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Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2008 10:32:28 -0400
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From: Steve Reeves <sreeves@sc.rr.com>
Subject: Happy, happy day.
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	First off, I'd like to thank everyone who has replied to my 
inquiries over the past few weeks concerning my electrical 
problem.  For the recap, every time I loaded the system down (strobes 
could pretty much do it by themselves, navs, pump, landing 
light...etc), the system would "go offline".  The voltage would drop 
from 13.5V down to discharge and set off my annunciator light.  It 
would never do this when under a light (daytime) load, unless I hit 
the strobes, and even then it would be sketchy.  I had been through 
the system and couldn't find any loose connections, poor crimps, 
etc.  Before all of this started, I normally charged at 14.2V.
	Over the past many weeks, I have been going over things.  In the 
process, I have replaced the battery, master solenoid, voltage 
regulator, and alternator.  I am a second year med student and have 
always been taught to look for horses before I look for zebras (I'm 
an older student...my parents didn't buy me a Glasair for graduation 
or anything :-P).   I was pretty sure that I was looking for the 
horses.  Well, as a last ditch effort, I made a jumper wire and 
bypassed the overvoltage.  Cranked it up and........SSDD.  I was 
pissed.  I was about to shut down and try to farm this out to 
someone.  I have already had one A&P charge me to go over it and told 
me that "my wiring was too small and my panel needed to be 
redone.....".  Right.  Amazing it's been great for 8 years.
	For some reason, I decided to stick my hand up under the panel near 
the main breaker.  Wire was on tight, but I pushed on it for the hell 
of it.  The thing went offline.  Release 
pressure.  Online.  Repeat.  I could feel the hairs on the back of my 
neck stand up.  I invert myself and check the wiring to the main 
breaker.  They weren't even "loose", but I could tell the top one was 
a little less snug that the bottom.  I tightened them up.  Fire  up 
the aircraft.  14.2 showing on the voltage, everything blazing at 
idle speed, no hiccups.
	I could do backflips.  This thing has been a nightmare for me to 
chase.  I had looked and felt those wires before, but the weren't 
"loose".  Thank God my dilemma is over.
	Chuck, if you want to forward this to the Aeroelectric feel 
free.  Alot of those guys had alot of good suggestions also.
	Think I'll go flying tomorrow.

Steve Reeves
Glasair 38SR