Does anyone use a ground power source?

alexanderk · Post by **alexanderk** » Sun May 29, 2011 6:30 pm

Just curious what people use to power up avionics, recharge the battery etc. Most of our aircraft have an APU socket, so minimally this seems convenient to keep the battery charged and work on the avionics without draining the battery.

Jean · Post by **Jean** » Sun May 29, 2011 7:36 pm

I use a CTEK Multi-XT 14000 24v charger.
It's made in Sweden.
I use it as an APU when I need to practice on the real Garmin 1000.
I also use it as a battery maintenance in winter: you can leave it plugged, it just maintains battery charge to an optimum.
You can also restore sulfated batteries (have not tried that).
I use a plug bought at Aircraft Spruce to connect my CTEK (or any power source). I always keep in in the plane.

Victor · Post by **Victor** » Sun May 29, 2011 8:06 pm

I use Schumacher SE-70MA with the yellow plug. works great for charging and ground work with G1000 and autopilot.

Nigel · Post by **Nigel** » Mon May 30, 2011 1:48 am

I use this unit. http://startpac.com/products/power-supp ... 53025-24v/

alexanderk · Post by **alexanderk** » Mon May 30, 2011 3:34 am

Thank you guys! I happened to own a CTEK so I"ll try it. Need to get a power plug first then.

Regards,
Alex

Steven · Post by **Steven** » Mon May 30, 2011 1:23 pm

I see that this post is in the DA20 Forum, and the responses are using 24V chargers. Do DA20's now have 24V batteries?

In my DA20-C1 I have a 12V battery and use an inexpensive automotive portable jumpstarter connected to a round plug as an EPU.

Jean · Post by **Jean** » Mon May 30, 2011 1:39 pm

Steven wrote:I see that this post is in the DA20 Forum, and the responses are using 24V chargers. Do DA20's now have 24V batteries?

In my DA20-C1 I have a 12V battery and use an inexpensive automotive portable jumpstarter connected to a round plug as an EPU.

My CTEK is an automotive charger. They make inexpensive 12V chargers as well but I guess the choice is wide in that class. The battery maintenance feature is nice though.
BatteryMINDer seems nice too.
(I am not a CTEK representative).

alexanderk · Post by **alexanderk** » Mon May 30, 2011 4:20 pm

My CTEK is also an automotive product, 12V. If I am not mistaken, all DA20-C1s are 14V. From what I see in the CTEK manual is the "supply" mode it puts out 13.6V, which is pretty much what is required.

GLDAS · Post by **GLDAS** » Tue May 31, 2011 1:51 am

AFAIK, the apu socket energizes the starter. It does not hit the battery.
It is designed for external power starts, not for running the avionics on the ground.

If you want to keep the battery topped off, it's a good idea to run a couple of leads from the battery terminals to the oil fill tube, where you can plug a maintainer in.

Similar for the DA40 G1000: APU energizes the starter and the G1000, but the "avionics" are not energized. It sort-of works for figuring out button logic and flight planning, but you won't have GPS/Traffic. You will not charge the battery from the APU.
-dan
dan@greatlakesdiamond.com

Victor · Post by **Victor** » Tue May 31, 2011 4:40 am

If I am not mistaken in reading schematics in AMM, exactly the same thing is accomplished by pulling BATT (70) fuse on the panel. which allows to use ground plug for charging and keeping battery topped up without extra wiring.

Does anyone use a ground power source?

Does anyone use a ground power source?

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