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Active Notification of Low Voltage

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gordonrsmith921@yahoo.com

Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 24

Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 2:08 pm Post subject: Active Notification of Low Voltage

Many current OBAM aircraft have electronic EFIS and/or EIS systems installed in their panels.  Most of these systems have the capability to monitor various engine and electrical parameters.  Limits can be programmed so that when a parameter is outside of the set limits, this is enunciated via audio and/or visual notification (a warning light).  

   

Is the use of these EFIS/EIS systems adequate for proper stand alone “Active Notification of Low Voltage”?  Or is it recommended that additional equipment be employed?  This additional equipment would be such as AEC9005, AEC9024 (when available), or other such devices on the market.  

   

Gordon Smith  

   

        [quote][b]

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nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect
Guest

Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 5:19 am Post subject: Active Notification of Low Voltage

At 05:06 PM 6/14/2010, you wrote:

  	  Quote: 	
		   Many current OBAM aircraft have electronic EFIS and/or EIS systems installed in their panels.  Most of these systems have the capability to monitor various engine and electrical parameters.  Limits can be programmed so that when a parameter is outside of the set limits, this is enunciated via audio and/or visual notification (a warning light).

  

 Is the use of these EFIS/EIS systems adequate for proper stand alone “Active Notification of Low Voltage”?  Or is it recommended that additional equipment be employed?  This additional equipment would be such as AEC9005, AEC9024 (when available), or other such devices on the market. 	


    Your choice. The operative word is "active".

    If the nature of the warning provided as a

    feature of a panel mounted accessory is sufficient

    to get your attention within a minute of

    onset of LV, then the design goals have been

    met.



    The B&C LR series regulators are shipped with

    a rather obnoxious yellow warning light assembly

    that is guaranteed to get your attention.



    It's something you can experiment with in

    flight. Shut the alternator off. Judge for

    yourself if the resulting indication is sufficiently

    attention getting.



 

   Bob . . .    [quote][b]

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chasb(at)satx.rr.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 5:41 am Post subject: Active Notification of Low Voltage

Time: 09:07:05 AM PST US

From: Charles Brame <chasb(at)satx.rr.com (chasb(at)satx.rr.com)>

Subject: RV-List: Re: Active Notification of Low Voltage

Bob, et. al.,

I'm one of the guilty ones with an electronic EFIS and no warning  

light for a low voltage. In a low voltage situation, my EFIS voltmeter  

does flash, but I have determined that isn't a sufficient warning.  

Thus I would like to install a low voltage warning light. To  

complicate matters: however, I have a generic Ford regulator that does  

not have a low voltage warning circuit. Is there a simple solution for  

this situation?

Charlie Brame

RV-6A  N11CB

San Antonio

----------------------------------------------------------

Time: 06:19:27 AM PST US

From: "Robert L. Nuckolls, III" <nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com (nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com)>

Subject: Re: Active Notification of Low Voltage

At 05:06 PM 6/14/2010, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  Many current OBAM aircraft have electronic EFIS and/or EIS systems

installed in their panels.  Most of these systems have the

capability to monitor various engine and electrical

parameters.  Limits can be programmed so that when a parameter is

outside of the set limits, this is enunciated via audio and/or

visual notification (a warning light).

Is the use of these EFIS/EIS systems adequate for proper stand alone

"Active Notification of Low Voltage"?  Or is it recommended that

additional equipment be employed?  This additional equipment would

be such as AEC9005, AEC9024 (when available), or other such devices

on the market.

   Your choice. The operative word is "active".

   If the nature of the warning provided as a

   feature of a panel mounted accessory is sufficient

   to get your attention within a minute of

   onset of LV, then the design goals have been

   met.

   The B&C LR series regulators are shipped with

   a rather obnoxious yellow warning light assembly

   that is guaranteed to get your attention.

   It's something you can experiment with in

   flight. Shut the alternator off. Judge for

   yourself if the resulting indication is sufficiently

   attention getting.

  Bob . . .

