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  #1  
Unread 09-20-08, 05:00 PM
GMAs GMAs is offline
George M. Amthor, Jr.
 
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For those who are not up to speed on their ships battery in the issue Pete and I are discussing you can go to this web site if you have Gill battery (the pink one) in your plane. (chapt 7.7 Ppg 19- is of particular interest to you and your IA)

http://www.gillbatteries.com/battery...ice_Manual.pdf

Please don't get us wrong... discussing different issues has always been a healthy approch to improvement as well as insight into different experances... those of you reading along should not assume that we are bickering... no instead you should also go look up the issue and see if it applies to your plane/experiance... food for the head.
  #2  
Unread 09-21-08, 06:15 AM
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George M. Amthor, Jr.
 
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Smile info on charging bats and desulfating them

As to the Sulfating of the ships batt from setting... to answer the other question I got... you can go to the internet and look up why they do it better than we can re-write the issue here.

We did a extensive study on the problem and what can be done to keep the ships battery from having it happen.
We tested several pieces of manufactured equipment to find out if they really did what they claimed. We got down to just 3 manufactures. One even improved their product further after he reviewed our testing data. The currently are the No. 1 aircraft battery charger/desulfator and highly recommended to the members of the Skymaster groups.

This charger/de-sulfiator can be left on the ships battery indefinately. It uses a microprocessor to sense the battery and keep it peaked.

Here is the best of the best that we tested... and their new aircraft specific appliance

BatteryMINDer
AviationSpecific Battery Charger

12-24 Volt 2,4,8 Amp

The BatteryMINDer is a 3-mode charger /maintainer /conditioner that extends performance and life of all types of 12 Volt or 24 Volt lead acid batteries. These include maintenance-free, marine, sealed gel, AGM, dry and valve-regulated batteries.


The voltage settings and charge rates (both user selectable) have been chosen, after conferring with leading aviation battery makers in the U.S. By providing each of these BatteryMINDer units with an “At-the-Battery” temperature compensating sensor, batteries can be safely charged and maintained for extended periods in temperature extremes from 32°F to 125°F. Without this type temperature sensing, batteries will be under-charged in colder temperatures (<70°F to 32°F) and over-charged in high temperatures (>80°F to 125°F).

Both models include full-time pulsed de-sulfation circuitry designed to safely dissolve sulfation build-up on the battery’s storage plates, restoring lost cranking power and extending life. Our de-sulfation method is fully automatic, does not use potentially damaging high voltage and is exclusively protected by two U.S. patents.

What is Sulfation (sul-fay-shun) and
How Does It Affect Batteries?

When batteries are improperly maintained (over-under charged or left uncharged for extended periods) small crystals of sulfuric acid from the battery’s electrolyte (liquid or paste) form on the battery’s charge plates. They act as a resistor (barrier) preventing the battery from ever again accepting a full charge, no matter how long a charging source may be connected. Once this occurs, the cranking power of the battery is severely reduced, as well as its life. Aviation batteries are affected the most because they have been designed for maximum performance in the smallest-lightest case possible.

VDC Electronics has developed simple, but highly effective circuitry, able to safely dissolve sulfation, restoring much, if not all, of the lost power, providing the battery’s cells are not shorted or structurally damaged. This U.S. Patented approach is believed to be the most effective method for eliminating even the oldest hardened sulfate. By generating safe, wide-band, random frequency electronic pulses, we are able to cover the full range of sulfate crystals sizes, in the shortest possible time. Depending on the amount of sulfate and its age, complete de-sulfation can occur within several days to several weeks. De-sulfation takes place automatically, while the battery is being bulk or maintenance level charged.
FEATURES

• For all size and type 12-Volt and 24-Volt aviation batteries (or two 12-V in series = 24-V) including sealed AGM-maintenance-free and filler cap maintenance type
• Guaranteed never to over-charge, regardless of time or temperature (32°F – 125°F) with correct battery type setting and ABS-248 or 124 temperature sensors correctly installed on either battery terminal connection
• Push-button selector for charge rate and battery types = ensures 100% compliance with major aviation battery makers’ specifications
• Auto-restart after power failure
• Safely charges up to 200% faster than conventional chargers
• Maintains from 1 - 6 batteries at a time (parallel connected)
• Automatically dissolves power-robbing sulfation using safe low voltage pulse technology (U.S. Patented)
• Microprocessor controlled pulsed output ensures 100% full charge
• Temperature compensation extends battery life by more than 200 Cycles (full charge-discharge cycles) with ABS temperature sensor1
• High efficiency design = low monthly operating cost of less than 50˘2
• Weather-proof enclosure
• Optional 12 or 24 Volt PowerPlug (fused) allows charger to be easily connected to battery via input 12 v or 24-v power receptacle
• 1 year 100% money-back guarantee + five (5) year “no hassle” warranty
Size/Weight: 5-1/2” L x 5-1/2” W x 2 1/4” H / 3.0 lbs.

by the way... mention that your a 337 Skymaster Club person and you can get a manufactures direct discount for one. A lot of our club owners now own them and have had great results while the bird sits throught he cold long winter.

