time for new battery

[Jim Peace]

I have looked through the threads and they are kind of old.

I have a 1964 C that has a GILL water serviceable battery.

It needs replacement. I fly over 100 hours a year but sometimes go three weeks without.  

Choices are to replace with the same or go sealed Concord or Gill.

Thoughts?

 

Also has anyone ever seen or know of a way to put a external battery jack on these planes?  Maybe one just inside the battery door or a kit to cut one in the cowling? Pictures?

[Andy95W]

Sealed Concorde, no question.

When I first got my 64 C, a previous owner had installed a Cessna type external power jack attached to the battery box.  I took it out for two reasons.  1.) It wasn't wired correctly and 2.) I realized that with a solid battery, I would never need to use it.  

I am a firm believer that if you need to jump start your airplane, you probably need to do some work on it because something isn't right.  If you simply left the master switch on all night, you should really charge the battery for a few hours, partly for safety and partly to avoid damaging the battery.

Just MHO, FWIW.

[orionflt]

Jim, I personally have become a fan of the concord sealed batteries, I use the batteryminder on mine when I will not be flying for a while, I installed a pig tail with a fuse on the battery and just have the end sticking out of the Neg hole of the battery box so I can easily attach the charger thru the battery door. it is a minor mod so you can document it with a logbook entry.

$10.00 on ebay 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SAE-to-Battery-Ring-Terminals-EZ-Disconnect-Tender-Charger-12v-2-Pole-Flat-Plug-/361483084070?vxp=mtr

 

Brian

[Jim Peace]

Thanks....I was leaning towards the concord sealed battery......I do keep my plane in a hangar but I also go for months outside in the summer if I bring it to NJ....

Concord it is.......

[rbridges]

I think the general consensus is Concord.  Mine is 4+ years old, and I keep it on a battery tender.  My IA actually left the master switch on at the last annual.  Didn't catch it for a week.  I hooked it back up to the tender, and it's been fine for 6 months.  

[Marauder]

Thanks....I was leaning towards the concord sealed battery......I do keep my plane in a hangar but I also go for months outside in the summer if I bring it to NJ....

Concord it is.......

Jim -- I'm celebrating year 12 with my sealed Concorde. Still going strong. The prior one I changed out after 7 years for no other good reason because I thought it was getting old.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[carusoam]

My 65C had a small door for ground power using the standard three prong plug from a battery cart.  If you want to go that way, the parts are probably still available through your MSC.

Sealed Concorde with a battery minder is the modern popular way to go.

Best regards,

-a-

[takair]

2 hours ago, Marauder said:

Jim -- I'm celebrating year 12 with my sealed Concorde. Still going strong. The prior one I changed out after 7 years for no other good reason because I thought it was getting old.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Wow, that has to be some kind of record!  Do you do anything special?  Battery minder, deep cycle, etc?  Heated hangar? 

[Marauder]

2 hours ago, Marauder said: Jim -- I'm celebrating year 12 with my sealed Concorde. Still going strong. The prior one I changed out after 7 years for no other good reason because I thought it was getting old.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Wow, that has to be some kind of record!  Do you do anything special?  Battery minder, deep cycle, etc?  Heated hangar? 

For the first 7 or 8 years, I was just flying on a regular basis and didn't do anything special other than making sure the terminals were clean. When I switched airports, my hangar would freeze close for a few weeks at a time so I started using a BatteryMinder on it.

I don't know how long they should be able to last, but as long as it cranks the plane well, I won't change it out. My car batteries should last as long!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[HRM]

8 hours ago, Jim Peace said:

I have looked through the threads and they are kind of old.

I have a 1964 C that has a GILL water serviceable battery.

It needs replacement. I fly over 100 hours a year but sometimes go three weeks without.  

Choices are to replace with the same or go sealed Concord or Gill.

Thoughts?

 

Also has anyone ever seen or know of a way to put a external battery jack on these planes?  Maybe one just inside the battery door or a kit to cut one in the cowling? Pictures?

I'll simply repeat what has gone before. Concord.

Your A&P should have some suggestions on the external jack--not rocket science.

[Yetti]

I have an Odyssey battery in the motorcycle and I just can't kill the thing.

