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		donjohnston
 
 
  Joined: 13 Dec 2009 Posts: 232
 
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				 Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 1:48 pm    Post subject: Overvoltage event (non-lithium battery) | 
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				I had what is suspected as being an overvoltage event take out my nav radio recently.
 
 Here's the platform data:
 Continental IO550
 24v electrical system
 VPX Power Distribution system
 Stock 50a alternator w/B&C LR3C-24 voltage regulator
 SD20 backup alternator w/B&C LS-1A voltage regulator
 Val Avionics NAV2KR nav radio
 
 The other day I got a circuit fault alarm on the nav radio circuit when I hit the avionics master. When I switched to the screen to get details, it showed "short circuit". Powered cycled the circuit and the fault returned. Went to troubleshoot once I got home and found no fault in the wiring. Sent the radio back to Val and got a call that the overvoltage protection circuit was blown.  That it would have taken 50+ volts to cause that. Talked with them for a while about what could have caused the OV and the only thing they could think of after describing how I operate was powering on the alternator AFTER engine start. 
 
 I was told (and have since done) to start on battery only then after the engine was running, turn on the alternator.  And I never turn on the avionics until the alternator is on. 
 
 Then I threw the scenario to the VPX guys.  They don't know what could have caused an OV event to take out the nav radio (and only the nav radio since all other devices are fine) because the VPX has OV protection.  But they agreed with Val that the alternator should be on during engine start.
 
 So I guess my question is: Have I been starting planes the wrong way for the past 20 years?  Should the alternator be on during engine start?
 
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		nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect Guest
 
 
 
 
 
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				 Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 6:02 pm    Post subject: Overvoltage event (non-lithium battery) | 
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				At 04:48 PM 5/1/2017, you wrote:
   	  | Quote: | 	 		  --> AeroElectric-List message posted by: "donjohnston" <don(at)velocity-xl.com>
 
  I had what is suspected as being an overvoltage event take out my nav radio recently.
 
  Here's the platform data:
  Continental IO550
  24v electrical system
  VPX Power Distribution system
  Stock 50a alternator w/B&C LR3C-24 voltage regulator
  SD20 backup alternator w/B&C LS-1A voltage regulator
  Val Avionics NAV2KR nav radio
 
  The other day I got a circuit fault alarm on the nav radio circuit when I hit the avionics master. When I switched to the screen to get details, it showed "short circuit". Powered cycled the circuit and the fault returned. Went to troubleshoot once I got home and found no fault in the wiring. Sent the radio back to Val and got a call that the overvoltage protection circuit was blown.  That it would have taken 50+ volts to cause that. Talked with them for a while about what could have caused the OV and the only thing they could think of after describing how I operate was powering on the alternator AFTER engine start. 
 
  I was told (and have since done) to start on battery only then after the engine was running, turn on the alternator.  And I never turn on the avionics until the alternator is on. 
 
  Then I threw the scenario to the VPX guys.  They don't know what could have caused an OV event to take out the nav radio (and only the nav radio. All other devices are fine). But they agreed with Val that the alternator should be on during engine start.  And that the VPX has overvoltage protection but only when the alternator is on.
 
  So I guess my question is: Have I been starting planes the wrong way for the past 20 years?  Should the alternator be on during engine start? | 	  
    It doesn't matter.  Waazayyy back when, the exemplar generator
    regulator had three principal components. Three relay-looking
    devices were configured (1) to prevent the back-feed of battery
    voltage into the generator (making it run like a motor), (2) an
    output current limiter to prevent smoking the armature wires
    due to overload and (3) a voltage regulator. 
 
  
 
  [img]cid:.0[/img]
 
    Unlike the generators of yesteryear, an alternator is
    inherently current limited by its magnetics. This feature,
    combined with the diode array (converts stator winding
    AC voltage in to battery friendly DC) means that CURRENT
    LIMIT and reverse current cuttouts are not necessary.
 
  [img]cid:.1[/img]
 
    The key phrase in the foregoing narrative is CURRENT
    LIMITING. Whether you're speaking of generators or alternators,
    there is a finite limit to the current they can supply.
    That current level is only a small fraction greater than
    the nameplate rating of the machine.
 
