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Europa-List: Re:Electrical Shortage

Subject: Europa-List: Re:Electrical Shortage
From: Troy Maynor <wingnut54@charter.net>
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2006 07:46:13

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Being VERY electrically challenged, I'm hoping some of my smarter Europa
friends
can help point me in the right direction to solve a recent problem.  I have
an R.C. Allen electric artificial horizon instrument which began to "tumble"
several
months ago.  I returned it to the factory and they said it tested OK, but
replaced the bearings anyway.  I reinstalled it, but same thing happened. 
When I telephoned the factory they suggested that perhaps I wasn't getting
full
electrical power to the unit.  I'm assuming by that they mean 13.2 volts
(2.2
volts per battery cell, times 6 cells).  The voltmeter in my panel reads
11.9
volts with radio, GPS and transponder turned on, and reads 12.1 volts when I
turn off the radio, GPS, and transponder.  My Ammeter reads
003.............whatever
that means.  Increasing my RPM from 4900 to 5200 increases the voltmeter
reading by about .1 volt.  Do I have a voltage problem?  If so, why?  I've
been flying my trigear 914 for 6 years without this problem, and have not
added
any additional electrical equipment to the plane in the 6 years.  My battery
is 2 months old.  Should I be looking at my alternator.........or my
regulator/rectifier..........or
what?  Is there a way to turn up the juice (volts) going
to my artificial horizon?  How would I go about trouble shooting this
problem?
What fixes are most likely?  If you respond, please remember the first 4
words in this email!  Thanks in advance.

Garry Stout
914 tri,  460 hours, 6 years flying
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>>>

Gary, 
For what it's worth, I was suprised when testing my panel the first time. I
had a battery connected that read 12.2 volts to the panel and the off flag
would not go away until I put a 1.5volt D battery in series with it. Those
RC Allens, in my opinion, are too sensitive to low voltage. But that's what
I am stuck with for now. It irritates me to think that the big bucks it
costed me could have almost paid for a Dynon instrument that does more. 
I am sure there is a voltage drop somewhere. Keep looking. 

Troy Maynor
N120EU Europa Monowheel Classic
Left to finish:
Paint,interior,engine install, wiring.
Weaverville, NC USA



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