 [quote][b]

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longg(at)pjm.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 6:06 am Post subject: Active Notification of Low Voltage

Charlie,



It may sound too simple but just install a low voltage warning light. B

& C, Bob or Eric have simple, low cost jobs to fit the bill. I have a

Dynon that displays internal, bus and master voltages but I still like

to see the idiot light on the panel.



Glenn



--

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nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect
Guest

Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 7:29 am Post subject: Active Notification of Low Voltage

At 09:05 AM 6/17/2010, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  



Charlie,



It may sound too simple but just install a low voltage warning light. B

& C, Bob or Eric have simple, low cost jobs to fit the bill. I have a

Dynon that displays internal, bus and master voltages but I still like

to see the idiot light on the panel.


	


     I'll re-enforce Glen's suggestion by offering the simple-

     ideas that have driven my design goals for active notification

     of low voltage for over 30 years . . .



     Most low voltage notification systems built into glass

     screens and alternator regulators are not stand-alone,

     attention getting, auto-preflight tested systems.



     Every low voltage warning device I've crafted has

     no other function nor does it depend on functional

     integrity of any other device in the airplane.



     The recommended indicator lamp is bright. Installation

     instructions call for putting it right in front of the pilot.

     When we flash it, a rate of 2.5 to 3 times per second

     is the targeted rate shown to be the most attention

     getting. Installers are encouraged to test the

     installation for sun-light view ability.



     By installing active notification of low voltage

     right on the main bus, it's the first thing that

     comes on with the master switch and it stays on

     until the alternator comes on line. I.e., you get

     a pre-flight test of functionality whether or not

     it's am item on your checklist.



     Having said all this, folks tend to gravitate toward

     the notion that loss of an alternator is somehow

     an emergency that should be annunciated with lots

     of sirens, bells, flashing lights and waving

     flags.



     NOT SO.



     The whole purpose for active notification of low

     voltage is to PREVENT loss of an alternator from

     becoming an emergency. This is accomplished by

     offering the pilot timely encouragement to implement

     plan-B. No more, no less.



     Once plan-B is in effect, the well crafted and

     maintained system offers a no-sweat alternative

     for return to earth.



     A thread common to many loss-of-alternator

     scenarios in the library of dark-n-stormy-night

     stories is LACK OF AWARENESS about alternator

     functionality combined with LACK OF AWARENESS

     of system condition and capability. I.e., not

     knowing the condition of the ship's battery and

     a complete WAG as to how long needful things will

     run on the battery's contained energy.



     It's the classic case of what you don't know is

     that which might become a disappointing surprise.

     Indeed, many of the dark-n-stormy-night narratives

     illustrate the fact that the pilot didn't know

     the alternator wasn't working until the

     panel went black and options for battery

     load shedding were already expended.



     That little yellow light is not the end-all,

     be-all of electrical system warning gadgets.

     It is but one link in the chain of thoughtful

     set of design goals for crafting a FAILURE

     TOLERANT system. Like all chains, the design

     is no stronger than the weakest link which

     can manifest in poor architecture, poor battery

     maintenance, poor testing of failure hypothesis,

     AND warnings that are too benign to get one's

     attention in the cockpit under all flight

     conditions.

   Bob . . .

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bakerocb

Joined: 15 Jan 2006
Posts: 727
Location: FAIRFAX VA

Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 3:06 am Post subject: Active Notification of Low Voltage

6/18/2010



Hello Glenn, There is definetely more to this than just simply installing a 

(low cost?) light. What is to activate the light?



Is this some of the hardware that you have in mind? Thanks.



http://www.periheliondesign.com/lvwaabm.htm



http://www.bandc.biz/primary-regulators.aspx



http://www.aeroelectric.com/Catalog/AEC/9005/LV_Warn_Fab_and_Install.pdf



'OC' Baker Says: "The best investment we can make is the time and effort to 

gather and understand knowledge."



========================================================

Time: 07:06:43 AM PST US

Subject: RE: Active Notification of Low Voltage

From: <longg(at)pjm.com>

Charlie,



It may sound too simple but just install a low voltage warning light. B

& C, Bob or Eric have simple, low cost jobs to fit the bill. I have a

Dynon that displays internal, bus and master voltages but I still like

to see the idiot light on the panel.



Glenn

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