    Wwwaaay back when, the avionics master switch was
    perceived to be a prophylactic against 'spike generated
    by starters'. In years since, DO160/Mil-STD-704 design
    verification guided the appliance designer in the
    simple task of making their product immune to any
    voltage excursions one might expect from the ship's
    DC power system. Over those same years, I've had
    occasion to attach data acquisition systems to dozens
    of airplanes. Like the elusive 'snipe', no matter how
    close I looked or longingly I called . . . no such
    critter ever emerged.
 
    A question I've asked dozens of appliance engineers
    goes something like this: "Under what conditions of
    normal or inadvertent abnormal management of the aircraft's
    power system will bus voltage exceed catastrophic
    failure limits for your product?"
 
    The real answer should be "none". In 50 years
    of working with alternators, starter generators
    and batteries both in the lab and in aircraft,
    I've never had the slightest concerns for turning
    batteries and alternators on/off in any order.
    An alternator coming on after the engine is started
    may deliver a small overshoot . . . usually less than
    1 volt due to regulation dynamics. But in no way
    can it push the bus to levels suggested by your
    radio guy.
 
    Another set of questions to ask: "How much current
    do you need to push into a battery to elevate the
    28v bus to say, 50 volts?"  The answer is: 
    "hundreds of amps for an EXTENDED period of time . . .
    like tens of seconds."
 
    The next question: "How does an alternator rated
    at 60 amps produce such an event?" The answer is:
    "It can't".
 
    If the ov protection system built into the radio
    was damaged, I hypothesize a design or manufacturing
    flaw. I'd be willing to help them sort it out . . .
 
  
  
    Bob . . .
 
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		cluros(at)gmail.com Guest
 
 
 
 
 
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				 Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 7:25 pm    Post subject: Overvoltage event (non-lithium battery) | 
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				I have met a couple pilots who insist on starting the engine with the alternator off. I seem to remember that this was to protect the alternator. I'm not sure from what. Has anyone ever seen an alternator that has been damaged (or stressed or worn) by being on during start? 
 Also Bob, please forgive what is probably a silly question that I should think about rather than asking but if an alternator can't raise bus voltage enough to damage avionics why am I building a crowbar disconnect over voltage module?
 Or is it just this particular avionic that cannot be damaged by an alternator but others are vulnerable? Or something to do with it being a 28V system instead of 14V?
 
 Sebastien
 
 On May 1, 2017, at 18:59, Robert L. Nuckolls, III <nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com (nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com)> wrote:
  	  | Quote: | 	 		    At 04:48 PM 5/1/2017, you wrote:
   	  | Quote: | 	 		  --> AeroElectric-List message posted by: "donjohnston" <don(at)velocity-xl.com (don(at)velocity-xl.com)>
 
  I had what is suspected as being an overvoltage event take out my nav radio recently.
 
  Here's the platform data:
  Continental IO550
  24v electrical system
  VPX Power Distribution system
  Stock 50a alternator w/B&C LR3C-24 voltage regulator
  SD20 backup alternator w/B&C LS-1A voltage regulator
  Val Avionics NAV2KR nav radio
 
  The other day I got a circuit fault alarm on the nav radio circuit when I hit the avionics master. When I switched to the screen to get details, it showed "short circuit". Powered cycled the circuit and the fault returned. Went to troubleshoot once I got home and found no fault in the wiring. Sent the radio back to Val and got a call that the overvoltage protection circuit was blown.  That it would have taken 50+ volts to cause that. Talked with them for a while about what could have caused the OV and the only thing they could think of after describing how I operate was powering on the alternator AFTER engine start. 
 
  I was told (and have since done) to start on battery only then after the engine was running, turn on the alternator.  And I never turn on the avionics until the alternator is on. 
 
  Then I threw the scenario to the VPX guys.  They don't know what could have caused an OV event to take out the nav radio (and only the nav radio. All other devices are fine). But they agreed with Val that the alternator should be on during engine start.  And that the VPX has overvoltage protection but only when the alternator is on.
 
  So I guess my question is: Have I been starting planes the wrong way for the past 20 years?  Should the alternator be on during engine start? | 	  
    It doesn't matter.  Waazayyy back when, the exemplar generator
    regulator had three principal components. Three relay-looking
    devices were configured (1) to prevent the back-feed of battery
    voltage into the generator (making it run like a motor), (2) an
    output current limiter to prevent smoking the armature wires
    due to overload and (3) a voltage regulator. 
 
