Ken Powell wrote:

Paul,

You can buy motorcyle batteries from 3 amp to at least 17 amp.  I was

in Walmart last week and noticed that they have a new motorcycle

battery that might be a RG.  The box said that it was completely

sealed and was built 'rugged'.  Who knows, it might be a gell-cell

instead.  I need to find out the manufacturer and give them a call.

It comes in 12 and 14 amp sizes and did not feel very heavy; I would

also like to weigh them.  The 12 amp was $50 and the 14 amp was $70 (I

may not have the price right).

Thanks,

Ken Powell

Well then I think battery life may be more like one or two hours
and not five. Perhaps Continental is doing a CD ignition that might
save a little current.

Paul Lamar

To add to the issue, a battery's amp-hour rating is NOT how many amps it can
deliver under a useful load of 8-10 amps to drive the FI system.  It is
determined by drawing down the battery at a much lower drain rate, such as
0.5-1.0 amp (or less).  It also is the figure  for a NEW battery, not one
that has been used for a while.  After time-in-use the capacity always goes
down.  Bob Nuckolls Aeroelectric Connection has a nice write up on this and I
recommend it highly. Plain language and technically accurate.
Bill Schertz

I suggest two small alternators, both charging the same battery through
diodes with separate amp meters on the instrument panel. Batteries are less
prone to catastrophic failure than alternators. That way one can dump 
nonessential electrical load and get to an airport on the one alternator.

Paul Lamar
 
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