Smith PA12
SPONSOR
Cam
what does putting the lights and radios on for 15 seconds do?
Thanks
Rick
what does putting the lights and radios on for 15 seconds do?
Thanks
Rick
Cam
what does putting the lights and radios on for 15 seconds do?
Thanks
Rick
Bought a 800 watt car heater and put in the cowling and it warms to 75 F in 3 or so hours.
Rick
Gets the electrons flowing and warms up the battery internals. They operate much more efficiently when warm and have plenty of battery capacity to “waste” some in the warming process.
I got that method from another short wing guy in AK with an EarthX. Works real good. I’d run it longer if the temps were cooler. Maybe a minute or two.
Banner planes are particularly weight sensitive and I'd love to lose 15-20 pounds, but Im very nervous about a potential fire in a Ceconite and dope covered airplane. I suppose once certified we might look at this differently but for now, it seems like "playing with fire." I think it was Ben Franklin (Maybe someone else, correct me) who said...Be not the first by whom the new is tried, nor the last to set the old aside.There are enough things that burn in airplanes already! I don't need to add one more!
sj
Worked for an old farmer in and early 70s. One below zero morning I couldn't get the old truck to turn over fast enough to start. He came out with 2 long screw drivers and put the tip of one on the + terminal and one on the - terminal and crossed the blade shafts till they came together with a big spark. He kept them together for about 5 seconds and then closed the hood and told me to start the truck and get to work. Fired right up. He called it boot strapping, and told me it's safer to do with jumper cables because the battery blows up once in awhile
Glenn
He should have used a lead acid battery instead of one of those new fangled Earth-X lithiums that explode! The lead acids are dead simple and safe! :-DI worked on a farm when was 12 and 13, the farmer DID blow up the battery using cresent wrench and get a face full of acid....
I worked on a farm when was 12 and 13, the farmer DID blow up the battery using cresent wrench and get a face full of acid....
I've been running one for months, no issues & I wouldn't swap it for anything.If you read AC43.13-2B allows you to install a lead acid battery if certain criteria is met. It specifically calls out not allowing Lithium type batteries. Earth X is working on a certified version. From everything I have researched you are on your own installing an Earth X in a certified aircraft at this point, kinda like those Catto props.
That's what I did for my firewall mount. I also have a Bluetooth thermometer in the battery box and spent quite a bit of time monitoring it.Colin, With this in mind, if I were installing an EarthX on the engine side of the firewall, I would make provisions for a cold air blast tube from above the engine to the battery box. Perhaps a pick up point in the rear upper baffle.
If I have to monitor my battery temp, I will change my set up.
Enough things to take care of without being concerned of that particular issue.