Would there be anyway to get this one in a Mooney?   http://www.odysseybatteries.com/batteries/sbsj16.htm

My understanding is there is a bigger size that some people will put in their Pipers

I know the battery is listed in the Type data sheet

[Hank]

Seems I put in my Concord in Dec '10, in an unheated hangar on the north bank of the Ohio River. Moved back south in Feb '14, still in an unheated hangar that doubles as an oven in summer; at annual in Jan '15, the IA pulled it and stuck it in his tester since the install date is written on it in black marker. His eyebrows went up, and he reinstalled the battery. 

When we did the pitot and transponder certs last fall, we left all the lights on (including the LED landing light) for about an hour, then turned them off. The next day, she cranked on the normal 3-4 blades, about one revolution. No complaints . . . I have the higher capacity Concord, AGX?

Edited February 17, 2016 by Hank

[Jim Peace]

14 hours ago, Hank said:

I have the higher capacity Concord, AGX?

They may have changed the part number....I am going to go with this:

http://www.concordebattery.com/flyer.php?id=38

[MyNameIsNobody]

4 minutes ago, Jim Peace said:

They may have changed the part number....I am going to go with this:

http://www.concordebattery.com/flyer.php?id=38

YUP.  XC-Extra Cranking.  No leaking/filling battery and having a rusty battery box...Mine going strong.  Replaced a couple of failed Gills prior to going Concorde.

[Hank]

Yep, that's the one. At least I got the X right. It's an old, fuzzy memory. Why keep up with it when it's written on top? 

It should work well, and protect the 2 AMU battery box from corrosion. Clean it while the battery is out. 

[cpbloch]

I just had a strange and frustrating experience with a Gill and replaced it with a concord and everything is fine.  The concord is the way to go. 

At annual I sent out my mags for the 500 hour inspection and my shower of sparks box. From time to time during the start it appeared that my shower of sparks box needed work,  I would let go of the key while cranking and the engine would immediately start.   So push the plane out after annual in a heated hanger and it wont start, will not even make a combustion noise, but it cranks fine.  Check the shower of sparks box it checks out fine, charge the battery still no start.  After messing with a lot of stuff,  putting in a new key switch $ 400, it turns out the Gill which was fairly new was good enough to crank, but had a bad cell.   During the cranking it battery voltage would drop below 10 volts and then the shower of sparks box was 9.5 volts so it would not spark while cranking.  So another $ 400 for a new concord, and it starts perfect.  The fuel pump during priming also sounds like its new.  So I spent 2 weeks and a lot of money trying to diagnose what was a bad Gill Battery.

 

I am hoping to get some great service out of the concord which is highly recommended around here. 

 

 

 

[bonal]

I had problems with Gill batt's in both my Cessna and the Mooney, went with the Concord and no more problems

[TWinter]

4 hours ago, MyNameIsNobody said:

YUP.  XC-Extra Cranking.  No leaking/filling battery and having a rusty battery box...Mine going strong.  Replaced a couple of failed Gills prior to going Concorde.

This is the best way to go and be sure to get the XC for our stubborn hot starts. I've got hot starts figured out after several years, but once in a while during the summer I'll miss catching the start on the first go round..It's always nice having a strong battery.

 

-Tom

[Raptor05121]

Going with the Concorde RG-35AXC for mine

[jamesm]

I have used  Gill battery  for years but after last one which corroded  battery box bottom. it was fine  the year prior.  So no more Gill unsealed battery for me.

I put in Concorde RG-35AXC  and updated the  weight and balance records. I would love to put a lighter Odyssey battery in mine but unfortunately to my knowledge  they aren't approved for C model. 

James  '67C

[Yetti]

Since the Concorde is not on the Type Data sheet.....  Do the Concorde come with an STC?

[Andy95W]

The Concorde is FAA-PMA'ed for Mooneys.

Just checked Aircraft Spruce, their website says STC paperwork is available for no charge from Concorde.  FWIW, I don't know of anyone who has submitted a 337 for a Concorde battery since the PMA was approved.  I didn't when I changed my old Gill for the Concorde 3 years ago.

Edited February 18, 2016 by N1395W

[Hank]

But if you get the -AXC, you will need to update the W&B. I think it's an entire pound heavier than the regular one.

[Jim Peace]

Just did my first flight with the new concord sealed battery.  The start was so much stronger than I have ever seen on this plane.  Should have done it two years ago......

Ditch the wet Gill.......big difference...... !!!!!