MATTS875 Posted September 11, 2011 Report Posted September 11, 2011 Well , I went out today to fly and have a dead battery.I talked to the fbo about replacement and they tols me it would be $150 just for the labor to replace the battery.I ordered a new concorde battery from Aircraftspruce and need to know how is the best way to get to the battery for replacement. I am going to do it myself.I think it is behind the panel of the cargo department??So my question is do I just remove the back of the cargo area and the battery is behind it, or is there an easiers way to access the battery.thanks for any input.Normally I would let the shop do the work but when they told me that it would be almost 500.00 for battery and labor, i said no. Quote
kerry Posted September 11, 2011 Report Posted September 11, 2011 If your battery is in the back then you would open the large inspection panel on the side of the airplane. 18 screws I think. Pull 2 pins on the lid of the battery box. Quote
MATTS875 Posted September 11, 2011 Author Report Posted September 11, 2011 Kerry, the panel you are talking about, is it on the outside where you would plug in for a jump start? I noticed a large panel there. Quote
kerry Posted September 11, 2011 Report Posted September 11, 2011 Yes, The panel is about 24 inches square and is just aft of your left wing. Quote
MATTS875 Posted September 11, 2011 Author Report Posted September 11, 2011 thanks.. It will be replaced tomorrow Quote
MooneyMitch Posted September 11, 2011 Report Posted September 11, 2011 Hi Matt. Just some additional thoughts for you with the battery replacement. Once you have the battery removed, look close inside the battery box for any signs of corrosion. If you do seen anything, go to work removing and cleaning the box throughly. This is a great place for corrosion to hide and ruin your box. Have fun doing some of your own maint. It's a great way to get to know your airplane inside and out. Quote
MATTS875 Posted September 11, 2011 Author Report Posted September 11, 2011 Thanks Mitch, I just bought the airplane and looking at the books the battery was replaced in 2000. so it did its job. Quote
danb35 Posted September 11, 2011 Report Posted September 11, 2011 If you don't already have the maintenance manual for your plane, you really should get it (and if you PM me your email address, I can get you a PDF of it). Also, keep in mind that you'll need to log the battery replacement in your airframe log book. Quote
MATTS875 Posted September 14, 2011 Author Report Posted September 14, 2011 Well last night I went out to the airport and replaced the battery. I guess the FBO was trying to get me. I was able to get it done in about 10 minutes.Thanks for all the help and information.. Quote
jetdriven Posted September 14, 2011 Report Posted September 14, 2011 You just saved yourself ten hours of gas, oil, and reserves. Great job. Same thing with an oil change, that isnt hard to do either. Quote
HRM Posted September 17, 2011 Report Posted September 17, 2011 Quote: Mitch Hi Matt. Just some additional thoughts for you with the battery replacement. Once you have the battery removed, look close inside the battery box for any signs of corrosion. If you do seen anything, go to work removing and cleaning the box throughly. This is a great place for corrosion to hide and ruin your box. Quote
stevesm20b Posted September 20, 2011 Report Posted September 20, 2011 Has anyone tried using a sealed battery to prevent the battery box corrosion problem? Quote
MooneyMitch Posted September 20, 2011 Report Posted September 20, 2011 Yep, this is just a maint. item that one needs to pay lots of attention to. Keeping that battery box clean from acid build up and corrosion is most important. In my opinion, one should check the battery and inside the box at least every couple of months or so. It's really very easy to do. With that said, we just installed a Concorde sealed unit in Jolie's E model. I will still keep on eye on this, just in case. Have Mooney will travel. Quote
KSMooniac Posted September 20, 2011 Report Posted September 20, 2011 Quote: stevesm20b Has anyone tried using a sealed battery to prevent the battery box corrosion problem? Quote
jetdriven Posted September 20, 2011 Report Posted September 20, 2011 Jim, if that is the case I would spriung for the extra capacity. One, you get the extra capacity. two, the C.G. moving slightly aft is bound to help your cruise speed enough to offset the two pounds. Does it fit? Quote
Immelman Posted September 20, 2011 Report Posted September 20, 2011 I went with the regular concorde RG-35 a few years ago now. The battery has performed flawlessly, now with about 4 yrs/400 tach hours of use. I would rather not give up the useful load (and do the W&B revision) so I stayed with the regular RG-35 instead of the extra capacity. My airplane is, if anything, a bit tail-heavy as I have electric trim, autopilot servos, and HSI gyro back there behind the battery. Quote
MATTS875 Posted September 20, 2011 Author Report Posted September 20, 2011 Jim, I bought the concorde RG-35AXC for mine and it works great. Also I wanted the extra cranking power. Quote
Vref Posted September 21, 2011 Report Posted September 21, 2011 Quote: JimR Thanks, guys. I looked up the two different sealed Concorde options after my original post. There is a 50 amp capacity and a 2.5 pound weight difference between the two. I don't want to have to update the weight and balance if it can be avoided, so I think that I will weigh my old Gill 35 and let it's weight guide my decision. Hopefully at least one of the two will be within a pound of the Gill. I'll go with the extra capacity battery if possible within those constraints. Jim Quote
danb35 Posted September 21, 2011 Report Posted September 21, 2011 For BatteryMINDER connections, I use the jump start hatch--easy to get to, close to the battery. It does mean I need to remove a screw to get to the terminals, but that isn't that big of a deal. Quote
jetdriven Posted November 21, 2011 Report Posted November 21, 2011 We just bought a Concorde RG35AXC battery but it does not have the studs made into it like the Gill G-35. It is tapped for a bolt. Can I buy studs to put in the battery, or use bolts? Who else has done this? Quote
Ned Gravel Posted November 21, 2011 Report Posted November 21, 2011 Byron: Mine came with the bolts as well. Clarence installed it. I don't think I ever saw any other connection method on my previous Gill battery though. Quote
jetdriven Posted November 21, 2011 Report Posted November 21, 2011 Old G-35 has wingnuts that go on the studs. The new Concorde has M8 bolts. So just use the supplied bolts? Quote
Ned Gravel Posted November 21, 2011 Report Posted November 21, 2011 Quote: jetdriven Old G-35 has wingnuts that go on the studs. The new Concorde has M8 bolts. So just use the supplied bolts? Quote
Vref Posted November 21, 2011 Report Posted November 21, 2011 Quote: jetdriven We just bought a Concorde RG35AXC battery but it does not have the studs made into it like the Gill G-35. It is tapped for a bolt. Can I buy studs to put in the battery, or use bolts? Who else has done this? Quote
rbridges Posted December 8, 2011 Report Posted December 8, 2011 my Gill battery has a bad cell. Looks like it was installed 3/08. I just ordered a Concorde RG-35A from Chief Aircraft. Should be in by Monday. Twice as much for a battery half the size of a car battery. Gotta love maintaining airplanes. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.