X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com X-SpamCatcher-Score: 64 [XX] (100%) OBFUSCATED_WORD1_MONEY Return-Path: Sender: To: lml Date: Sat, 23 Dec 2006 11:55:01 -0500 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from imo-m17.mx.aol.com ([64.12.138.207] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 5.1.3) with ESMTP id 1704109 for lml@lancaironline.net; Sat, 23 Dec 2006 09:34:28 -0500 Received-SPF: pass receiver=logan.com; client-ip=64.12.138.207; envelope-from=MikeEasley@aol.com Received: from MikeEasley@aol.com by imo-m17.mx.aol.com (mail_out_v38_r7.6.) id q.c1c.c4ca661 (42809) for ; Sat, 23 Dec 2006 09:33:38 -0500 (EST) From: MikeEasley@aol.com X-Original-Message-ID: X-Original-Date: Sat, 23 Dec 2006 09:33:36 EST Subject: Re: [LML] Re: System level reliability X-Original-To: lml@lancaironline.net MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="-----------------------------1166884416" X-Mailer: 9.0 Security Edition for Windows sub 5354 X-Spam-Flag: NO -------------------------------1166884416 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Colyn, You've jumped way beyond me at this point. I'm not sure how an alternator "shorts" but anything on either of my busses (except for the big wire that feeds them) is on either a circuit breaker or fuse. The only unprotected wires are the ones running from my batteries to my contactors. I have those big fuses (current limiters) inline from my alternators that are supposed to protect my busses from a "runaway alternator", not really sure what that means either. Coming out of the paint shop, I had a really dead battery, wouldn't even hold a charge. I flew to the West coast with one battery and two alternators. I just left my backup 20 amp alternator off and flipped the crossfeed switch and had a solid electrical system, with an alternator waiting in the wings if I needed it. The flights were VFR day, but over some rough terrain. I justified the flight by reasoning that I had more electrical system in my 3/4 working ES than any certified aircraft I'd ever owned, except for my Mooney 252 with a second alternator. I think Bob Nuckols tries to balance the complexity with failsafe design. It might be interesting to hear Bob's response to your EE's comments. The more switches we add, the more failure points we introduce. I guess what I'm saying is I'm not sure the EE failure modes are ones that are likely to occur, but like I said earlier, I'm not going head-to-head with an EE, you are beyond my knowledge base already. Mike -------------------------------1166884416 Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Colyn,

You've jumped way beyond me at this point. I'm not sure how an=20 alternator "shorts" but anything on either of my busses (except for the big=20= wire=20 that feeds them) is on either a circuit breaker or fuse. The only=20 unprotected wires are the ones running from my batteries to my contactors.&n= bsp;=20 I have those big fuses (current limiters) inline from my alternators that ar= e=20 supposed to protect my busses from a "runaway alternator", not really sure w= hat=20 that means either.

Coming out of the paint shop, I had a really dead battery, wouldn't eve= n=20 hold a charge. I flew to the West coast with one battery and two=20 alternators. I just left my backup 20 amp alternator off and flipped t= he=20 crossfeed switch and had a solid electrical system, with an alternator waiti= ng=20 in the wings if I needed it. The flights were VFR day, but over some r= ough=20 terrain. I justified the flight by reasoning that I had more electrica= l=20 system in my 3/4 working ES than any certified aircraft I'd ever owned, exce= pt=20 for my Mooney 252 with a second alternator.

I think Bob Nuckols tries to balance the complexity with failsafe=20 design. It might be interesting to hear Bob's response to your EE's=20 comments. The more switches we add, the more failure points we=20 introduce. I guess what I'm saying is I'm not sure the EE failure mode= s=20 are ones that are likely to occur, but like I said earlier, I'm not going=20 head-to-head with an EE, you are beyond my knowledge base already.

Mike

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