Only warning we suggest is that you not turn on the ships radios or master switch when its in operation. The de-sulfication break down pulse spike can exceed 30 volt and could damage sensitive electronics if allowed to be placed across the terminals.

Hope this helps

Fly safe...GMAs
  #3  
Unread 09-21-08, 11:01 AM
Pete Somers Pete Somers is offline
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OK Gmas
I see your point on these matters, however we all have different approaches to troubleshooting a system and Although you keep saying refer fo the Cessna Service Manual for write ups and defect rectification, but have you found, ahah that what the defect and how to rectify from a Service Manual, no. It comes from experiance an pure hard work.
That quiz question was not a trick, it is a factual question and the answer does not lie in the Service Manual! and it does not matter about the battery condition. It does not matter what type of a/c you work on experience is the only thing that is going to matter weather it is a Tiger Moth or a King Air.

I use an AVO MK8 for most of my measuring of resistance and voltage, it is an old unit but it does the job right, then use a 4 digit DVM for any setting up work like alternators, but each to there own as they say.
A member mentioned about checking bonding across control surfaces using a DVM, no way you need a bonding checker to do this as a DVM does not go low enough to check the bonding.

Is there an STC to replace the regulators on the '66 337 so that each alternator is fed from it's own regulator, sounds an expensive mod to me?

The Manufactures are more and more covering there own rear end by putting a life on items, these parts were always on condition but we have become the sue and sue more society that it has been blown out of proportion.
In the Cessna 337 Service Manual it also says the seat belts should be replaced at 5 years, anybody done this. If they did this sort of thing to your car you would have something to say.

Regarding the starter relays: The CAA over here insist on the fitting of a simple light to show the starter in engaged and the relay is energized, so a failure of the starter relay would be detected by the light being on. Simple but saves a burnt out starter?

Trick question, not my style. But would like an answer.

GMAs I have enjoyed this discussion and I hope that we can have more of these, as you have said for owners that read this I hope it has given you some insight of what is involved in maintaining your airplane and the older they get the more of a problem they are (just like us!).

Thanks GMAs
Pete
  #4  
Unread 09-21-08, 02:05 PM
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George M. Amthor, Jr.
 
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Pete....
I too enjoy a good tech discussion. Yes indeed you all do it different over their. Putting a light on the dash showing the engagement of the starter would not be hard today using LED's... but then again the wire weight and is it necessary if the plane is maintained.

I used to know a guy who could use two fingers across the voltage source and tell you if it was 120,240 or 480... he wouldn't try 660 because he said his hand got cramps after for a few days... Yes technology has come a long ways from the old days of the edison jar measurements. We have several of the fluke inst that we use here and they seem to serve well... We also use a low freq generator to do surface contact checking... however most of the time a good cleaning, alodining and then mounting takes care of the problem of skin resistance on parts.

Well the service manual is the bible... but yes experance is the key to "gettin 'er done" right the fist time.

Yes I think they did away with the old single regulator... never worked right in the first place... and put in the same as the current dual regulators on the fire wall using the same parts.. shouldn't be that expensive.. but, here in the States we can use a form 337 and get field approval for these types of mods... I don't think a lot of the older ones here are running single vr's anymore... of course cessna quit making the plane that did...336 and early 337... and went on to a better system.

If it were me.. I would change... but if it were too difficult or expensive over their.. I would put a switch in so that only one alternator was working on line... of course your limited in current then if you go by the rules... Yes I would upgrade to the dual vr ... one each for the alternators. Today technology has the VR's built into the alternators on the belt driven ones.. I think some of the EAA guys have converted the Cont drive to use the newer alternators... thus you would have the VR's built into the alternator and wireing would be a breeze to convert the system over... then each VR is right inside the alternator... and of course they are electronic controlled so no adjustment necessary at the source... only IR drop from the rear to front would have to be delt with. A single sense wire could take care of that.

As to your question....
I disagree... with your response... the set voltage is in the Service manual.. and also the battery manufactures publications... they are the guide that you are to follow. Anything else and your not going to get opt life out of the battery. I am still scratching my head about the "...and it doesn't matter about the battey condition" I think most will disagree... that it does... i.e if the battery is low ... how do you set the vr's correctly... the manual clearly states that one should have the battery charged up and full before attempting to set he VR's ... while the plane is running... of course you could set them up using a test jig...on the bench... but then that doesn't take into consideration the IR drop of the connections and condtion of the wires.

