Return-Path: Received: from hpamgaab.compuserve.com ([149.174.217.153]) by truman.olsusa.com (Post.Office MTA v3.5.1 release 219 ID# 0-52269U2500L250S0V35) with ESMTP id com for ; Sun, 6 Jun 1999 12:31:46 -0400 Received: (from mailgate@localhost) by hpamgaab.compuserve.com (8.8.8/8.8.8/HP-1.4) id MAA12101 for Lancair.list@olsusa.com; Sun, 6 Jun 1999 12:34:35 -0400 (EDT) Date: Sun, 6 Jun 1999 12:33:03 -0400 From: Lynda Frantz Subject: Batteries Sender: Lynda Frantz To: Marve Kay Message-ID: <199906061233_MC2-7863-9824@compuserve.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Disposition: inline X-Mailing-List: lancair.list@olsusa.com <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> << Lancair Builders' Mail List >> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >> I've been using RG batteries since 1993 in my Lake Amphibian and since 1995 in my Lancair and find that they have better cranking power (lower internal resistance), last almost a s long, are smaller and lighter, and cost lots more as compared to the standard lead acid. The RG was a particular blessing for my Lake which was suffereing from constant lead/acid battery induced corrosion. There are differences between the standard lead/acid and a RG however. The last time I checked, caution must be exercised to prevent over charging these batteries and a RG specific charger is recommended with over voltage protection. Over voltage/charging a RG battery resulted in an explosion on a Lancair 320 several years ago and was reported in the LNN. It was speculated that the over voltage produced hydrogen gas (the recombine part of the RG apparently does not work at high charging voltages) which was ignited when the master relay was opened in response to the over voltage. The master relay was located next to the battery. Both the battery compartment behind the seat and master relay were blown apart. George had to deal with smoke/fumes in the cockpit in addition to the loss of nearly all electrics. B&C provides both the proper charging and over voltage protection in a single box which has served me well to date. The above incident also had some other interesting features. Both mags were electronic. Although there were two separate batteries, both shared the single common charging source. It was lucky that common components shared by both batteries failed in such a manner that the electronic ignition system didn't also fail as the over voltage and explosion occured. But, as it turned out, the backup battery dedicated to the right electronic ignition system tried to power the entire aircraft electrical system through the failed isolation diode common to the aircrafts single charging system. Good thing that George decided to just "Fly the Airplane" and land ASAP. Now that would have been interesting, smoke/fumes in the cockpit, no electrics, no navigation/communications and an engine stoppage. Now throw in night IFR and --- WOW! Jim Frantz Lancair Network News >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> LML homepage: http://www.olsusa.com/Users/Mkaye/maillist.html