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skippydiesel

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Posts posted by skippydiesel

  1. To all -  VECTRIQ (Australian agents for CARMO, maker of CARR5115 MOSFET) are coming across as somewhat lacking in professionalism;

    • Take two days to respond to enquiries - phone contact not available.
    • Do not have any product - want payment before back ordering.
    • Do not answer my technical questions.
    • Have at least two advertised prices ($52 Au difference).
    • Would seem to be asking somewhere in the region of  + $164 Au above makers advertised price

    B & C  (USA - PMR1C-14 regulator) took less than 12 hrs to respond to my enquiry. They have replaced the AVC1 with the PRM1C-14. Looking good!😈

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  2. 30 minutes ago, Thruster88 said:

    The a32 vixxen heater works by ducting heated air from the main front mounted engine radiator. There would be almost zero chance of co2 or any engine bay smells entering this system. Perhaps an antifreeze smell if there was a coolant leak?

    Thats interesting - I hadnt heard of a cabin heat system like the one you describe. From your descriptions it sounds like there is no chance of exhaust (CO) being drawn in to the heating system. Still I would be cautious - air flows in the engine compartment can be counterintuitive. 😈

  3. 1 hour ago, danny_galaga said:

    The battery will only be able to draw the maximum 22 amps I think. That's theoretically, as presumably there are other loads on. Radio, lights etc. it will only the draw heavily for a few minutes after starting, since it will be charging up. The current draw between the battery and alternator is governed purely by the difference in voltage between the two. If there's nothing wrong with the battery it will charge up and the batteries voltage increases. If you have an ammeter you should see the amps drop down pretty quickly after a start. Longer if the battery was flat 

    In my aircraft system, at start up, there is only two small additional loads, my Dynon & iPad both come on with the Master Switch. Further electrical loads are all post start, these are transceiver, transponder (Ground). I don't have lights, which traditionally are a significant load. So whatever the battery is drawing to recharge, is only slightly reduced by additional loads.😈 

  4. From Rotax Owners Forum, Mike Miller

     

    "It’s been my experience the 965349 regulator fail from vibration. The potting compound is not rigid, think of the PCB as floating in jello (not sure if jello is a thing in Australia,) the PCB is held to the case by the eight wire leads of the rectifier and SCRs. The typical failure mode is a low voltage alarm at low and moderate RPMs (half wave operation) or no output at all. Typically it starts as an intermittent problem that worsens over time.

    Usually these regulators are easily repairable. The potting compound can be removed cleanly with simple tools and minimal effort. The picture of potting compound removal sequence spanned less that 10 minutes from start to finish, but I’ve had a little practice. Inspect the eight locations in the second photo for broken connections and re-solder as needed. The SCR leads may look ok, inspect them carefully, often they can be lifted off the board with your finger nail. The rectifier leads should have a cone of solder up from the board to the cut lead, what you usually find is a crater of solder with the disconnected lead coming through the center. If a lead falls off as you solder it, that’s an indication the failure point was at the body of the component and it won’t be repairable without replacing that component, I’ve only seen this happen once. If you we’re successful and removed the potting compound in one one piece, you can resecure it with RTV,  after confirming it’s fixed." 😈

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  5. 36 minutes ago, aro said:

    If the failures are being discussed on the Rotax forum, that's probably where you will find opinions on the alternatives. If there are few people here who have failures, no-one is likely to be able to make a comparison.

     

    One thing I have heard is that high load isn't good for the Rotax regulators. One of the characteristics of the EarthX batteries is a high initial charging current, which seems like it might overload the regulator.

    Thanks Aro - No one else has mentioned the high current/Earth X possibility.

     

    All the more reason to go with a more recent VR, that specifically claims compatibility with LiFePo4 battery's😈

    • Like 1
  6. 9 minutes ago, Red said:

    They have a fair number of failures in UK use. 

    i've had a couple of failures and know of others.

    Guessing anecdotally something like 1 in 30 not lasting past a few hundred hours over here

    As I say - check out the Rotax Owners Forum. I suggest a cold wet day, warm fire, comfy chair - it will take you forever to plough through all the threads on this topic.

     

    Back to what I am hoping for - some experince /insight into the alternative VR's on the market.

     

    Leaning towards the CARMO CARR5115 MOSFET  It being, available locally,  at the lower cost end, of the new breed of MOSFET type VR's & a plug/play without tricky voltage adjustments 😈

  7. Glide approach (no power).

    Want to make a posative touch down.

    Raise flap, to dump lift, when at the point of touch down.

    You will make a shorter landing run and brakes will be effective from the start.😈

  8. 1 hour ago, IBob said:

    Curious. I asked because, thinking of the various Rotax powered aircraft at our airfield, I'm not aware of any having that failure.
    No doubt there will be a limit to the design output: I see 13.5A quoted.
    There is also a potential problem (no pun intended) with turning off the master switch with the engine still running, in which case the DC output spikes. Or that's my understanding, hence the fitting of the external capacitor, to take the edge off that. Will that damage the regulator, or is that principally to protect avionics etc?