  
 
  <2afa004.jpg>
 
    Unlike the generators of yesteryear, an alternator is
    inherently current limited by its magnetics. This feature,
    combined with the diode array (converts stator winding
    AC voltage in to battery friendly DC) means that CURRENT
    LIMIT and reverse current cuttouts are not necessary.
 
  <2afa061.jpg>
 
    The key phrase in the foregoing narrative is CURRENT
    LIMITING. Whether you're speaking of generators or alternators,
    there is a finite limit to the current they can supply.
    That current level is only a small fraction greater than
    the nameplate rating of the machine.
 
    Wwwaaay back when, the avionics master switch was
    perceived to be a prophylactic against 'spike generated
    by starters'. In years since, DO160/Mil-STD-704 design
    verification guided the appliance designer in the
    simple task of making their product immune to any
    voltage excursions one might expect from the ship's
    DC power system. Over those same years, I've had
    occasion to attach data acquisition systems to dozens
    of airplanes. Like the elusive 'snipe', no matter how
    close I looked or longingly I called . . . no such
    critter ever emerged.
 
    A question I've asked dozens of appliance engineers
    goes something like this: "Under what conditions of
    normal or inadvertent abnormal management of the aircraft's
    power system will bus voltage exceed catastrophic
    failure limits for your product?"
 
    The real answer should be "none". In 50 years
    of working with alternators, starter generators
    and batteries both in the lab and in aircraft,
    I've never had the slightest concerns for turning
    batteries and alternators on/off in any order.
    An alternator coming on after the engine is started
    may deliver a small overshoot . . . usually less than
    1 volt due to regulation dynamics. But in no way
    can it push the bus to levels suggested by your
    radio guy.
 
    Another set of questions to ask: "How much current
    do you need to push into a battery to elevate the
    28v bus to say, 50 volts?"  The answer is: 
    "hundreds of amps for an EXTENDED period of time . . .
    like tens of seconds."
 
    The next question: "How does an alternator rated
    at 60 amps produce such an event?" The answer is:
    "It can't".
 
    If the ov protection system built into the radio
    was damaged, I hypothesize a design or manufacturing
    flaw. I'd be willing to help them sort it out . . .
 
  
  
    Bob . . .  
  | 	 
 
 
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		alec(at)alecmyers.com Guest
 
 
 
 
 
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				 Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 9:40 pm    Post subject: Overvoltage event (non-lithium battery) | 
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				 	  | Quote: | 	 		  >Also Bob, please forgive what is probably a silly question that I should think about rather than asking but if an alternator can't raise bus voltage enough to damage avionics why am I building a crowbar disconnect over voltage module?
 
 | 	  
 A defective regulator can raise the bus voltage high enough to damage the battery.
 
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		nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect Guest
 
 
 
 
 
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				 Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 5:25 am    Post subject: Overvoltage event (non-lithium battery) | 
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				At 10:23 PM 5/1/2017, you wrote:
   	  | Quote: | 	 		  | I have met a couple pilots who insist on starting the engine with the alternator off. I seem to remember that this was to protect the alternator. I'm not sure from what. Has anyone ever seen an alternator that has been damaged (or stressed or worn) by being on during start?  | 	  
     That can't happen either. Energy input to
     the alternator is RPM x Torque. Torque
     is absolutely proportional to output
     current. Field current rise from a de-energized
     state rises on the classic t=l/r time
     constant curve over a period of tens
     of milliseconds. It's a gentle increase
     in alternator effort with no sudden 'peaks'
     in mechanical or electrical stress.
 
     Those worries were never given foundation
     in physics.
 
   	  | Quote: | 	 		  | Also Bob, please forgive what is probably a silly question that I should think about rather than asking but if an alternator can't raise bus voltage enough to damage avionics why am I building a crowbar disconnect over voltage module? | 	  
     An alternator driven by a failed regulator
     has full bus voltage applied to the field.
     At cruise rpms, the alternator goes into
     a current limited runaway for voltage.
     
     If your airplane needs say 15A from the
     alternator in normal flight . . . then
     a 60A alternator will produce something on
     the order of 50-60 amps of EXCESS battery
     charge current.
 
     The voltage will begin to rise as the battery
     grunts the excess energy production. In
     tens to a couple hundred milliseconds after
     the failure event, the bus voltage will rise
     above the ov protection trip point . . . generally
     32 to 33 volts in a 28v airplane.
 
     were it not for the BATTERY, the bus voltage
     could rise much more rapidly with an upper
     bound of 100 to 200 volts.  In this case,
     the ov protection system is still expected
     to bring the alternator to heel in a time
     frame LESS than 100 milliseconds.
 
