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FlyingCanuck

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Everything posted by FlyingCanuck

  1. Field voltage is 0 My A&P thinks the VR is the problem, that its enough putting out enough to 'excite' the alternator (Pardon my lack of electrical knowledge - definitely not my area of expertise!)
  2. So the saga took an interesting twist Battery was charged for five days on a Chargeminder, and then capacity tested. Feedback from two different A&Ps/two different shops was: Battery is in great health. Good! Battery went back into plane. Now, the alternator isn't charging the battery. Start-up is fine, but the volt meter (cigarette lighter) never gets above 12.5V. If I put any load on the plane (avionics master ON), the amp meter shows a discharge. A&P tested the current at the alternator and it showed zero. What's weird is that NOTHING was wrong with the charging system (VR, alternator, etc.) before the battery discharge incident that triggered all of this. Local shop thinks its a bad voltage regulator - we think its the 1976 original. I've asked them to check some simpler things too, such as the wiring at the Master switch (maybe old wires final bit the dust after me cycling the Master switch a few times? Fluke chance?) Overall: I'm perplexed how an issue of a drained battery that was re-charged and re-installed, could affect the charging system forward of the firewall? Opposite ends of the plane
  3. It was the perfect storm of events: the week before, the bulb in my rotating beacon burnt out. On or off, I wouldn’t have told me anything. Trust me, it doubles my annoyance at myself….
  4. M20F with a Concorde RG35AXC. 2.5-3 year old battery. After 24 years of flying, I finally did the “leave the master on” goof-up. Drained the battery to dead (whatever the lowest symbol on a Chargeminder is - the very unhappy territory). Local shop put it on a Chargeminder for a few days, and it showed good health. First attempt at flying it: after start, annunciator flashed Voltage and voltmeter in plane showed 12.3-12.5. From other threads, I suspect that’s the end of my battery. I could spend hours and $$$ chasing it - or do I just bite the bullet, accept the price of my stupidity, and buy a new battery? (Side note: I don’t profess to be handy at electrical things, so returning the battery to the plane was my first time doing that… but I’m pretty sure that’s hard to screw up as long as you put it back how you found it? )
  5. I’m based at SBP, have an F model, and would be happy to chat Mooney. PM me and we can arrange something.
  6. Same problem here in the Central Coast. Overcast 018 and freezing level at 030 with rain forecast. Sorry to miss this - but let’s keep the repetition going with another one in April or sooner!
  7. Anyone around SBP/PRB/SMX interested in "Mooney pooling" up there? Happy to pick others up in the area.
  8. 26th is great. I'm hoping my Mooney will be back in the air by then. But if not, if anyone wants to stop in San Luis Obispo (SBP) and pick me up, I'll gladly share the fuel bill with you!
  9. Thanks - do you remember what your symptoms were going into the process?
  10. Update on this - I did a few small checks based on my very novice (but learning ) electrical skills. Checked the voltage on the field wire with battery/alt switch on. Was showing about 11V. Checked the resistance on the field wire (removed one of two wires; batt/alt off; resistance checked at terminals). Showed between 0-1 ohms. (Mostly 0 but occasionally bounced up a bit toward 1 ohm, then steady at zero) Its been suggested that this indicates issues with the brushes on the alternator that need to be replaced. What do others think? I have photos of the alternator area if that matters.
  11. Wow… I don’t want to get too excited at the coincidences here, but… here goes: I’ve only had 4 electrical ‘moments’ with this plane: 1. ALT FIELD CB popped on a long flight from TX to DC. Reset. No issue for years after. 2. Ever since buying plane, the volts were low: 12.8-13.2. Finally at annual had the VR adjusted up. Produced 14-14.4 thereafter. 3. VOLTAGE light after lower landing gear on approach to KHHR. Local A&Ps couldn’t find any issue. Home mechanics said it was the field wire faulty. (40 hours ago) 4. The present issue in thread above. Interesting that on my first flight, the plane was damp after two weeks of heavy rain on the ramp (albeit covered but still…). On the second flight, the issue was gone: until I lowered landing gear on a bumpy approach back home at KSBP. the parallels are striking: wet/moisture and/or landing gear lowering, seems to be happening around the same time as this issue appears. I’d be curious to check out the diode resolution. does anyone have a photo of their wiring with a diode installed?
  12. I can confirm, no CBs were popped. Only when I manually pulled the ALT FIELD circuit, and then reset it, did the system temporarily return to normal.
  13. Hi folks - anyone have a parts manual for a 1976 M20F? Looking for parts info related to electrical system: voltage regulator, circuit breakers, and other associated bits and pieces. Thanks!
  14. VR needed adjusting because it was set too low and was consistently putting out around 12.8-13.2V. An east coast MSC adjusted it at annual last year and (other than a faulty field wire on the alternator) the electrical 'appears' to have been fine for the last 100+ hours.
