If someone has posted numbers before, I can't find them.  I'm in the
process of working up and electrical budget for my airplane.  Does
anyone have numbers handy for the current draw of the various electrical
things the engine needs. 

Hi Ernest,

Below are the notes from when I measured current in the RV-3.  "Running" and "Not Running" refer to the engine, not the items I was testing.  This was with LS-1 coils. 

Finally pulled out the new DC clamp meter, and made some current measurements.  This should be enough numbers to calculate almost anything. 

 

NOT RUNNING:

 

Fuel pump 1- 6.2 amps

Fuel pump 2- 6.0 amps

Facet transfer pump- 1.1 amps

Davies Craig EWP- 4.4 amps

EC-2 (also ignition coils)- .3 amps

EM-2- .6 amps

Master switch only- 6.4 amps (what is all this?)

Radio (receive mode)- .7 amps

Transponder-  .5 amps

CD player- .3 amps

 

RUNNING:

 

Minimum config includes FP-1, EWP, EC-2, EM-2, and of course ignition coils.  Alt is turned off because the master is off.   12.1 amps at 1500 rpm, 14.1 amps at 3000 rpm.   That was as much as I dared run standing next to the plane, using the meter on the battery cable in the baggage compartment. 

 

Max load, as I normally fly, includes everything.  Alternator is off though, because I couldn’t measure the load at the main battery lead with the alt supplying power- 22 amps at 1500 rpm. 

 

I'm using the Ford 42lb injectors, and the GM
D580 coils and my plan is to buy an EC2/EM2 combination. 

Let me know if you get ready to buy an EC-2/EM-2.  I might sell the ones I have on the Kolb.  I've been giving some thought to selling the Kolb, and moving the single rotor to a gyro, and I would probably just go with a carb and the standard ignition, along with a basic EIS.  No hurry to do any of that though.

Cheers,

Rusty