     Given that your supplier speaks of a 50 volt
     ov protection system, I suspect the appliance
     is qualified to DO-160 Category A for abnormal
     DC surge voltage. Quoting from DO-160 we find.
 
  [img]cid:.0[/img]
 
  
    These numbers give rise to a design goal for ov
    protection systems to LIMIT a runaway alternator's
    output voltage to less than those values in the time
    frames cited.
 
  
   	  | Quote: | 	 		  | Or is it just this particular avionic that cannot be damaged by an alternator but others are vulnerable? Or something to do with it being a 28V system instead of 14V? | 	  
    No. If your battery was on line at the time of the
    radio's failure . . . then there was no way that 
    bus voltage would rise to levels claimed by the
    radio technician. If the battery were off line,
    then you would have experienced a trip of the
    ov protection system in an magnitude/time frame
    that was UNDER the envelope cited in DO-160.
 
    You are not the first owner/operator of an aircraft
    to be told that "a spike from your airplane killed
    your radio" . . . but in fact, if your battery was
    on line and you did not experience an ov trip, then
    there is no way that your airplane put any stress
    on the radio that it was NOT designed to deal with.
 
    14 volt appliances use 1/2 the 28v qualification
    levels. I've always designed to Category Z. 
 
  [img]cid:.1[/img]
 
  
  [img]cid:.2[/img]
    
    Note that category Z considers the extra hazard
    for having a very small or no battery at all.
   
    It's not hard to do . . .
 
  
    Bob . . .
 
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		nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect Guest
 
 
 
 
 
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				 Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 5:29 am    Post subject: Overvoltage event (non-lithium battery) | 
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				At 12:36 AM 5/2/2017, you wrote:
   	  | Quote: | 	 		  --> AeroElectric-List message posted by: Alec Myers <alec(at)alecmyers.com>
 
  
 
  >>Also Bob, please forgive what is probably a silly question that I should think about rather than asking but if an alternator can't raise bus voltage enough to damage avionics why am I building a crowbar disconnect over voltage module?
 
  A defective regulator can raise the bus voltage high enough to damage the battery.  | 	  
     A battery that is well maintained. I.e. periodically
     cap and load checked, will be taken out of the airplane
     when it no longer meets design goals for battery only
     endurance. Such a battery will grunt the alternator's
     abusive output during a runaway event for the time
     it takes to activate the ov protection system.
 
     In virtually EVERY ov event I have deliberately
     generated in 28v systems on the test bench, the
     bus voltage has NEVER exceeded 33 volts. The
     battery was not damaged and no appliances were
     harmed in the making of the video.
 
  
    Bob . . .
 
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		alec(at)alecmyers.com Guest
 
 
 
 
 
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				 Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 5:36 am    Post subject: Overvoltage event (non-lithium battery) | 
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				If the OV protection is absent, a defective regulator regulating the bus voltage to 18V (for a 12V system) will eventually damage the battery, but not the avionics.
 
 So isn't it fair to characterize the battery as being there to protect the avionics, and the OV crowbar being there to protect the battery?
 
  
 On 2May2017, at 9:26 AM, Robert L. Nuckolls, III <nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com> wrote:
 
 At 12:36 AM 5/2/2017, you wrote:
  	  | Quote: | 	 		   
  
  
  
  >>Also Bob, please forgive what is probably a silly question that I should think about rather than asking but if an alternator can't raise bus voltage enough to damage avionics why am I building a crowbar disconnect over voltage module?
  
  A defective regulator can raise the bus voltage high enough to damage the battery.
 
 | 	  
    A battery that is well maintained. I.e. periodically
    cap and load checked, will be taken out of the airplane
    when it no longer meets design goals for battery only
    endurance. Such a battery will grunt the alternator's
    abusive output during a runaway event for the time
    it takes to activate the ov protection system.
 
    In virtually EVERY ov event I have deliberately
    generated in 28v systems on the test bench, the
    bus voltage has NEVER exceeded 33 volts. The
    battery was not damaged and no appliances were
    harmed in the making of the video.
 
   Bob . . .
 