Take care my friend

Fly Safe GMAs
  #5  
Unread 09-21-08, 02:39 PM
Pete Somers Pete Somers is offline
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GMAs
Sorry i will put that question in a different way.
On the ground no engines running you check the field voltage at the alternator, what will the voltage be on a '66 337 and what will be the voltage on a '77 337, just for interest and i hope all you guys are taking note.

Thanks GMAs
Maybe meet up soon time

Pete
  #6  
Unread 09-21-08, 06:06 PM
tropical tropical is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GMAs View Post
For those who are not up to speed on their ships battery in the issue Pete and I are discussing you can go to this web site if you have Gill battery (the pink one) in your plane. (chapt 7.7 Ppg 19- is of particular interest to you and your IA)

http://www.gillbatteries.com/battery...ice_Manual.pdf

Please don't get us wrong... discussing different issues has always been a healthy approch to improvement as well as insight into different experances... those of you reading along should not assume that we are bickering... no instead you should also go look up the issue and see if it applies to your plane/experiance... food for the head.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GMAs View Post
Most mechanics and IA's right now are not doing the section of the battery "Contenued Airworthness" requirement. One then wonders how they can retrun the aircraft to service AT ANNUAL if they fail to do the load test on the battery once a year as directed by the manufacture. (BUSTED BIG TIME)
That section you refer to says "recommended", not "mandatory". It is not required for an annual inspection to accomplish to return to service.
  #7  
Unread 09-21-08, 08:56 PM
GMAs GMAs is offline
George M. Amthor, Jr.
 
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That section you refer to says "recommended", not "mandatory". It is not required for an annual inspection to accomplish to return to service.

What part of the "... for Contenued airworthness" is the manufacture saying its recommended? The FAA seems to think its required at their set inspection time...

As you can read in the manual its really a test to keep you from having a air emergency due to electrical failure. So it seems to me that its a safety item that rates right up their with oil and gas

But you as owner can do what you want... however, next time you get ramp checked and they ask for the airworthy cert because it wasn't done use the recommended instead of mandatory arguement and see if it works.

The new buz word is " for Contenued Airworthness... it shall be done...

Fly safe GMAs

I
  #8  
Unread 09-21-08, 09:49 PM
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skymstr02 skymstr02 is offline
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Service bulletins are recommended too, but they are not mandatory either.

The FAA does not have a leg to stand on when they tell you that they are required. End of story.

Unless that battery was installed under an STC, is continued airworthiness required, and only if that was inserted in the major alteration form 337 on the back page.

If it is not specifically in FAR 43, Appendix D, the FAA can kiss my hiney, when it comes to the scope and detail of an annual inspection.

And George, your spelling has not improved with your absence. Please learn how to spell continued there is a difference between there and their.
  #9  
Unread 09-21-08, 10:23 PM
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George M. Amthor, Jr.
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skymstr02 View Post
Service bulletins are recommended too, but they are not mandatory either.

The FAA does not have a leg to stand on when they tell you that they are required. End of story.

Unless that battery was installed under an STC, is continued airworthiness required, and only if that was inserted in the major alteration form 337 on the back page.

If it is not specifically in FAR 43, Appendix D, the FAA can kiss my hiney, when it comes to the scope and detail of an annual inspection.

And George, your spelling has not improved with your absence. Please learn how to spell continued there is a difference between there and their.
Gill .. the orginal equipment battery... is right on the cover of the book... hmmm ya think that its STC'd?

Only been at this game for only a few years...(35) so what do I know...

Oh and if your using FAR 43, Apdx D for your annuals.. ahhhh you need to go back and look up what 43 apdx D is for... as you may be kissing the FAA's hiney big time... last time I checked Cessna made the plane and supports it ... thus in the front of their service manual is this big old list of ting to do at annual time...(grin) ahhh sooo...

Battery ...STC, 337 form wow you all are too technical 4 me hre... head'n back to my brd
  #10  
Unread 09-22-08, 07:52 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GMAs View Post
Gill .. the orginal equipment battery... is right on the cover of the book... hmmm ya think that its STC'd?

Only been at this game for only a few years...(35) so what do I know...
AKKKKK, wrong, the original equipment batteries on all new Cessna's were Rebat batteries. Black cases with orange caps. I know, I worked at a Cessna dealership for a few years.

Gill wet cell batteries are PMA'd, sealed batteries are STC'd, which means that a form 337 is required.

I've been bending wrenches on airplanes since '71, so I do know what I'm talking about.
  #11  
Unread 09-22-08, 10:10 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skymstr02 View Post
AKKKKK, wrong, the original equipment batteries on all new Cessna's were Rebat batteries. Black cases with orange caps. I know, I worked at a Cessna dealership for a few years.

