

some reason the list did't except my e-mail address anymore so I had  

to sigh up again. On to the reason of this post.



I believe there we're two different things causing my problem but  

anyway my problem has been resolved. Not only was there a bad  

connected ground... I believe when I quit cooling the regulator it may  

have taken it's tole on it as well. Just to clarify some time ago  

there was some discussion on making sure the regulator was not getting  

very hot so I took the precaution and ran a small scat tube up from  

the bottom NACA I wasn't using. About a few months back I didn't re- 

connect it thinking it wasn't necessary. Needless to say thats when I  

started noticing this problem. Coincidence?  After fixing the ground I  

re-connected it as I was trying to cover everything. Put 2 or 3 hours  

on it last week before I left for a trip. I left it sit while I was  

traveling. Flew it some more when I got back. Just connected the  

tester to the battery and it's holding 12.7 amps and is at 90%. Before  

after a few flights it was down to about 30%. So there it is. Not sure  

if the cooler regulator had anything to do with it, but it was still  

not charging correctly after I fixed the bad ground. I will keep you  

all posted if you like but this time it really looks like I'm good to  

go.



Thanks very much for all your help.



Jeff R.  N128LJ Gold Rush

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steven.pitt2(at)ntlworld.
Guest

Posted: Sat May 01, 2010 9:55 am Post subject: Charging Problem Solved

Jeff R et al,

I too have been experiencing issues with my regulator (I am on my second 

after 200 hours and the current one is acting up) and so whilst at Sun'n'Fun 

I did some research by talking to Rotax distributors and also to Vans (in 

view of the RV12 installation of the 912S).

Today at the Microlight Flyin at my local field, Popham, I also had the 

chance to speak to our Rotax distributors and can advise the community of my 

findings.

Firstly all the wise heads were advising that the issues with the regulator 

seemed to be confined to Europas in the main, the issues being overheating 

and pulling too much load. Neither of these conclusions have been 

scientifically tested but the anecdotal evidence seems overwhelming towards 

the first issue.

Vans have decided to provide an air duct to blow cool air onto the regulator 

so they have decided that there must be a cooling issue. Bear in mind that 

the RV12 is an LSA machine and therefore must be built according to the 

manual - no modifications.

Jeff - your observations also point to this conclusion so thanks for the 

input.

Our UK distributor (Conair) has talked to Rotax who say that there should 

not be any issues and so are not willing to make any changes. However, the 

UK agent has been concerned about the capacity of the regulator on well 

equipped 914 Europas and therefore has been exploring the Schicke GR6 (a 

German device already fitted by several UK owners). In conversations with 

our Club Modifications Rep, Ian Rickard, it has been decided that we will 

support Conair with investigating the Schicke in order to obtain an 'all of 

type' modification within the rules of the UK Light Aircraft Association. As 

I need to change my regulator I have offered to trial fit the regulator, but 

I will move it to within the wheel well of my trigear in order to remove any 

possibility of overheating influence.

Anyone who has already fitted a Schicke, could you please contact me off 

forum so that we can obtain background and backing information towards this 

modification.

I do not profess to be an expert on this topic merely an interested and out 

of pocket installer.

The Europa club will keep the forum informed.

Regards

Steve Pitt

G-SMDH

PS Sorry we did not see you at Sun'n'Fun



---

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pete(at)lawless.info
Guest

Posted: Sat May 01, 2010 10:38 am Post subject: Charging Problem Solved

Hi Steve



Trouble is if you move the location to somewhere cool it will not prove the

Schicke cures anything.



I must be lucky my mono is still running the original regulator after 500

hours mounted on the top of the footwell with no cooling air.  Mind you I

only run a single Microair com, a turn co-ordinator and a mode C

transponder, plus occasional bursts of trim and prop pitch.  So in my case

it could be the lack of load. 



Regards



Pete



--

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Gilles.Thesee(at)ac-greno
Guest

Posted: Sat May 01, 2010 11:59 am Post subject: Charging Problem Solved

Steven Pitt a écrit :

 	  Quote: 	
		   Firstly all the wise heads were advising that the issues with the 

 regulator seemed to be confined to Europas in the main, the issues 

 being overheating and pulling too much load. Neither of these 

 conclusions have been scientifically tested but the anecdotal evidence 

 seems overwhelming towards the first issue.

Steven,
	




Some years ago we conducted some investigations on the Ducati-Rotax 

alternator and regulator, and the Schicke GR-4 in a university electric lab.

The following abstracts of our findings might be of interest :

http://contrails.free.fr/elec_ducati_en.php

http://www.foxpapa.com/spip.php?article429

http://www.foxpapa.com/spip.php?article436



I finally elected to use the Schicke GR-4. The newer GR-6 is advertised 

as having better heat rejection properties.

FWIW

Best regards,

-- 

Gilles

http://contrails.free.fr

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