Charging issue

[Andrew Foster]

Hello All,
Any suggestions would be helpfull. This in a 61 250 with a new 50 amp alternator, and zeftronics solid state voltage reg. Been working great for about 20 hours since install. Last flight a -4amp discharge to the batttery.This with everything running whcich is way more than 4 amps. Line volt 14 . We have a EI Digital electric guage , wired in parellel to the factroy guage. This reads volts, and amps charging to the battery. So we plane to check the voltage at the buss, then at the battery, then perhaps swap out the volt regulator if previous items ok. First of course we will check all the connections.

Thanks for the input

Andrew
7533P

[skipsouthernsky]

Dear Andrew,

How much is the amperage draw of everything that you have on? If you turn some of the stuff off and watch the amp guage, does it show improvement? Just curios. Maybe you are exceeding the capability of the 50 amp alternator. Are you doing this at idle or are you in the air under normal engine RPM?

Sincerely,
Skip Dykema

[Andrew Foster]

Skip, this was on a return flight, about half way through.Current draw with everything on is perhaps 20 - 30 amps

[skipsouthernsky]

Dear Andrew,

What happens as you turn things off? What happens as you turn more electrical items on? For example.....pitot heat, landing lights, gear motor.

Sincerely,
Skip Dykema

[Andrew Foster]

Just a follow up here. We checked the voltage at the buss, and the battery. Both 14v with engine running. We opted to try a new battery, as ours was just over 3 years old. Put it in today and all seems normal.

[Brian Fogleman]

change the alternator breaker, or test with a jumper.