  15. PIREP on Coastal Valley. They are very busy too. My plane is grounded with electrical issue - the earliest they will look at it is 2 months from now. From what they told me, sounds like they are focused on churning out annuals. They also lost the date for my annual (was supposed to be February) and pushed me back 4 months in their queue. I don't get the sense they want to take on new long-term customers or to provide ongoing maintenance, more focused on annuals and projects - but I have been very happy with their service when I managed to get myself on their schedule.
  16. Hey folks. I've been in CA on the Central Coast for about 6 months. Struggling to find an A&P with any sort of availability. Did a few oil changes at SMX, but they can't help with anything more substantial. For instance, to diagnose an electrical issue, they told me to wait until mid-March... I can't ground my plane for 2 months at a time Any recommendations for A&Ps with a willingness to take on a new Mooney for regular mx and service - anywhere between LA and SF? (the closer to SBP/PRB/SMX, the better - but understand if I have to travel a bit ) Thanks
  17. For anyone who likes chasing electrical gremlins, I just posted a thread with my own issues on my M20F https://mooneyspace.com/topic/44572-new-electrical-problem-thread/
  18. Hi all - I've poured through a few other electrical problem threads. I'm far from an electrician and so a lot of the language about checking voltage at different parts along the system are totally confusing me - but I did take the first step by buying a voltmeter, cleaning solution, and sandpaper, so I'm one step forward Here's the issue I'm having with my 1976 M20F: Flight 1: Start-up and run-up (incl full electrical load check) were fine. Just before takeoff, I saw the VOLTAGE annunciator lit up solid (not flashing). Ammeter was either zero or showing positive (charging). Cigarette lighter voltage meter showed ~13V, falling to 12 then 11V. I recycled master/alternator (single switch) and also pulled and reset the ALT FIELD circuit breaker. Problem cleared, but then after 5 minutes it returned. I cancelled the flight. Flight #2: Start-up and run-up fine. Waited 15 minutes on the ground - all electrical (ammeter, annunicator light, voltage meter) looked fine. I flew for 1 hour - no issues. On the last 5 minutes just before landing, the problem repeated but with a twist: VOLTAGE annunciator lit up solid. Ammeter showed discharge (different from flight #1). Voltage was steady around 12V. I landed and tried reseting the master/alternator switch, the ALT FIELD, BUS, and main FIELD circuit breakers. The problem disappeared, but I shut down 5 min later and suspect the problem is still there. A few things: - The alternator field wire was replaced in September 2022 - The VR was adjusted at annual last year to achieve steady 14V. I normally see 13.9-14.4V now. - The annunicator light flashes when I pull the ALT FIELD cb - which makes me think when it is solid (in this problem), its showing an OVERCHARGE condition, not undercharge (maybe) - I have noticed some electrical interference when I run the ELECTRIC BOOST PUMP. When I turned it on yesterday, I had a handheld radio on, and it picked up electrical noise. Maybe totally unrelated - alternator and VR are both >10 years old (I'd guess >20 years old - need to re-check logs) Local A&P thought it could be simple: corrosion after all the rain; or a faulty circuit breaker; or a faulty wire behind the master/alternator switch. Or it could be my alternator or VR are dying. Trying to get some initial diagnostic ideas (or tips on what I should check myself), so that I can point either my A&P or local avionics shop toward possible issues/solutions Thanks!
  19. Sorry to hear that! I suspect the Sat vs. Sun challenge will mean that we aim to alternate each bi-monthly, flipping between Saturdays and Sundays to try to accommodate most folks. (Or, we split the difference, and start doing over-nighters that include BOTH Saturday AND Sunday! :D)
  20. Continuing the idea of a bi-monthly fly-out, after our fun at CMA before Christmas. How about Sunday February 19, 12 pm, at Watsonville (KWVI)? Rain date to be Sunday February 26. If anyone needs a ride from central California, I'll be coming from San Luis Obispo (SBP) and happy to pick folks up.
  21. It was good fun! Thanks to everyone who could join - and hope to see some other friends come next time. I'll start a separate thread for that one - but I'm going to suggest Sunday February 19, 12 pm, in Watsonville (KWVI). Rain date could be Sunday February 26. Will start a separate thread and we can talk about dates and logistics in that. -Ted
  22. Looking good for weather tmw! @Tommooney has generously offered to stake our place in line. Hope everyone can make it in around noon (or a bit earlier), so that we don’t get in too much grief for holding a table my cell # is in the thread further above if anyone needs to touch base at all. Otherwise, see many of you tmw! Ted
  23. Hi folks - let’s do Dec 22, meet up at 12 pm at the KCMA restaurant. If anyone needs to connect, my cell number is 2O2x669-932O. I’ll do a weather check the day before and send an update here if it’s cancelled or postponed (let’s hope we have seen the last of the rain!!!)
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