    Check out Rotax Owner Forum - might take a day or two to read through the many pages of Rectifier issues.

     

    My aircarft is fitted with an Earth X battery - 14V indicated is the norm.

     

    Not the greatest understanding of electronics however my understanding of the 22000Mu capacitor, is to control/eliminate spikes which may interfere with other electronic systems on board, in particular the transceiver.

     

    No idea why anyone would turn of the Master Switch, on a running engine, unless may be a suspected electrical fire/overheat.😈

    • Like 1
  9. 1 hour ago, IBob said:

    Is it a common problem, though???

    Yes - Rotax/Ducati rectifier/regulators have always been a weak point in the Rotax system. Check out the Rotax Owners Forum and you will find pages & pages, going back to the early day of the 912, on this topic.

     

    In general the failures are put down to locating the unit in a high temperature and or vibration environment. Poor connections and/or earthing. However it seems that no matter what care is taken the service life can be from as little as under a 100 hrs to 500 hrs or so.

     

    The above mentioned aftermarket VR's, particularly those that list Rotax as a compatible user, seem to be exploiting this weakness.

     

    My problem is I don't seem to be able to find much in the way of product reviews, to assist in making a selection.😈

  10. 8 hours ago, dlegg said:

    Yes, mine needs a heavy batt fwf. And for about $130 for a lead acid, can't fathom paying over $500 for a lithium.

    Aside from the need for/against weight the EarthX is clamed to have a much longer service life (10+years?).

     

    If true. the purchase price should be looked at as per annum cost when comparing with a conventional battery.

     

    I have one in my Sonex - its performance (still young at 2 years ) is astonishing, able to deliver great cranking power, even after several weeks of idleness.😈

  11. 1 hour ago, IBob said:

    Skippy, when you say 'extra careful grounding', presumably that includes the metal body of the regulator?
    I ask because I'm aware of one that appeared to fail (it hadn't) because the body wasn't well grounded.

    I always go the "extra mile" to ground all of my 12V systems, so yes body & any designated terminals all back to battery Neg (-) not just to airframe.😈

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  12. 8 minutes ago, Red said:

    I have a spare SHINDENGEN FH020AA from one of my bikes, the input is 3 phase, not sure can this be used single phase with just the 2 wires from the 912 generator?

    You are a gentleman sir. Thanks for the offer. At this early stage of the investigation, I am keeping my options open but tending towards the OM as is a known plug & play fitting. 

     

    The CARMO also attractive (recently fitted one to a motorbike) but not keen on changing out the connectors,  as in a very tight spot.😈

  13. I seek your leaned advice;

     

    At only 153 Hobbs hrs, my Rotax/Ducati Voltage Regulator seems to have "spat the dummy". This is despite mounting in cockpit (away from engine heat) extra careful grounding,  with dedicated fresh air supply. Now researching options - see below;

     

    • Rotax/Ducati - Rotax PN 965349 / Ducati PN 362001. OM, poor reputation. About $350Au delivered

     

    • CARMO CARR5115 MOSFET - local supplier "Vectriq Parts". Seem to have a strong following. Non standard Rotax connection. Claims of cooler operating and no need for 22000 Mu capacitor. About $300Au delivered.

     

    • Silent Hektik DE - As yet no local supplier found. Confusing model descriptions. Confusing prices  $160 - 192Au in Germany. Fitted by at least one small aircraft manufacture. No reviews at this stage (see reading list below). 

     

    • Electrosport ESR439 - Fitted to various motorcycles including Honda. About $300Au delivered. No aircraft related reviews.

     

    • Advanced Voltage controller - Claimed to be specific aircraft VR. Estimated $570Au delivered. No reviews

     

    • SHINDENGEN FH020AA  - Original fitted to various motorcycles. Look great. Prices vary from about $50 Au (copy?) to $500Au. No aircraft related reviews

     

    • Mower style VR's eg suited to John Deere. 

     

    Suggested reading, curtesy of "RV12 Build Log"

     

    😈

  14. It seems to me that the price of small (1 -2 seat) aircraft is effected by:

     

    Factory Built - pretty much been on a rocket ride for the last 3-4 years

     

    Kit Built - more like an express elevator.

     

    In/Out of fashion - inexplicable popularity of some aircraft, has seen crazy prices, corresponding slower rise in the less well regarded/promoted.

     

    CV19 causing massive disruption in World trade, may have been the catalyst ????

     

    The Donald policies may likewise disrupt the ordered flow of goods, causing similar rises in material costs ????

     

    Security instability, negatively impacting raw material supply, production, delivery, diversion of resources to military ????

     

    Humans are consumers - price of goods goes up - wages rise to compensate - inflation spiral, always there, just faster at some periods.😈

     

     

     

  15. The first hurdle , with Consumer Law " is paying for it. I went down this rabbit hole many years ago.

    • Make a complaint to the authority
    • Authority contacts product supplier
    • Product supplier denies any responsibility
    • Authority, no power of enforcement
    • Advised I can take the matter to be heard by court
    • First lodge $k?
    • What? Faulty product cost $65
    • Accept have been duded
    • End of story

    😈

     

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