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		nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect Guest
 
 
 
 
 
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				 Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 10:00 am    Post subject: Overvoltage event (non-lithium battery) | 
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				At 08:33 AM 5/2/2017, you wrote:
   	  | Quote: | 	 		  --> AeroElectric-List message posted by: Alec Myers <alec(at)alecmyers.com>
 
  
  If the OV protection is absent, a defective regulator regulating the bus voltage to 18V (for a 12V system) will eventually damage the battery, but not the avionics. | 	  
     Yyeeaah . . . sort of.  A battery that's in good
     condition will willingly and ably stand off
     most alternators until the ov protection system
     can react. If the ov protection is absent, voltage
     will rise with a rate dependent on battery condition
     and magnitude of the 'overcharge' current. 
 
     We've seen cases of sustained ov on a good
     battery . . . and yes, it's really hard
     on the battery. But this event took a long
     time . . . perhaps hours, perhaps more than
     one flight to evolve to this condition.
 
  [img]cid:.0[/img]
 
    . . . and yes, the battery was trashed. I don't
    recall if any other system components were
    damaged . . . 
 
  
   	  | Quote: | 	 		  | So isn't it fair to characterize the battery as being there to protect the avionics, and the OV crowbar being there to protect the battery? | 	  
    No . . . batteries are there to start engines
    and back up alternators. A properly designed
    ov protection system will arrest a runaway
    alternator before the damages propagate to other
    components in the system . . . whether the
    battery is on line or not.
 
    It's a happy coincidence that a robust battery
    contributes to a graceful recovery from an
    ov event . . . but there is no expansion of
    a battery's primary role of offering a reversible
    chemical energy source.
 
  
    Bob . . .
 
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		john(at)johnkeen.com.au Guest
 
 
 
 
 
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				 Posted: Wed May 03, 2017 4:49 pm    Post subject: Overvoltage event (non-lithium battery) | 
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				This may be a naive question but is there any reason why then I can't use one master switch to turn on both the battery and alternator? 
 If I turn my master off and e-bus on I would then be on battery-only operation.
 
 John Keen0412 141 833
 
 
 On 2 May 2017, at 11:59, Robert L. Nuckolls, III <nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com (nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com)> wrote:
  	  | Quote: | 	 		    At 04:48 PM 5/1/2017, you wrote:
   	  | Quote: | 	 		  --> AeroElectric-List message posted by: "donjohnston" <don(at)velocity-xl.com (don(at)velocity-xl.com)>
 
  I had what is suspected as being an overvoltage event take out my nav radio recently.
 
  Here's the platform data:
  Continental IO550
  24v electrical system
  VPX Power Distribution system
  Stock 50a alternator w/B&C LR3C-24 voltage regulator
  SD20 backup alternator w/B&C LS-1A voltage regulator
  Val Avionics NAV2KR nav radio
 
  The other day I got a circuit fault alarm on the nav radio circuit when I hit the avionics master. When I switched to the screen to get details, it showed "short circuit". Powered cycled the circuit and the fault returned. Went to troubleshoot once I got home and found no fault in the wiring. Sent the radio back to Val and got a call that the overvoltage protection circuit was blown.  That it would have taken 50+ volts to cause that. Talked with them for a while about what could have caused the OV and the only thing they could think of after describing how I operate was powering on the alternator AFTER engine start. 
 
  I was told (and have since done) to start on battery only then after the engine was running, turn on the alternator.  And I never turn on the avionics until the alternator is on. 
 
  Then I threw the scenario to the VPX guys.  They don't know what could have caused an OV event to take out the nav radio (and only the nav radio. All other devices are fine). But they agreed with Val that the alternator should be on during engine start.  And that the VPX has overvoltage protection but only when the alternator is on.
 
  So I guess my question is: Have I been starting planes the wrong way for the past 20 years?  Should the alternator be on during engine start? | 	  
    It doesn't matter.  Waazayyy back when, the exemplar generator
    regulator had three principal components. Three relay-looking
    devices were configured (1) to prevent the back-feed of battery
    voltage into the generator (making it run like a motor), (2) an
    output current limiter to prevent smoking the armature wires
    due to overload and (3) a voltage regulator. 
 
  
 
  [img]cid:.0[/img]
 
    Unlike the generators of yesteryear, an alternator is
    inherently current limited by its magnetics. This feature,
    combined with the diode array (converts stator winding
    AC voltage in to battery friendly DC) means that CURRENT
    LIMIT and reverse current cuttouts are not necessary.
 
