Electric fuel pump and circuit breaker

[Mike Kiester]

All,

I recently overhauled the engine in a 1959 PA-24 and new electric fuel pumps were added. Now the circuit breaker trips with nav/panel lights are on. This espcically disconserting on downwind or final at night.

This a link to the 1999 discussion about this problem.

http://www.comancheflyer.com/forum/view ... mp+breaker

Additionally the new fuel pumps don't 'act' right. They do not have the asynchronous rythum of the old pumps, nor stop pumping as pressure builds.

Any information or experience you all would like to share?

Do I have the wrong pumps?

Mike
N6162P

From the above forum, the prospect of nav, interior lights; fuel pump; turn and bank all being on the same circuit sounds like an accident at night waiting to happen. I can tell you from experience it is unnerving.

[Zach Grant L1011jock]

Mike,
"New" electric pumps? What part number did you use? Are you sure both are working? If you only hear the tick tic in one rythmic sound you may have one pump that is faulty and not moving, drawing lots of extra current (also tyou may have the pumps that don't have a check valve, and they are running a t full boar recirculating fuel amongst themselves without building pressure). Turn them on, and reach in a feel if each is vibrating. New doesn't always mean better! As for the breaker situation...whoever came up with the original wiring on these should be shot. I would check the pumps first, circuit second, and then replace the breaker third. If it is original equipment, it is due, and probably a little weak at this point. If you are replacing the breaker, it might be a good time to split some of the load, like the lights, to a separate breaker.
-Zach

[Mike Kiester]

[Zach Grant L1011jock]

[Mike Kiester]

[Zach Grant L1011jock]