Skydat Fading

[Massimo]

Hi All,
My Skydat DX2 is giving me some problems. After about 30 or so minutes of use it start fading until it eventuall goes blank .Even switching it off and on does not help, but if i leave it off for a few hours or a day then it works again.

My radio is also playing up. Seems it is not always charging from the mains. After a bit of flying the battery light start flashing.

Could both of the above be related to my battery being flat?
Plane does not want to start. So a few pulls and all ok, battery sometimes gets charged so it then starts with ignition but maybe only once. I wouldnt think that the battery effects the electrics once you flying as power comes from aerie?

Any input?

[Learjet]

Everything seems to be pointing to your battery not charging. Check the battery and also voltage output when engine is running as the problem could be there as well.

[Morph]

But your charging circuit from the motor via the regulator should keep the voltage up, even with a flat battery. In fact it should charge the battery.

It would be a good idea to measure the voltage before flying and then when the screen blanks out. If lower there is obviously a charging type problem.

Your battey with the plane off should be about 12V. With the plane running it should be about 13.5V

[Tumbleweed]

Save yourself grief, take out the battery, have it tested and then they'll tell you to buy another one.

Keep the receipt, my last one expired just before the warrenty.

[Massimo]

I must agree with Morph, while flying the motor charges everything, even with a flat battery. So im not convinced that its ONLY the battery (as much as id like to hope it is).

Tested charge and with plane off voltage was about 12.7 and then running was about 13.3 if i remeber correctly.

Sounds to me that its not charging properly while flying. Could the flat battery be causing the system not to charge correctly even while in flight?

[Duck Rogers]

I'm currently working on a document to be published on this forum shortly about batteries and their seemingly "mysterious" workings :D so I'm not gonna go into detail now however, a fully charged battery should read 12.7v full and 11.6v - 11.7v is regarded as "flat". But, in this flat state the battery will still be able to deliver quite a bit of current initially but the voltage will drop off quickly.

From the readings you got it looks as if the charging system is working ok.
You now need to do 3 things:
1) remove the battery from the system and have it "load tested" If it checks out ok then do the following:
2)put the battery back and check your connections and wiring. Any loose or corroded wiring or joints will give you those symptoms. Especially check the main leads FROM the battery TO the various utilities. Loosen all terminals and clean them if you have to. Check for dry-joints if you have any soldered sections.

You can also test the charging system BEFORE the voltage regulator, but as I said, it seems to be ok going by the numbers you quoted, so hold off with that for now and
3) Report back

[Massimo]

Thanks for all the input gents.
I will follow advise given and then report back as a happy fyler (i hope).
:D

[Massimo]

Goodday Gents,
Just some feedback. Repalced battery and now seems ok.
There was also minor problem on Skydat, propbably due to vibration, landing etc etc, but was fixed at a minor cost (my back light was also not coming on).
So i will test it all this weekend (weather depending). But im sure it will be ok.
Thanks all for your input.