  [img]cid:.1[/img]
 
    The key phrase in the foregoing narrative is CURRENT
    LIMITING. Whether you're speaking of generators or alternators,
    there is a finite limit to the current they can supply.
    That current level is only a small fraction greater than
    the nameplate rating of the machine.
 
    Wwwaaay back when, the avionics master switch was
    perceived to be a prophylactic against 'spike generated
    by starters'. In years since, DO160/Mil-STD-704 design
    verification guided the appliance designer in the
    simple task of making their product immune to any
    voltage excursions one might expect from the ship's
    DC power system. Over those same years, I've had
    occasion to attach data acquisition systems to dozens
    of airplanes. Like the elusive 'snipe', no matter how
    close I looked or longingly I called . . . no such
    critter ever emerged.
 
    A question I've asked dozens of appliance engineers
    goes something like this: "Under what conditions of
    normal or inadvertent abnormal management of the aircraft's
    power system will bus voltage exceed catastrophic
    failure limits for your product?"
 
    The real answer should be "none". In 50 years
    of working with alternators, starter generators
    and batteries both in the lab and in aircraft,
    I've never had the slightest concerns for turning
    batteries and alternators on/off in any order.
    An alternator coming on after the engine is started
    may deliver a small overshoot . . . usually less than
    1 volt due to regulation dynamics. But in no way
    can it push the bus to levels suggested by your
    radio guy.
 
    Another set of questions to ask: "How much current
    do you need to push into a battery to elevate the
    28v bus to say, 50 volts?"  The answer is: 
    "hundreds of amps for an EXTENDED period of time . . .
    like tens of seconds."
 
    The next question: "How does an alternator rated
    at 60 amps produce such an event?" The answer is:
    "It can't".
 
    If the ov protection system built into the radio
    was damaged, I hypothesize a design or manufacturing
    flaw. I'd be willing to help them sort it out . . .
 
  
  
    Bob . . .  
  | 	 
 
 
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		nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect Guest
 
 
 
 
 
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				 Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 9:39 am    Post subject: Overvoltage event (non-lithium battery) | 
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				At 07:47 PM 5/3/2017, you wrote:
   	  | Quote: | 	 		  This may be a naive question but is there any reason why then I can't use one master switch to turn on both the battery and alternator? 
  If I turn my master off and e-bus on I would then be on battery-only operation. | 	  
    That's fine . . . in fact, that configuration
    is illustrated in Z-13/8
 
   http://tinyurl.com/kgg8nva
 
  
 
   [img]cid:7.1.0.9.0.20170504123207.05567330(at)aeroelectric.com.2[/img] 
 
    This configuration exploits the fact that
    crowbar ovm systems are typically installed
    with the popular miniature pullable breakers.
 
    This means that when you want to do battery-only
    ground operations for maintenance, you can pull
    the alternator field breaker and REMOVE a
    significant (2.5 to 3 amp) drain on the
    battery by the field circuit of a non-rotating
    alternator.
 
    But if you system is all fuses or non-pullable
    breaker, then the progressive transfer switching
    of battery/alternator (al la legacy split rocker
    switches), is recommended.
 
  
    Bob . . .
 
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		JOHN TIPTON
 
 
  Joined: 17 Sep 2006 Posts: 239 Location: Torquay - England
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				 Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 10:14 am    Post subject: Overvoltage event (non-lithium battery) | 
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				So: those aircraft which have an array of switches together either their array of CB's only really need the CB's
 John
 
 Sent from my iPad
 
      ----x--O--x----
 On 4 May 2017, at 06:37 pm, "Robert L. Nuckolls, III" <nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com (nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com)> wrote:
  	  | Quote: | 	 		    At 07:47 PM 5/3/2017, you wrote:
   	  | Quote: | 	 		  This may be a naive question but is there any reason why then I can't use one master switch to turn on both the battery and alternator? 
  If I turn my master off and e-bus on I would then be on battery-only operation. | 	  
    That's fine . . . in fact, that configuration
    is illustrated in Z-13/8
 
   http://tinyurl.com/kgg8nva
 
  
 
   <10578c0e.jpg> 
 
    This configuration exploits the fact that
    crowbar ovm systems are typically installed
    with the popular miniature pullable breakers.
 
