EMS: Amps Reading

[schurch379]

I bought a 2007 CTLS in 2012. I have flown it all over the Hawaiian islands. It is well maintained and hangered.

One thing I have constantly noticed is that ( on the EMS display ) the amperage reading fluctuates almost second to second all over the place--usually, from -8amps to +10 amps. The voltage reading fluctuates just a little bit, almost always in the 12.8V to 13.2V range. The fluctuation on the amp reading is much small when the engine is at taxing rpms ( & always in the green ), but at 5,200rpm cruise it bounces around almost second to second.

And occasionally if the amp reading bounced to -10amps or so---into the red, the red engine light would come on. This is a little bothersome when flying over the ocean, and caused a little worry with my wife today. The engine runs just great, and there are no other issues, but I thought I better ask more knowledgeable people--like you all, what you thought of this...???

Would appreciate your thoughts on this....

Thanks.

Scott
Kona Hawaii
FDN992SA

[Tom Baker]

Check your ground connections first. Next check the capacitor to make sure a wire is not disconnected or broken. After those I would start checking other electrical connections starting at the voltage regulator.

[Anticept]

Installing a 100k capacitor that chanik recommended dramatically decreases ammeter bounce.

 

And it's the terrible regulator rectifiers that are noisy. The power coming off the coils will be pretty clean.

[CT4ME]

Scott, CPS' System Manager emailed me with a message for you:

 

“Scott,
This sounds like a loose ground wire. I would check all the ground connections and see if this fixes the problem.
-Bryan”

[Tom Baker]

After we talked today his problem is fixed.

What was the issue? It might be of help to someone else in the future.