Buly,
I'm using a split master switch (Cessna style), but
the right half is the alternator, as in a Piper or
Cessna.  I've actually given some though of rewiring
the alternator, and splitting the two master relays
between the 2 switches.  The one for the engine
systems though will still be a single failure point,
So I'm not sure what I'm gaining.  I guess if I still
had avionics and I/P I'd still have Comm and Nav.

Steve

--- Bulent Aliev <atlasyts@bellsouth.net> wrote:

> Hi Steve,
> Glad to hear you are OK. I'm surprised that you have
> one master  
> switch. I have 2 separate switches L battery, R
> battery or both. I  
> have to loose both switches for something like that
> to happen.
> Keep going. You are almost there.
> Buly
> On Dec 3, 2005, at 9:28 AM, Steve Brooks wrote:
>
> > I made it down to South Carolina, to among other
> > things, fly the Cozy.  It had been 2 months to the
> day
> > since I had been down, so the remaining 8 hours of
> the
> > 40 test hours have been slow to come off.
> >
> > On Thursday I washed about 30 lbs of dust off of
> the
> > plane (open T hanger) and checked everything out.
> I
> > did a high speed run down the runway, but didn't
> have
> > time to get in a flight.
> >
> > Yesterday I went to the airport after it warmed up
> a
> > few degrees, and took off.  The engine was running
> > very strong in the cooler air (54 degrees).  I had
> > planned to do about a 30 minute flight ad land,
> just
> > to check everything out, and was was doing turns
> and
> > just cruising around about 6-7 miles from the
> airport
> > at about 2900 MSL (2300 AGL).  While flying
> straight
> > and level, I felt a sudden miss in engine.  When I
> > check the I/P, I also noticed that the digital
> gauges,
> > fuel and oil, had rebooted.  I immediately started
> a
> > turn toward the airport.
> >
> > About 15 seconds later, I lost total electric.
> The
> > I/P went dead, and so did the engine.  This isn't
> > good, I thought.  Actually, it was more like, OH
> SH**.
> >  I took a look at the airport, and I was too far
> to
> > make it there, so I looked around, and a 4 lane
> > highway, which has light traffic appeared to be my
> > best option.  I had just started turning toward
> that
> > highway, when the electric power came back, and
> the
> > engine picked back up.
> >
> > I immediately started a climb, and headed toward
> the
> > airport again.  I already knew that there was a
> plane
> > in the pattern doing touch and goes (unicom
> field), so
> > I called the airport and advised the other
> aircraft
> > that I had a serious issue, and needed to make a
> > straight in landing.
> >
> > It didn't lose power again, on the trip back to
> the
> > airport, but that 6-7 miles seemed to take
> forever.  I
> > stayed on the high side on altitude, for obvious
> > reasons, and then had to bleed altitude (and
> speed)
> > while on short final.  I came in a little fast,
> and
> > touched down earlier than normal, but still was on
> the
> > ground, and very happy.
> >
> > Since I have two separate electrical systems
> (engine
> > and everything else), I was really stunned that I
> lost
> > both like that.  After thinking about it for I
> while,
> > I figured out that the master switch was the only
> > common link.  I pulled the I/P cover off, and
> found
> > that the ground connector was pulled off of the
> > terminal and just sitting there barely touching
> the
> > contact.
> > The cause of this was the fact that when I did an
> > annual on the plane in May, I had added some
> addition
> > ty-raps to dress up the wiring a little more.  In
> > doing so, I had stretched the ground wire which
> runs
> > to the master switch, which energizes the two
> master
> > relays.
> >
> > It was an easy fix, but now I have to replenish
> the
> > adrenalin supply, and figure out how to get the
> ridge
> > out of the seat cushion.
> >
> > After some ground testing, I made another flight
> > (circling the airport) and everything checked out
> OK.
> >
> >
> > I have an emergency bypass switch that will supply
> > power to the engine systems from either the
> forward or
> > aft battery.  I didn't think to switch it over,
> but I
> > really didn't get to the point of doing any
> trouble
> > shooting, so I'm not sure if I would have thought
> of
> > that option or not.  It was without power for only
> > about 20 seconds, but it seemed much longer.  I
> will
> > definitely remember the emergency power switch,
> should
> > I every have an issue like that again, but I hope
> that
> > never happens.
> >
> > This isn't nearly as harrowing as some of the
> > experiences that Ed or John have had, but it was
> > plenty for me.  I don't want any more glider time.
> >
> > Steve Brooks
> > Cozy MKIV
> > Turbo rotary
> >
> >
> > --
> > Homepage:  http://www.flyrotary.com/
> > Archive and UnSub:  
> http://mail.lancaironline.net/lists/flyrotary/
>
>
> --
> Homepage:  http://www.flyrotary.com/
> Archive and UnSub:  
> http://mail.lancaironline.net/lists/flyrotary/
>