Ovation Battery removal

[BillC]

Hello All,

I sold my J a few months ago and bought a '97 Ovation 1. Wow, as some of you said a while ago, I would love this Mooney. You were right. Handling is great, smooth, and has plenty of room.

I don't have a maintenance manual yet so I have a question about removing the #2 (right side) battery. The O2 tank is above the battery and the tight fit in the battery box makes it very difficult to remove it. What is the best way to remove the battery?

Thanks,

Bill

[triple8s]

I replaced my battery a year ago, acessed it through the starboard panel and removed it through the port panel. Be sure to take every possible precaution to protect the O2 tank, I was told if it has even the smallest scratch on it that it will be placed out of service at the next inspection. They cost aprox 1700$. I layed an old movers pad over the avionics on the shelf to assure no acid or corrosion made it from battery to the equipment mounted there.

[Awqward]

What does the bluey make of the new plane Bill?

[carusoam]

I don't have an O2 tank...

I do know the batteries are heavy and straining your back is a possibility.

Best regards,

-a-

[BillC]

What does the bluey make of the new plane Bill?

Hahahaha......she's got so much room I have to reach way back to pet her. And being the O seems to be quieter than the J, I'm sure she appreciates that too!

[BillC]

I replaced my battery a year ago, acessed it through the starboard panel and removed it through the port panel. Be sure to take every possible precaution to protect the O2 tank, I was told if it has even the smallest scratch on it that it will be placed out of service at the next inspection. They cost aprox 1700$. I layed an old movers pad over the avionics on the shelf to assure no acid or corrosion made it from battery to the equipment mounted there.

Thanks 888. I'll go to the airport tomorrow and get to it. I didn't even think of accessing it that way.

And being it has a new O2 tank I wouldn't want to damage it.

Thank you.

[triple8s]

Take an old bath towel and some cord, wrap the tank with the towel and tie it in place if necessary. I spent WAY more time preparing to remove the battery than removing the panels and changing the battery put together. FYI I always remove the negative or grounded connection first and reconnect it last so there is less chance for an accidental arc.

[StevenL757]

Hello All,

I sold my J a few months ago and bought a '97 Ovation 1. Wow, as some of you said a while ago, I would love this Mooney. You were right. Handling is great, smooth, and has plenty of room.

I don't have a maintenance manual yet so I have a question about removing the #2 (right side) battery. The O2 tank is above the battery and the tight fit in the battery box makes it very difficult to remove it. What is the best way to remove the battery?

Thanks,

Bill

Bill, I went through this on my ship last year with two new Concordes. I replaced my 115cf Kevlar bottle (unfortunately) six months prior to the battery change, else, I'd have done both jobs together. Ditto what Triple8s said, in that you need to fully protect the O2 bottle. You may need to SLIGHTLY bend the rear edge of the battery tray rearward to get enough clearance under the bottle to get that battery out, but once out, it's not as hard to get back in, strangely-enough.

[BillC]

Bill, I went through this on my ship last year with two new Concordes. I replaced my 115cf Kevlar bottle (unfortunately) six months prior to the battery change, else, I'd have done both jobs together. Ditto what Triple8s said, in that you need to fully protect the O2 bottle. You may need to SLIGHTLY bend the rear edge of the battery tray rearward to get enough clearance under the bottle to get that battery out, but once out, it's not as hard to get back in, strangely-enough.

Thank you Steven. I'll be careful.

P.S. Looks like my O has the same paint job. Balboa Blue?

[LANCECASPER]

It's well worth it to hook up a Battery Minder while you are in there. You can buy a Y connection and an extra cord so that both batteries are being charged and desulfated at the same time. I plug it in as soon as I put it back in the hangar and unplug just before the next flight. Just make sure you get the right model Battery Minder for the batteries  (usually S-2 suffix for Gill and S-5 suffix for Concorde sealed). You can reasonably expect 50%-100% longer battery life if you use one of these, plus the peace of mind in knowing that you have two fully charged batteries before every flight.

[BillC]

It's well worth it to hook up a Battery Minder while you are in there. You get buy a Y connection and an extra cord so that both batteries are being charged and desulfated at the same time. I plug it in as soon as I put it back in the hangar and unplug just before the next flight. Just make sure you get the right model Battery Minder for the batteries  (usually S-2 suffix for Gill and S-5 suffix for Concorde sealed). You can reasonably expect 50%-100% longer battery life if you use one of these, plus the peace of mind in knowing that you have two fully charged batteries before every flight.

Thanks Lance,

I just bought a Batteryminder and will use it as you said. Fortunately the previous owner had pigtails installed and can now be accessed in the baggage compartment.

Thanks,

Bill