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Re: Europa-List: Re: Something is stealing my electricity

Subject: Re: Europa-List: Re: Something is stealing my electricity
From: Bud Yerly <budyerly@msn.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Sep 2016 10:18:55

I have to agree...
In a single master switch with the alternator (dynamo and Ducati regulator) 
connected to the main bus with no shutoff, one would expect that the master 
contactor would still be drawing current as the charge circuit is like 
grounding the master contactor.  The small current drain may not be allowing 
full discharge of the master contactor.  (A normal master contactor is hot 
at all times and the contactor closes when the coil terminal is grounded.) 
Normally, one would isolate the alternator with a switch or relay of some 
sort of combination so it could be shut off in the event of a runaway 
voltage regulator.

Again, you will need to consult with your electrical diagrams or if none 
were provided, do some tedious electrical tracing to find your culprit.  It 
may be a weak contactor, a keep alive or always on circuit, or just a 
misdirected circuit improperly wired.  As I tell my clients, without 
diagrams, its a real who dunnit.

Best Regards,

Bud Yerly
Custom Flight Creations, Inc.
US Europa Dealer

-----Original Message----- 
From: zwakie
Sent: Sunday, September 04, 2016 6:21 PM
Subject: Europa-List: Re: Something is stealing my electricity


I agree with Ira, it's time to get the as built schematics. Without those, 
it's anybody's guess I would think.

And since we're guessing already, I might chime in... reading the original 
post there's two things going on:
1. Electricity is being used when all switches are OFF and engine is not 
running
2. Alternator field comes on-line when MASTER is OFF (suggested by the jump 
of voltage to 14 some Volts when switching to OFF)

I can think of one wiring scenario that explains both symptoms: this 
electrical system has a relay that brings the alternator field on-line when 
the MASTER switch is OFF.

When this scenario is indeed what we have here, I would think it is safe to 
assume also that this relay ONLY gets energized with the MASTER switch in 
the OFF position, otherwise you would see 14 some Volts with MASTER in the 
ON position also.

Don't ask me how you would have to wire things to make this happen, maybe 
the type of switch for the MASTER switch is of another type than you're 
thinking? Might be worthwhile to check, but again you would need the as 
built schematics to come to the proper conclusion...

I know, this all sounds far-fetched and unlikely, but it would explain 
things...

(OK, go ahead and send me off to the nut-house now  [Wink] )

--------
Marcel Zwakenberg
XS TG || 912ULS || PH-SBR


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http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=460260#460260



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