    This means that when you want to do battery-only
    ground operations for maintenance, you can pull
    the alternator field breaker and REMOVE a
    significant (2.5 to 3 amp) drain on the
    battery by the field circuit of a non-rotating
    alternator.
 
    But if you system is all fuses or non-pullable
    breaker, then the progressive transfer switching
    of battery/alternator (al la legacy split rocker
    switches), is recommended.
 
  
    Bob . . .  
  | 	 
 
 
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		nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect Guest
 
 
 
 
 
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				 Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 12:14 pm    Post subject: Overvoltage event (non-lithium battery) | 
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				At 01:13 PM 5/4/2017, you wrote:
   	  | Quote: | 	 		  So: those aircraft which have an array of switches together either their array of CB's only really need the CB's
 
  John
   | 	   
    No . . . breakers and/or fuses are not operational
    devices . . . only protective with the occasional instance
    of being a useful maintenance adjunct.
 
    Lots of aircraft maintenance procedures will call
    for disabling a system by opening the circuit
    protection . . . but the pilot's operating handbook
    will (or at least should) never call for routinely
    operating a breaker as part of normal operations.
 
    Circuit protection clusters at the power distribution
    bus(ses) grouped according to power distribution
    design goals.
 
    On the other hand, switches may be organized for
    operational functionality irrespective of the
    power source.
 
  [img]cid:7.1.0.9.0.20170504150320.01ef18c8(at)aeroelectric.com.0[/img] 
    
 
  
  
    Bob . . .
 
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		arcticarrow(at)gmail.com Guest
 
 
 
 
 
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				 Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 1:27 pm    Post subject: Overvoltage event (non-lithium battery) | 
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				Some builders in an effort to reduce weight use circuit breaker switches instead of separate breakers and switches. Is this a bad idea?
 Bernie
 
 Sent from my iPhone
 
 On May 4, 2017, at 12:13 PM, Robert L. Nuckolls, III <nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com (nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com)> wrote:
  	  | Quote: | 	 		    At 01:13 PM 5/4/2017, you wrote:
   	  | Quote: | 	 		  So: those aircraft which have an array of switches together either their array of CB's only really need the CB's
 
  John
   | 	   
    No . . . breakers and/or fuses are not operational
    devices . . . only protective with the occasional instance
    of being a useful maintenance adjunct.
 
    Lots of aircraft maintenance procedures will call
    for disabling a system by opening the circuit
    protection . . . but the pilot's operating handbook
    will (or at least should) never call for routinely
    operating a breaker as part of normal operations.
 
    Circuit protection clusters at the power distribution
    bus(ses) grouped according to power distribution
    design goals.
 
    On the other hand, switches may be organized for
    operational functionality irrespective of the
    power source.
 
  <10e5e47d.jpg> 
    
 
  
  
    Bob . . .  
  | 	 
 
 
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		nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect Guest
 
 
 
 
 
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				 Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 4:37 pm    Post subject: Overvoltage event (non-lithium battery) | 
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				At 04:25 PM 5/4/2017, you wrote:
   	  | Quote: | 	 		  Some builders in an effort to reduce weight use circuit breaker switches instead of separate breakers and switches. Is this a bad idea?
  Bernie | 	  
   No . . . those devices are designed for
   their intended purpose . . . 
 
   But keep in mind. Breakers/fuses are 
   clustered on power distribution busses.
   It's nice to save panel space by mounting
   fuseblocks off the panel . . . out of the
   way.
 
   Once you put a row of breaker-switches on
   the panel, you've committed to bring a
   bus=feeder fat-wire to the panel and you
   have two clusters of circuit protection.
   Further, you may find that operational
   grouping of switches is no longer
   convenient and maybe impossible.
 
   We used breaker/switches on the Bonanza/
   Baron line . . . never did like those things
   and they eventually proved to be a pain
   in the a##
 
   "saving weight" by using these things is
   a poor reason for limiting your design
   choices in other matters.
 
   If it were my airplane, it would be fuse blocks
   for virtually every protected circuit and
   plain vanilla toggle switches arranged by
   ergonomic/operational convenience.
 
   Inexpensive, light, low cost of ownership
   and unimpeded design goals. 
 
  
  
    Bob . . .
 
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		neil(at)rosoff.com Guest
 
 
 
 
 
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				 Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 5:40 pm    Post subject: Overvoltage event (non-lithium battery) | 
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				I agree in spirit, BUT I recently ran into an issue where the procedure for handling an ignition system failure indication, is to pull the ignition system breaker while the engine is running.  This is not a situation where the manufacture and myself would not want a switch.
  
