| To avoid tossing a good battery you can do a test similar to that used on our Concorde batteries. Take the amp-hour rating (C1) and draw a load and measure the amps and time down to the threshold of 10v or 20v depending on the battery. If we can get 80% of the rated A-H capacity we keep it. But, we use a normal discharge rate in the airplane, not a full draw at C1 as I think that is unnecessary. So, maybe something like 20% of C1 discharging through some lights for example or a rate that duplicates a discharge rate in the airplane in your worst condition so that it will show up any faults under load. Take a measurement every X minutes and get your capacity. I'd do it on the bench out of the airplane and track the capacity between annuals.
We previously tossed these expensive batteries based on calendar life but we can now leave them on condition using these tests.
Paul On 2010-06-19, at 3:01 PM, Robert R Pastusek wrote: Just had two of my four Odyssey PC680 batteries crap out after 2 years of service although an identical set on the other buss are fine… Robert,
I have a similar setup in my IV-P and had planned to replace two of the four batteries every two years, expecting them to last for four years…but I never looked at the expected/advertised life; I was just following a practice used for lead/acid batteries. Two of my batteries are coming up on two years old; the other pair are coming up on four years, and I’d planned to replace them during the condition inspection next month. I’d appreciate your thoughts/experience on this. Thanks, Bob
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