Voltage Problems

[Brian]

I went to the hanger and found the switch to EIS was on--battery was dead. Went out to fly, EIS read 18 volts. Turned off EIS, flew 45 minutes, checked battery when done flying and it read 11.5 volts.
I put in a new battery, new 3-phase rectifier regulator, started gyro and EIS read 14.6-16 volts, warning light came on. Then turned off EIS, went flying 45 minutes, checked battery and it read 12 volts. EIS read 12 volts with engine not runnning. Started engine and warning light 14.7-15.4 volts. Shut off gyro, rechecked wires, ground, added a ground wire from engine to frame which made no difference. Turned off EIS because worried about damage to the EIS.
Tied down gyro and started it up, disconnected positive wire from the battery, which is still connnected to the rest of the system, checked to ground--12 to 13 volts. Checked DC positive wire out of regulator to ground--12 to 13 volts. Disconnected battery, positive and negative, with the rest of the system still hooked up and checked from positive to ground--20 volts. Hooked everything back up, turned on EIS, warning light flashes and reads 14.7 to 16 volts, depending on RPMs. If I turn on the strobe, which is a smart strobe and can be run without battery, volts go up 1 volt. Help....
I am not using EIS because of possible damage, something is not right.
Engine is a Rotax 582, mod 99.

[Caribean_gyro]

Looks like the regulator. You mentioned check the volt. I assumed you had volt meter not the EIS as a reader right? I get in my engine 14v. this is ok 13.8 to 14v if ok, higher will fry the battery. I have my alternator(regulator) in a separete circuit. so If the volt go up I shut it down without turning off any instrument.

I know some solid stated reg. they go on High output when the load is is very low, But you had a new battery so the volt. should be 12 and a peak of 14.

If you rev up and the output on the reg flucuates more then a volt again I suspect of the regulator. You can check the brand and try calling CPS or the manufacturer to get the spec on the output regulation on varying input voltages.

chuckp

[PW_Plack]

Brian, what kind of meter are you using to check voltage? An inexpensive digital? If so, they can read high when there's an AC voltage superimposed on the DC line. (Voltage "spikes.")

Also double-check connections on the regulator. A missing, loose or corroded ground connection is a comon problem with shunt regulators which let voltage rise above spec.

Regulators can also be bad out of the box.

[Brian]

the meter is a multi meter from radio shack reads ac dc ohms and some other things it is not digital I did check connections again found nothing wrong or
corroded I to am starting to suspect the new reg wish I was better at electrical .
thank you for the replys

[Airbike]

This is kind of a coincidence. I have the 582 Blue Head too. Last Sunday while I was flying, the EIS warning started blinking several times showing 15.1 to 15.4 volts. Then it would go off. It was worrisome and I stayed in close to the runway.

After I landed, I checked the EIS with the engine off and it indicated 12.8 volts. I didn’t have any other meters or manuals to refer to and it was time to put it back in the hanger so I could start my three-hour drive back home.

I have a small 18-amp/hr battery that is almost 3 years old. Mine also has the three-phase regulator and electric start. I did some looking in my Rotax manual and CPS catalog today. The CPS catalog shows that the wire left disconnected on the regulator is a spare that can be used to troubleshoot the regulator. This is also shown on the CPS website under the tech info. http://www.800-airwolf.com/

I’ll be interested in what you find so that I’ll have some ideas of what to look for when I get the time to take a closer look at mine.

Thanks,


Eric VanPraag
Air Command CLT 582

[Airbike]

Here is what is shown by CPS-

Eric VanPraag
Air Command CLT 582

[Brian]

No time today will call leaf tomorrow thats were I bought this one see if can get it replaced or some way to test it. I have a pull start an a very small battery Hope to find somthing wrong so I can fix it.

[Brian]

my new replacement regulater came today hope to have time to install it tomorrow work will get in the way of a real test but hope to at lest start it up. Hope I have good voltage

[Airbike]

I've ordered a new battery and regulator from CPS so that I'll have something to work with when I go visit my machine three hours away. Still waiting on delivery.


Eric VanPraag

Air Command CLT 582

[Brian]

I finaly got to install the new new regulator today ----- no good voltage 14.8 to 16volts turned off eis flew over the runway for 30 minutes turning eis on and off landed disgusted what the heck?????????

[Brent Drake]

guys here is an idea. But please read the instructions first. I have a volkswagon engine with the same problem. I tried three different regulators. I finally read the instructions. They said to short out the regulator for 2 seconds. I did and it somehow, no idea how, programs the resistors in the unit. It's worked fine ever since. Yours may be different. But it worked. Read your instructions. Just an idea.

[Brian]

talked to leaf rotax experts today they say it should be working every thing is hooked right, chances are getting two bad new regulaters is very remote. I have a very small battery they said it might be to small try a bigger one I countered by saying that it worked that way for 67 hrs they didn't respond. I will put my lawn tractor bat on the ground and hook it up and see what happens this will be a ground test praying to the voltage gods tonight!

[Brian]

put in a bigger bat no good 14.7v to 15.8 rotor tach not working tonight thats a new issue give,s me something to do tomorrow will call leaf again tomorrow

[Brian]

replaced the three phase regulator with a key west regulator per leafs sugggestion they ran out of other solutions and it is working good a steady 13.8 -14 volts I will send the other new three phase regulator back good to have all gauges back. The rotor tack had a broken wire in the pod fixed it and secured it to try to support it better the airport is grass and rough lots of shaking of the pod . life is good again

[cgmg]

Brian,

I went thru three of the CPS three-phase rectifiers over two years. Finally switched to a Key West rectifier, and was trouble-free for the next two years.

Sorry I didn't chime in any sooner. For anyone out there, start with a Key West. Forget the other brands.

[Airbike]

Several weeks ago I made it back up to Caddo Mills where my 582 Air Command was hangered. Last time I’d flown the EIS warning light came on indicating over 15 volts.

While I was up there this time, I cleaned all of the grounds and put a fresh battery in. Afterwards, the EIS indicated only 12.7 volts no matter the RPM. I was leery about trying to fly it that way and just loaded it on the trailer for the three-hour trip back home.

Yesterday I finally found some time to work on it. It still only showed 12.7 volts while running. I disconnected the positive wire on the regulator from the battery and checked voltage from it to the negative terminal on the battery with engine idling and got 7.6 volts.

I disconnected the yellow leads from the regulator and ohmed the stator leads and also to ground and it checked ok. Then I replaced the three-phase regulator with a new one and left the positive lead disconnected.

I again checked voltage with the engine idling and still only had 7.6 volts. I was using a Simpson analog meter. I attempted to check amps between the positive lead on the regulator and the positive lead on the battery, but carelessly stuck the meter lead to the negative battery terminal instead.

It didn’t spark or anything, but it blew the 1 amp fuse in the meter and it quit working. The fuse is soldered in and I didn’t have any replacements.

With nothing better to try, I reconnected the regulator lead and started the engine. I ran the engine from idle to around 3500 RPM. The EIS now shows 14.3 volts consistently while the engine is running and 12.7 with engine off.

Everything seems good now, I just don’t really know why.
:noidea:

Eric VanPraag
Air Command CLT 582

[Brent_Brown]

Dead or very low Batt. Well the EIS stop coming on if the Batt is very low?