BatteryMinder and GPU

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nworthin
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BatteryMinder and GPU

Post by nworthin »

I'd like to be able to keep my battery topped up and also power avionics for updating charts, etc.

I may be mistaken but it seems like this requires two separate devices and, for the battery minder device, a complicated installation to allow plugging in the device.

What are others doing?

And, for the avionics, what amperage is needed? I do not wish to power the RAAC this way.
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Ed McDonald
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Re: BatteryMinder and GPU

Post by Ed McDonald »

My maintainer recommended this installation which is hard wired to the battery.
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Steve
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Re: BatteryMinder and GPU

Post by Steve »

Ed:

Not certain from the bottom photo, but if it shows the BatteryMinder inside the aircraft, and you plug it in in that location, I would advise against that. A short or other component failure within the unit could set your airplane on fire.

Mine is connected to a plug in the engine compartment accessed via the oil door, and resides on a metal cart as far away from the airplane as the cord will allow (about 6 feet).

Steve
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chili4way
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Re: BatteryMinder and GPU

Post by chili4way »

Nice article by John Zimmerman from Sporty's.

https://www.sportys.com/blog/understand ... wer-units/
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Boatguy
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Re: BatteryMinder and GPU

Post by Boatguy »

One caveat to the Sporty's article WRT electric master. On the 40NG the external power connection bypasses the electric master, so it need not be ON for the GPU to charge the battery. The Schauer charger that I use, and many modern 3-stage chargers, has a terminal state that provides a float voltage which is what a battery minder provides.
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Boatguy
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Re: BatteryMinder and GPU

Post by Boatguy »

My bad.

Upon further examination of the schematics and discussion with Paul, when the electric master is off, the GPU only provides power to the accessory power outlet (aka cig lighter or in my case USB ports). The electric master must be ON to close the relay which connects the GPU to the main battery. Hence the need for both a GPU (chart updates, G1000 practice, etc.) and a battery minder, and the need for the battery minder to be more directly connected to the main battery. WIth the minor caveat that while you're sitting the plane, powered by a GPU and fiddling with the G1000, you are also charging the battery.
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nworthin
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Re: BatteryMinder and GPU

Post by nworthin »

For the DA62, does anyone know the minimum AMPERAGE needed to run the avionics on the ground with a GPU?
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mfdutra
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Re: BatteryMinder and GPU

Post by mfdutra »

nworthin wrote: Sat Sep 24, 2022 8:43 pm For the DA62, does anyone know the minimum AMPERAGE needed to run the avionics on the ground with a GPU?
I have a Cirrus with the NXi and I can run the panel and the avionics fan with 200 watts (28V 7A). I have a 28V/20A GPU and it works perfectly. I'm assuming it would be roughly the same in the DA62.
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Re: BatteryMinder and GPU

Post by Boatguy »

nworthin wrote: Sat Sep 24, 2022 8:43 pm For the DA62, does anyone know the minimum AMPERAGE needed to run the avionics on the ground with a GPU?
I measured the PFD/MFD and associated LRUs at 13a on my DA40NG. Transmitting on the radio added 7-8a.
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Ed McDonald
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Re: BatteryMinder and GPU

Post by Ed McDonald »

Steve wrote: Fri Sep 23, 2022 10:06 pm Ed:

Not certain from the bottom photo, but if it shows the BatteryMinder inside the aircraft, and you plug it in in that location, I would advise against that. A short or other component failure within the unit could set your airplane on fire.

Mine is connected to a plug in the engine compartment accessed via the oil door, and resides on a metal cart as far away from the airplane as the cord will allow (about 6 feet).

Steve
Good point, Steve. I will make a hanger for it so it can dangle outside the nose compartment so if there is a short nothing flammable will be nearby.

On a similar note, one should never leave a live extension cord plug (with or without anything plugged in) on a hangar floor; any fuel leak would short the circuit, spark and there would be a might big fire, very quickly.
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