|
|
Hi Ed:
Yes, there was a load and battery as I was just taxing up to the hanger after one of my first flights, so I was just scanning the instruments when I saw the voltage at (IRC) ~17-19 volts and climbing. I was mere feet from where I was going to park anyways, so I simply shutdown. I'm certain that the battery was absorbing the extra voltage, preventing a spike which would have been a little more expensive.
Honestly, at the time I was still thinking that in all my years of driving it had never happened, what are the odds that it would happen again. But what changed my mind was that when I went to buy a new one It was something like $40 and wasn't in stock so would be a few days. The external reg the Electric Bob recommends was $8 and they had a dozen in stock. So I converted the alternator over that night and went flying again in the morning. It really was a simple job to do and I'm glad I did it. I also built the crowbar overvoltage protection as per Bob's plans which I believe was <$15 in parts.
On Sun, 2009-07-05 at 07:29 -0400, Ed Anderson wrote:
Just curious, Todd. When you had your alternator run-a-way, did you have a battery or other load on the line. Yes and you are correct, just because the odds are 1 in 1000,000 does not mean your 1 couldn’t come up tomorrow. And I STILL DON”T use approved plastic fuel cans (or any other kind) – one refueling fire was enough {:>).
|
|