 Neil Rosoff
  
 From: owner-aeroelectric-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-aeroelectric-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Bernie
 Sent: Thursday, May 4, 2017 5:25 PM
 To: aeroelectric-list(at)matronics.com
 Subject: Re: Overvoltage event (non-lithium battery)
  
 Some builders in an effort to reduce weight use circuit breaker switches instead of separate breakers and switches. Is this a bad idea?
 
 Bernie
 
 Sent from my iPhone
 On May 4, 2017, at 12:13 PM, Robert L. Nuckolls, III <nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com (nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com)> wrote:
  	  | Quote: | 	 		  
 At 01:13 PM 5/4/2017, you wrote:
 So: those aircraft which have an array of switches together either their array of CB's only really need the CB's
 
 John
 
   No . . . breakers and/or fuses are not operational
   devices . . . only protective with the occasional instance
   of being a useful maintenance adjunct.
 
   Lots of aircraft maintenance procedures will call
   for disabling a system by opening the circuit
   protection . . . but the pilot's operating handbook
   will (or at least should) never call for routinely
   operating a breaker as part of normal operations.
 
   Circuit protection clusters at the power distribution
   bus(ses) grouped according to power distribution
   design goals.
 
   On the other hand, switches may be organized for
   operational functionality irrespective of the
   power source.
 
 <10e5e47d.jpg> 
   
 
 
   Bob . . . 
  | 	 
 
 
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		arcticarrow(at)gmail.com Guest
 
 
 
 
 
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				 Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 5:52 pm    Post subject: Overvoltage event (non-lithium battery) | 
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				Got it!
 Thanks, Bernie
 
 Sent from my iPhone
 
 On May 4, 2017, at 5:36 PM, Neil Rosoff <neil(at)rosoff.com (neil(at)rosoff.com)> wrote:
  	  | Quote: | 	 		    <![endif]-->   <![endif]-->
 I agree in spirit, BUT I recently ran into an issue where the procedure for handling an ignition system failure indication, is to pull the ignition system breaker while the engine is running.  This is not a situation where the manufacture and myself would not want a switch.
  
 Neil Rosoff
  
 From: owner-aeroelectric-list-server(at)matronics.com (owner-aeroelectric-list-server(at)matronics.com) [mailto:owner-aeroelectric-list-server(at)matronics.com (owner-aeroelectric-list-server(at)matronics.com)] On Behalf Of Bernie
 Sent: Thursday, May 4, 2017 5:25 PM
 To: aeroelectric-list(at)matronics.com (aeroelectric-list(at)matronics.com)
 Subject: Re: Overvoltage event (non-lithium battery)
  
 Some builders in an effort to reduce weight use circuit breaker switches instead of separate breakers and switches. Is this a bad idea?
 
 Bernie
 
 Sent from my iPhone
 On May 4, 2017, at 12:13 PM, Robert L. Nuckolls, III <nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com (nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com)> wrote:
  	  | Quote: | 	 		  
 At 01:13 PM 5/4/2017, you wrote:
 So: those aircraft which have an array of switches together either their array of CB's only really need the CB's
 
 John
 
   No . . . breakers and/or fuses are not operational
   devices . . . only protective with the occasional instance
   of being a useful maintenance adjunct.
 
   Lots of aircraft maintenance procedures will call
   for disabling a system by opening the circuit
   protection . . . but the pilot's operating handbook
   will (or at least should) never call for routinely
   operating a breaker as part of normal operations.
 
   Circuit protection clusters at the power distribution
   bus(ses) grouped according to power distribution
   design goals.
 
   On the other hand, switches may be organized for
   operational functionality irrespective of the
   power source.
 
 <10e5e47d.jpg> 
   
 
 
   Bob . . . 
  | 	  
 
  | 	 
 
 
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		bobmeyers
 
 
  Joined: 05 May 2017 Posts: 5
 
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				 Posted: Fri May 05, 2017 9:17 am    Post subject: Re: Overvoltage event (non-lithium battery) | 
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				Bob,
 
 Have you ever commented on these little guys. They are resettable breakers that fit into an ATC slot.
 
 http://tinyurl.com/n4fem4d
 
 I used fuses in my first build and also in my second build. I have looked at these as a natural fit for alternator field power.
 
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