Looking at Mark's pictures of MMV I'm reminded in one of the pictures that the light little lithium batteries seem to be the cat's meow lately with airplane batteries. I've had batteries on my mind a lot lately since the one I put in 335KC has been failing over the last year, although I didn't realize it. I've had all sorts of electrical glitches that came and went, causing me to think various things were either not working correctly or badly grounded or both. Lots of electrical anomalies. Although the main battery was installed in 2007, it's been taking and holding a full charge and until the McMinnville trip I never suspected it was failing. The first clue was when leaving Merced on the way home, it would only turn a quarter turn and stop, quarter turn and stop. It should have been at full charge since I had just flown from MMV. I had used landing/taxi lights while taxiing around Merced. Those are both 50 watts. At idle power my Diehl alternator isn't putting out anything so the battery has to carry all the electrical loads which at night are considerable, along with the electronic ignition that draws 8 amps at idle. After fueling, I went to start the engine and it barely would turn. It was dark and I really did not feel energetic enough to tie the plane down and prop it and do everything just right. Propping by oneself can be a tricky business in the daylight but add night time to the equation along with being tired and getting old and it wasn't something I was
Ken Cottle built the battery box to hold a garden tractor battery http://1drv.ms/1P89PqH http://www.powerstridebattery.com/lawn-garden-batteries/m44-agm-j-i-s-bat tery ____________________________________________________________ Meet the Graviteers: Ezekiel Victor My name is Zeke! I find it hard to pick favorites because I get sick of too much of one thing. Read more ??? http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/561a97c2b6d4a17c271acst04vuc
