Does anyone use a ground power source?
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- alexanderk
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Does anyone use a ground power source?
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
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Re: Does anyone use a ground power source?
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.
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.
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- Victor
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Re: Does anyone use a ground power source?
I use Schumacher SE-70MA with the yellow plug. works great for charging and ground work with G1000 and autopilot.
- Nigel
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Re: Does anyone use a ground power source?
I use this unit. http://startpac.com/products/power-supp ... 53025-24v/
Nigel McGrath
C-GVFX DA40-180 SN 40.585 (2005) SOLD in 2013, now based somewhere in California.
I'm STILL in a state of serious withdrawal.
Cell.416-560-0603
C-GVFX DA40-180 SN 40.585 (2005) SOLD in 2013, now based somewhere in California.
I'm STILL in a state of serious withdrawal.
Cell.416-560-0603
- alexanderk
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Re: Does anyone use a ground power source?
Thank you guys! I happened to own a CTEK so I"ll try it. Need to get a power plug first then.
Regards,
Alex
Regards,
Alex
- Steven
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Re: Does anyone use a ground power source?
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.
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
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Re: Does anyone use a ground power source?
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.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.
BatteryMINDer seems nice too.
(I am not a CTEK representative).
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Re: Does anyone use a ground power source?
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
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Re: Does anyone use a ground power source?
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
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
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Re: Does anyone use a ground power source?
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.