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Bravo Battery


Davidv

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Well it looks like I need a new #2 battery and I’d like to switch from Gill to Concorde but just wanted to know if anyone has done this recently and knows the exact Concorde model # that I would need.  I’m not sure if there is only one Concorde option or a few for my model, so that’s why I ask...

92 Bravo.
 

Thanks!

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based on O experience... (may be different for the M)
 

It’s been a few years...

There were two versions of the 24V batteries that fit in the back of the long bodies...

Standard and extra capacity...

The XC weighed a few more pounds...

You may find the details in your POH, if you have it handy...

The 94 O had the Concorde as standard, and the Gill as an alternate...

PP thoughts only, not a mechanic...

See if we can pull up the Concorde use chart... To see their recommendation for the Bravo...

http://www.aircraft-battery.com/search-by-your-aircraft.html?mfr=298&model=3748&mode=batteryMfr

in chart format for comparison ease...

http://www.aircraft-battery.com/search-by-your-aircraft.html?mfr=298&model=3748&mode=batteryMfr

Seems to be the same for the O...   RG24-11M and RG24-15M   15M is three more pounds than the 11M...

Verify what you have in there for weight, to make sure if you need to update your WnB or not...

PP thoughts only, not a mechanic...

Best regards,

-a-

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Without any reservation, use the new sealed Gill 7243-14

We have used this new Gill sealed battery and have had great success with it over 4 years now.

We reported on it when the battery came out and made annual reports

see

Battery Power -the new Gill sealed battery 7243-14 

(post made in 2015)

Please note the forum here seems to not like Gill Batteries 

Perhaps based on the old wet Gill Battery

Not certain how many have tried the new sealed 7243s

They have great cranking power and have stood up to hot and cold weather starts  

 

Edited by tls pilot
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2 minutes ago, tls pilot said:

Without any reservation, use the new sealed Gill 7243-14

We have used this new Gill sealed battery and have had great success with it over 4 years now.

We reported on it when the battery came out and made annual reports

Please note the forum here seems to not like Gill Batteries 

Perhaps based on the old wet Gill Battery

Not certain how many have tried the new sealed 7243s

They have great cranking power and have stood up to hot and cold weather starts  

 

Thanks, I’m going to look at what I have and see if it’s the older style.

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Many bad reviews of the wet Gill batteries...

One bad review of the gel cell version of the Gill battery... @Cris and I were swapping out old Gill batteries at the time... an annual affair... he had the gel cell version and was headed back for the wet cell version...

Once burned, twice shy?  Not heading back to Gill or Champion, until I have to... :)

Best regards,

-a-

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Check the altitude limitations on the gel cells...

They have valves on them and may not be recommended for the FLs

I think that was the reason Cris went back to the wet cell...  they were both Gills...

 

I haven’t gone above 12.5k’ in decades...

Best regards,

-a-

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http://www.gillbatteries.com/Products/CrossRef

Gill supplies a convenient cross reference chart...

The important part about LB batteries... there is no battery box... everything leaked has a drain to a hose that goes overboard...

So... if the pic of the battery looks different than the one you have... that is a no go....

Look for terminals in proper locations, hold downs, and drain tube...

Best regards,

-a-

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The Gill 7243-14 is a good replacement for the G243. I use both Gill wet/sealed and Concorde sealed batteries in customer planes.I've put is maybe a dozen of the new style sealed Gill batteries so far, with no problems. They have the highest cranking power available so far. The Concorde RG24-15M sealed batteries have great starting power, but still generally die without warning between 24 and 48 months in the South Florida heat. With or without battery tenders. Heat kills batteries. 

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1 hour ago, philiplane said:

The Gill 7243-14 is a good replacement for the G243. I use both Gill wet/sealed and Concorde sealed batteries in customer planes.I've put is maybe a dozen of the new style sealed Gill batteries so far, with no problems. They have the highest cranking power available so far. The Concorde RG24-15M sealed batteries have great starting power, but still generally die without warning between 24 and 48 months in the South Florida heat. With or without battery tenders. Heat kills batteries. 

