The alternator checked out OK. The last flight I flew I left both the
 fuel pumps on
  the whole flight. Usually, I only use both when on take off and landing.
 Maybe the
  current draw was too much for the 40 amp alternator. The guy at the
 alternator shop
  said that at and above 2/3 the rated current, the voltage starts to drop
 off. Hmm. I
  have two of the fuel pumps that Tracy sells, I don't know what the
 current draw on
  them is, a dynon D10- 1 amp aproximately, Xcom radio- . 5 amp, Terra
 transponder- .75
  amps, EC2 and EM2- ? amps, 4 LS1 coils- ? amps and two 18 AH saturated
 mat batteries.
  Maybe time to do a current check on the batteries and trade one out for a
 new one. I
  have a new one, the old ones are coming up to two years old. I have them
 on a float
  charger anytime I'm not running the engine.   Any thoughts?

  Brian Trubee

  You need an ammeter.

  Paul Lamar

  Brian,
              In my opnion you do not need a ammeter as only more
 weight! The voltmeter will tell you what state your battery is, you do
 not really need to know what the alternator is putting out. If the
 voltage is going down and the alt is OK then you alt is not up to the
 job! as dale? said put a clamp-on the alternator output and turn
 EVERYTHING on and watch the voltmeter and if the draw is more than say
 30 amps get a bigger alternator or ditch some of the load.
               John Burey

 Get realistic John. The weight is ounces. You cannot have too much
 information. An ammeter gives an instant early warning of what can happen.
 If suddenly the ammeter shows a discharge the EFI and electronic ignition
 engine is
 going to stop sooner or later. You can then turn off non essential
  electric devices
 to give you more time to land. You will instantly know if you have solved
 the
 problem. You can't just pull over to the side of road and stop.

 Paul Lamar

 I generally don't like to wire an amp meter in the instrument panel as it
 would
 require either a 8 or 6 AWG gauge wire for a maximum curare of 40a or 50a,
 respectively .

 A good alternative is to wire in a low voltage warning light in addition
 to the
 voltage meter.

 Joel

 Another alternative is have a red warning light come on when there is
 discharge
 condition.

 Paul Lamar


Use an induction coil ammeter with the coil around the main battery wire.
Simple, just needs to be calibrated.

Kevin Alderman




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