Ben2k9 Posted April 8, 2020 Report Share Posted April 8, 2020 Our club's Cirrus has a way to supply power for the purpose of powering the avionics on the ground with the engine off while not draining the battery. We'd like to create something similar for the new CT since the Dynon Skyview is more advanced. Could supplying some power the same way one would jump start the plane be a way to do that using the wire under the cowling for positive and muffler for negative? or any other way other than that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted April 8, 2020 Report Share Posted April 8, 2020 Yes, that is the way they power the display aircraft at the big shows like Oshkosh. Just make sure you are using the correct type power supply charger for the battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animosity2k Posted April 9, 2020 Report Share Posted April 9, 2020 22 hours ago, Ben2k9 said: Our club's Cirrus has a way to supply power for the purpose of powering the avionics on the ground with the engine off while not draining the battery. We'd like to create something similar for the new CT since the Dynon Skyview is more advanced. Could supplying some power the same way one would jump start the plane be a way to do that using the wire under the cowling for positive and muffler for negative? or any other way other than that? Yes, this is exactly how I power mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skunkworks85 Posted April 9, 2020 Report Share Posted April 9, 2020 2 hours ago, Animosity2k said: Yes, this is exactly how I power mine. The real question is, is there a good way to power up the avionics without the hobbs running? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted April 9, 2020 Report Share Posted April 9, 2020 5 minutes ago, Skunkworks85 said: The real question is, is there a good way to power up the avionics without the hobbs running? Your Hobbs shouldn't run. The Dynon should only run when you have oil pressure or RPM, and on the CT if you have an actual Hobbs meter it is normally tied into the generator circuit. If you don't have the generator switch on it doesn't run. On a side note if your generator light is burnt out your Hobbs won't run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runtoeat Posted April 10, 2020 Report Share Posted April 10, 2020 Check current being provided if you use the exhaust pipe for ground. The exhaust pipe is known to provide inconsistent grounding on some CT's. FWIW, my CTEK battery "maintainer" will not provide consistent charging when the exhaust pipe is used for ground on my CT. When the CTEK's ground lead is connected to the engine frame, the CTEK works propertly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animosity2k Posted April 10, 2020 Report Share Posted April 10, 2020 14 hours ago, Runtoeat said: Check current being provided if you use the exhaust pipe for ground. The exhaust pipe is known to provide inconsistent grounding on some CT's. FWIW, my CTEK battery "maintainer" will not provide consistent charging when the exhaust pipe is used for ground on my CT. When the CTEK's ground lead is connected to the engine frame, the CTEK works propertly. Interesting, I sometimes will come out to the hangar my Optimate Lithium LiFePO4 Battery Charger/Maintainer will say something to the tune of the battery is not charging / optimized correctly and instead of the green lights I see showing on it 90% of the time I will see a red or orange light. I also ground on the exhaust. Where on the frame do you connect? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vance Posted April 10, 2020 Report Share Posted April 10, 2020 There is a bracket near the charging wire that one of the lower cowl fasteners connects to. That works well for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Koerner Posted April 11, 2020 Report Share Posted April 11, 2020 I have also had difficulty using the exhaust pipe and I also use a fastener instead. I think the one I use connects the engine mounting frame to the firewall. It has a bright and shiny hex head that I can get the charger's negative terminal clamp on. Mike Koerner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animosity2k Posted April 18, 2020 Report Share Posted April 18, 2020 On 4/11/2020 at 3:29 AM, Mike Koerner said: I have also had difficulty using the exhaust pipe and I also use a fastener instead. I think the one I use connects the engine mounting frame to the firewall. It has a bright and shiny hex head that I can get the charger's negative terminal clamp on. Mike Koerner Mike in the attached photo could you please circle the part you are talking about grounding to? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted April 19, 2020 Report Share Posted April 19, 2020 If you didn't just have it removed during the photo, there should be a piece of tubing over that bare wire end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Koerner Posted April 19, 2020 Report Share Posted April 19, 2020 The fastener I use does not show up in this photo... but one of those shiny metal brackets riveted to the engine mount should work; the ones that hold the receivers for the lowest cowl fastener on each side. Mike Koerner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGLyme Posted April 19, 2020 Report Share Posted April 19, 2020 I used to clamp the negative wire to the muffler. Last time I was at FD USA, Arian clamped it to the unpainted fastener receiver which is indeed attached to the engine mount... the one you described. I did that just yesterday when I updated the Dynon software. I had the charger running for a half hour and it worked well. as you probably know, you don’t want to get the positive charger clamp anywhere near the carbon parts for fear of starting a fire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGLyme Posted April 19, 2020 Report Share Posted April 19, 2020 Added a photo of how I was taught was the best charging method by FD USA. See photo added above Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animosity2k Posted April 19, 2020 Report Share Posted April 19, 2020 4 hours ago, AGLyme said: Added a photo of how I was taught was the best charging method by FD USA. See photo added above Thanks this is perfect! Looks like the exact spot on mine I was going to try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animosity2k Posted April 19, 2020 Report Share Posted April 19, 2020 18 hours ago, Tom Baker said: If you didn't just have it removed during the photo, there should be a piece of tubing over that bare wire end. I leave it off as I put the plane on a charger after every flight. Is this a big issue to fly with it not covered? Do you recall what size tubing they use to do it as I'm not sure where mine is but I can pick some up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted April 19, 2020 Report Share Posted April 19, 2020 16 minutes ago, Animosity2k said: I leave it off as I put the plane on a charger after every flight. Is this a big issue to fly with it not covered? Do you recall what size tubing they use to do it as I'm not sure where mine is but I can pick some up! Yes it is a big deal. That wire is connected directly to the positive post on the battery, at least it is on a regular CTLS. If it comes in contact with the airframe it can short out and cause a fire. I don't remember what size it is, but somewhere in the 3/16 to 1/4 inch range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGLyme Posted April 19, 2020 Report Share Posted April 19, 2020 Tom’s right. the Black tubing is pulled back about 3/4 of an inch in a screwing motion (get your minds out of the gutter ; ). The clip is placed on the 3/4 “ of bare metal wire. When the charging clip is removed, the tubing is snugged back up to cover the metal again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandpiper Posted April 20, 2020 Report Share Posted April 20, 2020 It also helps keep the wire, which is braided, clean so should be a better connection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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