Well that would maybe explain why my battery died so quickly.  Prior to buying my plane it was sitting in a hangar in Las Vegas where it didn't fly much.  I can imagine that hangar got pretty hot inside...

Edited by Davidv
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On 1/5/2020 at 1:35 PM, Davidv said:

Well that would maybe explain why my battery died so quickly.  Prior to buying my plane it was sitting in a hangar in Las Vegas where it didn't fly much.  I can imagine that hangar got pretty hot inside...

When it's hot, water in the cells evaporates more quickly and perhaps there is some loss there.  Could it be that we are just too lazy to maintain the water level properly thus causing premature death?

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I put in a new G243 and a Concorde sealed a couple of years ago. They're both dying now, not helped by me leaving the baggage light on one night and draining them both to empty. Previously I had got many more years from the G243's, which confirms a suspicion that Gill QA or manufacturing of those has gone downhill.

I'll be trying a Gill sealed later in the year by the looks of it

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I was planning on trying the new Gill sealed battery over the past two years. However, I’ve had terrible customer service with the company during this time. Running Concord now with good results and have NO plans of ever trying a Gill again. With 6 dead Gill batteries over a period of time with excellent care it’ll be interesting how the Concord compares over the next decade. 

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19 hours ago, jetdriven said:

This is the first I’ve heard of Concorde batteries not lasting the usual 7 years. Mine went bad after 2 years but I found the culprit. A bad diode in the alternator.  Charging a battery with AC ruins them. 

I suspect that more of these “wonder” Concorde batteries would fail sooner if they were capacity tested as required.

Clarence

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3 hours ago, M20Doc said:

I suspect that more of these “wonder” Concorde batteries would fail sooner if they were capacity tested as required.

Clarence

Not to mention if they weren’t coddled by keeping them on battery minders. Mine lasted 2 years before starting wasn’t as enthusiastic as it should be after a week or more of sitting. No problem if just a few days. My expensive car battery started to die as well after 3 years.  I’m starting to think just get a cheap one and change it out every 2 years.

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10 minutes ago, ArtVandelay said:

Not to mention if they weren’t coddled by keeping them on battery minders. Mine lasted 2 years before starting wasn’t as enthusiastic as it should be after a week or more of sitting. No problem if just a few days. My expensive car battery started to die as well after 3 years.  I’m starting to think just get a cheap one and change it out every 2 years.

Only issue is that the wet Gill batteries are only about $100 cheaper than sealed Concorde or Gill sealed ones.  
 

On a side note, my ELT battery is due and I can either pay $218 for essentially some D batteries that have been tied together or upgrade to 406.  Since I have a PLB in the plane I’ll probably go with the battery replacement ransom...

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3 hours ago, Davidv said:

On a side note, my ELT battery is due and I can either pay $218 for essentially some D batteries that have been tied together or upgrade to 406.  Since I have a PLB in the plane I’ll probably go with the battery replacement ransom...

Shop charged almost 1 amu for labor alone to put in a 406 during the annual. I think you’re making a good decision. 

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Not to mention if they weren’t coddled by keeping them on battery minders. Mine lasted 2 years before starting wasn’t as enthusiastic as it should be after a week or more of sitting. No problem if just a few days. My expensive car battery started to die as well after 3 years.  I’m starting to think just get a cheap one and change it out every 2 years.

The problem is there’s NO cheap ones!


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9 hours ago, ArtVandelay said:

Not to mention if they weren’t coddled by keeping them on battery minders. Mine lasted 2 years before starting wasn’t as enthusiastic as it should be after a week or more of sitting. No problem if just a few days. My expensive car battery started to die as well after 3 years.  I’m starting to think just get a cheap one and change it out every 2 years.

All I know is that my Gill would crank my plane after 2yr and the Concorde would 

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