Gill wet cell batteries are PMA'd, sealed batteries are STC'd, which means that a form 337 is required.
You're correct, the Gill batteries are PMA'd, so they are covered under the Cessna MM.
  #12  
Unread 09-22-08, 09:43 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GMAs View Post
What part of the "... for Contenued airworthness" is the manufacture saying its recommended? The FAA seems to think its required at their set inspection time...

As you can read in the manual its really a test to keep you from having a air emergency due to electrical failure. So it seems to me that its a safety item that rates right up their with oil and gas

But you as owner can do what you want... however, next time you get ramp checked and they ask for the airworthy cert because it wasn't done use the recommended instead of mandatory arguement and see if it works.

The new buz word is " for Contenued Airworthness... it shall be done...

Fly safe GMAs

I
You are intentionally twisting the wording in this for your benefit. The service bulletin gives a "recommended" period for inspection, does not "require" it to be done at annual.

And yes, I'm an owner, and a A&P/IA.

Last edited by WebMaster : 09-23-08 at 09:25 AM.
  #13  
Unread 09-21-08, 09:46 PM
GMAs GMAs is offline
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Tropical.... you need to go back and revisit the manual again.

That section you refer to does not say "recommended", not "mandatory". It is not required for an annual inspection to accomplish to return to service.


In the following section... of the manual that I posted for information.. I read it as....

7.7 CONTINUED AIRWORTHINESS DETERMINATION FOR GILL AIRCRAFT BATTERIES
7.7.1 To ensure continued airworthiness the battery should be removed and capacity tested. The recommended service period should initially be at 800 ± 50 hours or 11 ± 1 calendar month(s) whichever comes first. After the initial service, the

It also says for the book...

7.7.2 The airworthiness limitations section (noted in 7.7.1) is FAA approved and specifies maintenance required under Sections 43.16 and 91.403 of the Federal Aviations Regulations unless an alternative program has been FAA approved.

to suggest it is recommended maintenance? The way I read it.. it says maintenance required... means to me that its not "recommended" but rather mandatory.

The discharged battery may not be airworthy because it does not have the necessary capacity required to operate the aircraft avionics and electrical system in the event of generator (alternator) failure.

Hope this helps...

Fly safe GMAs

Pete...

to answer your question... on field voltages ... static non running engines...

would be the battery voltage.... when the master is turned on and the field ckt breakers are pushed on.... minus the 0.70 v. IR voltage drop across the blocking diode and a little for the wire IR lengths. thus you can do the math or should I ? (basically its the battery voltage minus 0.7 when measured at the field terminal

but,.... just because their are so many experts on here...

I just checked the alternator service manual for both the motorola alternators (of which this years plane had also) and the Ford's ... both agree the the field is energized with the battery voltage. (ya I know your going to say next the the Alt restart only has 4 C size bats which comes up with only 6 volts... but that is just a tickler if the battery is dead... you know that)

If you go to the maintenance manual Table 2 Ppg 7 it shows about how much they want their Gill bat charged at/set VRs too.

The Gill bat maintenance manual (make sure your reading the flooded cell (dry charge)one).... its a good manual and should be kept with the planes service information... best of all its free and you don't have to pay for it.

I am sure a lot of others would like to have the group get togeather agian and have the tech talk sessions like we had before. Maybe if we had time we could get togeather and have those smoker sessions togeather again.

Take care my friend
GMAs
  #14  
Unread 09-22-08, 09:48 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GMAs View Post
Tropical.... you need to go back and revisit the manual again.

That section you refer to does not say "recommended", not "mandatory". It is not required for an annual inspection to accomplish to return to service.


In the following section... of the manual that I posted for information.. I read it as....

7.7 CONTINUED AIRWORTHINESS DETERMINATION FOR GILL AIRCRAFT BATTERIES
7.7.1 To ensure continued airworthiness the battery should be removed and capacity tested. The recommended service period should initially be at 800 ± 50 hours or 11 ± 1 calendar month(s) whichever comes first. After the initial service, the

It also says for the book...

7.7.2 The airworthiness limitations section (noted in 7.7.1) is FAA approved and specifies maintenance required under Sections 43.16 and 91.403 of the Federal Aviations Regulations unless an alternative program has been FAA approved.

to suggest it is recommended maintenance? The way I read it.. it says maintenance required... means to me that its not "recommended" but rather mandatory.

The discharged battery may not be airworthy because it does not have the necessary capacity required to operate the aircraft avionics and electrical system in the event of generator (alternator) failure.

Hope this helps...

Fly safe GMAs
I have an excellent command of the english language (unlike you) and what you are attempting to do is twist the wording for your benefit (more billing $$$$).

I'll call my PMI today and ask him what he thinks of this. I already know the answer, but just for fun I'll run it by him.
  #15  
Unread 09-22-08, 01:50 PM
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It's gone on enough.
I am closing this thread to further comment.
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