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bicyclop(at)pacbell.net
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 9:16 pm    Post subject: Switch Question Reply with quote

Howdy,

I wish to use two switches to control two batteries as follows:
I want the bottom position to be off.
I want the center position to be battery contactor on and alternator
field on.
I want the top position to be e-bus alternate feed on and alternator
field off.

Is this doable? What kind of switch do I need. How would I wire it?

Thanks,

Ed Holyoke


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nuckollsr(at)cox.net
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 6:08 am    Post subject: Switch Question Reply with quote

At 09:07 PM 2/7/2006 -0800, you wrote:

Quote:


Howdy,

I wish to use two switches to control two batteries as follows:
I want the bottom position to be off.
I want the center position to be battery contactor on and alternator
field on.
I want the top position to be e-bus alternate feed on and alternator
field off.

Is this doable? What kind of switch do I need. How would I wire it?

Would you leave the battery contactor closed while the e-bus
alternate feed is closed? Are you sure you want a single device
to have this much control over your system's functionality.
It becomes a single point of failure for lots of stuff. There's
a reason why those functions are separated out into two switches
in the Z-figures.

Bob . . .
< What is so wonderful about scientific truth...is that >
< the authority which determines whether there can be >
< debate or not does not reside in some fraternity of >
< scientists; nor is it divine. The authority rests >
< with experiment. >
< --Lawrence M. Krauss >


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frank.hinde(at)hp.com
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 7:06 am    Post subject: Switch Question Reply with quote

The only note of caution I would add is that you have a pretty big
single point of failure in that one switch...If the switch fails (and
they do) what happens to your ability to fly the airplane.

In my current single alt, two battery airplane I have no single
component common to both electrical systems...Except for the diode that
seperates the two...Each battery system then runs one fuel pump and one
electronic igniton.

Frank

--


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bicyclop(at)pacbell.net
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 9:56 am    Post subject: Switch Question Reply with quote

Bob,

Sorry for not being more clear. My wife was calling me and I hurried to
complete and send without first proofreading.

I do want to turn off the contactor when I close the alternate feed.
Since I will have two batteries, each with the ability to feed the main
bus (and alternator field) and the e-bus, I'm not too worried about a
failure of one of the switches to take the whole system down. Should I
be?

It just occurred to me that, if I ignore the alternator field, it will
get power from the main bus any time that either contactor is closed and
unless the field breaker is pulled. Then I think I can use 2-10 switches
to open the contactors and close the alternate feeds with full down
being the both off position. Is this correct or is there a hazard in not
switching the alternator field with the master?

I'm trying to save panel space and make management of the busses simpler
(at least for me) by having all the functionality of each battery on one
switch each. Otherwise I would need four switches to get the same
functionality as the two switches I'm proposing and without the
(perceived) benefit of automatically disconnecting the contactor when I
go to the alt feed position. I just need to remember that if either
switch is in the alt feed position (all the way up) then the other
switch needs to be full up or full down. If the alternator goes belly
up, I would run on one battery only and if it runs down faster than
anticipated, I'd turn on the other battery and find a place to land
before I could run it down too.

On a related note, I have a swing down panel with fuse blocks on it for
main, e and one of the battery busses. The only thing on the other
battery bus would be an ignition for which I would use an inline fuse
holder or fusible link. It is about 3 feet from either of the batteries
and I'm thinking maybe I should use fusible links to protect them. I'm
planning to have a 40 amp alternator and two 17ah batteries. I'm looking
to feed the main bus with an 8awg from the connector between the battery
contactors, and the e-bus alternate feeds with 8awg feeders from each
battery though the switches as discussed above. Should any or all three
of these be fed through fusible links? If so, how would I go about
connecting a short piece of 12awg to the 8awg to make the link? I can't
seem to find any butt connectors larger than 10awg for sale. I guess I
could solder and heat shrink 'em.

Pax,

Ed Holyoke

<nuckollsr(at)cox.net>

At 09:07 PM 2/7/2006 -0800, you wrote:

Quote:

<bicyclop(at)pacbell.net>

Quote:

Howdy,

I wish to use two switches to control two batteries as follows:
I want the bottom position to be off.
I want the center position to be battery contactor on and alternator
field on.
I want the top position to be e-bus alternate feed on and alternator
field off.

Is this doable? What kind of switch do I need. How would I wire it?

Would you leave the battery contactor closed while the e-bus
alternate feed is closed? Are you sure you want a single device
to have this much control over your system's functionality.
It becomes a single point of failure for lots of stuff. There's
a reason why those functions are separated out into two switches
in the Z-figures.

Bob . . .
< What is so wonderful about scientific truth...is that >
< the authority which determines whether there can be >
< debate or not does not reside in some fraternity of >
< scientists; nor is it divine. The authority rests >
< with experiment. >
< --Lawrence M. Krauss >


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Peter Laurence



Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 50

PostPosted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 10:09 am    Post subject: Switch Question Reply with quote

Quote:
Howdy,

I wish to use two switches to control two batteries as follows:
I want the bottom position to be off.
I want the center position to be battery contactor on and alternator
field on.
I want the top position to be e-bus alternate feed on and alternator
field off.

Is this doable? What kind of switch do I need. How would I wire it?

Thanks,

Ed Holyoke

Ed,
I would not configure it this way. I would suggest the following:
Down-off
Middle- Battery contactor on
Up-Alternator(and battery on)
This config will not allow the alt to be energized without the battery on.
Utilize a single pole single throw switch for the e-buss.
If you need to de-energize the alternator, you can place the switch back to
the middleor pull the field breaker.

mtcw

Peter

Quote:





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bicyclop(at)pacbell.net
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:13 am    Post subject: Switch Question Reply with quote

Howdy Peter,

I wasn't very clear. There would be two switches, one for each battery
allowing me to feed the main or e-bus with either or both battery(ies).

I'm not sure how the alternator field could be fed without a battery
contactor closed anyway. Your point is well taken that the alternator
can be taken off line by pulling the field breaker.

My latest thinking is to control the main and e-busses with two switches
as (poorly) described in my first post and rely on the field breaker for
ultimate alternator control. The breaker would not be powered if both of
the battery contactors (and with them, the main bus) were off. The
alternator field would be on line when either battery is powering the
main bus and the breaker is closed.

Pax,

Ed Holyoke

--


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