DA20-A1 battery low volts after 6 months

Any DA20 related topics

Moderators: Rick, Lance Murray

Post Reply
User avatar
katanajer
3 Diamonds Member
3 Diamonds Member
Posts: 52
Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2015 4:23 pm
First Name: jerry
Aircraft Type: DA20-A1
Aircraft Registration: N175LE
Airports: KFUL
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 5 times

DA20-A1 battery low volts after 6 months

Post by katanajer »

Hi guys,

I have the DA20-A1 katana and bought a new Yausa battery Y50-N18L-A-CX. worked great for 6 months. I didn't fly for 3 weeks, now if I don't fly it for 2 days, the battery shows low volts to start the engine. I can start it in the same day just fine. but if it sits for 2 days I have a difficult time starting and 3 days or more, I have to jump start it.

Any ideas on what happened to my battery and is there a better battery I can use?

Thanks

jer
User avatar
1911Tex
3 Diamonds Member
3 Diamonds Member
Posts: 86
Joined: Sun May 14, 2017 1:38 am
First Name: Larry
Aircraft Type: DA20-C1
Aircraft Registration: N389DC
Airports: KGTU
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 6 times

Re: DA20-A1 battery low volts after 6 months

Post by 1911Tex »

Do you check the fluid level in the battery cells regularly and fill to just above the plates with distilled water? Do you keep the correct battery charger hooked up so it desulfates after full charge? Is your battery ground clean and both terminal protected with a product like detox it or corrosion x or simular?
User avatar
Pascal
3 Diamonds Member
3 Diamonds Member
Posts: 165
Joined: Sun May 15, 2016 3:35 am
First Name: Pascal
Aircraft Type: DA20-C1
Aircraft Registration: CGSMT
Airports: CYJN
Has thanked: 40 times
Been thanked: 33 times

Re: DA20-A1 battery low volts after 6 months

Post by Pascal »

When you fly, is the ammmeter showing positive reading, and what voltage do you see? You should see at least 14 volts when the engine is running, and with a positive ammeter.

The battery troubleshooting steps for the DA20-C1 are listed in the Aircraft Maintenance Manual under "BATTERY SYSTEM - TROUBLESHOOTING".

You can download the manual from Diamond:

http://www.diamondaircraft.com/technica ... s/da20-c1/
User avatar
RMarkSampson
4 Diamonds Member
4 Diamonds Member
Posts: 237
Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2014 1:24 am
First Name: Mark
Aircraft Type: DA20-C1
Aircraft Registration: N966CT
Airports: KPCM
Has thanked: 20 times
Been thanked: 45 times

Re: DA20-A1 battery low volts after 6 months

Post by RMarkSampson »

Jerry,
I have the G-35M and have only replaced it once in 5 years of ownership. I had a broken battery cap a few years ago - contacted the company and they sent a couple out free. In that discussion, their tech support guy mentioned a seal battery that "was superior" to the G-35M. It was not certified for the DA-20 at the time but upon his request I sent him my Weight and Balance info so he could forward that info to their person that secures FAA/PMAs from the FAA. He said that they will eventually get formal permission to replace the G-35M for the sealed version. He referenced the sealed version as the "7035-28." (The -28 means 28 amp/hour, not 28 volts.)

Anyway, I have not needed to replace my current battery yet so I have not run this rabbit trail any further. However, if you want to, you can call
> Hector Vara, Senior Technical Support
> Teledyne Battery Products
> 840 W. Brockton Ave.
> Redlands, CA 92374
> Phone: 800.456.0070 Extension: 134 or 909.793.3131 Extension: 134
> FAX: 909.793.5818
> Mon. - Fri. 0700 - 1600 Pacific Time
> http://www.gillbatteries.com
> hvara@teledyne.com

Regards, Mark
User avatar
krellis
4 Diamonds Member
4 Diamonds Member
Posts: 339
Joined: Fri Apr 29, 2011 10:42 am
First Name: Keith
Aircraft Type: OTHER
Aircraft Registration: N853DF
Airports: GA04
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 63 times

Re: DA20-A1 battery low volts after 6 months

Post by krellis »

I believe the Yuasa battery you specified is the only one allowed for the A1. The C1 has at least one other approved battery.

It has been my experience that these batteries do not last long even with routine checking of the electrolyte levels and using a battery minder. In fact with the battery minder I have found that the battery gives little warning of impending failure. They just fail all of a sudden.
User avatar
Steven
3 Diamonds Member
3 Diamonds Member
Posts: 174
Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 3:35 am
First Name: Steven
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N239DS
Airports: KLWM
Has thanked: 10 times
Been thanked: 27 times

Re: DA20-A1 battery low volts after 6 months

Post by Steven »

I found the Yuasa batteries problematic too. When I had my A1, I kept two batteries, one on the plane and one on a Battery Minder. Swapped them when the one in the plane got weak.
User avatar
katanajer
3 Diamonds Member
3 Diamonds Member
Posts: 52
Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2015 4:23 pm
First Name: jerry
Aircraft Type: DA20-A1
Aircraft Registration: N175LE
Airports: KFUL
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 5 times

Re: DA20-A1 battery low volts after 6 months

Post by katanajer »

my battery sucks! I got stranded and had to wave down people on the street for a jump start.

Anything else I can use other than this Yuasa suck a$$ battery? this is my third battery in 4 years.
User avatar
krellis
4 Diamonds Member
4 Diamonds Member
Posts: 339
Joined: Fri Apr 29, 2011 10:42 am
First Name: Keith
Aircraft Type: OTHER
Aircraft Registration: N853DF
Airports: GA04
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 63 times

Re: DA20-A1 battery low volts after 6 months

Post by krellis »

Unless there is a PMA'd battery or there is another battery specified in the IPC, I believe the answer is no.
User avatar
Colin
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 2006
Joined: Sat Aug 21, 2010 8:37 pm
First Name: Colin
Aircraft Type: DA42
Aircraft Registration: N972RD
Airports: KFHR
Has thanked: 319 times
Been thanked: 527 times

Re: DA20-A1 battery low volts after 6 months

Post by Colin »

My brother used to have a beat up Cessna he flew. Horrible battery, even brand new. He carried one of those little jumpstart items from Home Depot and used it almost every week.
Colin Summers, PP Multi-Engine IFR, ~3,000hrs
colin@mightycheese.com * send email rather than PM
http://www.flyingsummers.com
N972RD DA42 G1000 2.0 s/n 42.AC100 (sold!)
N971RD DA40 G1000 s/n 40.508 (traded)
Post Reply