How much life are you getting out of your battery(ies)?

[JeffMirs]

I am on Gill #2 in 21 years. Keep on a smart charger between every flight. End of discussion. 

[RLCarter]

6 to 7 years on both the Mooney and Cessna… both running sealed Gill batteries. If for what ever reason it’s been over a month with out running I will put just a regular charger on for an hour or so, 20~30 minutes at 15amp then back to 2 amps for the remaining time. 

[Flyphilly]

On 10/26/2021 at 1:42 PM, Marauder said:

After 31 years of ownership, I have become a Concorde believer. I started off with Gills (12 Volt) and after replacing 2 of them in the first 7 years, I switched to a Concorde. That first battery lasted 13 years (I had load testing done on it and never had an issue with it starting). I replaced it because it was 13 years old. The second Concorde was 7 years old and going strong when the avionics shop's technician over torqued the bolt and stripped out the threads on it. The current one has been in there for 4 years. Here are the things I do:

> I use a Concorde specific BatteryMinder. It is on the battery every time I park the plane in the hangar. The new style BatteryMinder chargers have some battery health features that my original one did not.

> The BatteryMinder has a temperature feature that will compensate charging for hot and cold environments.

> I have the battery load tested at the annual. I recently purchased a load tester for my vehicles, tractors and lawn mowers. When I have the battery load tested this year, I will compare what I get on my load tester.

My understanding is Gill redesigned their batteries not too long ago. Can't speak to how good the new Gills are. 

Hope this helps.

Howdy - I have had my Ovation for a year - it flies about 3 hours per week so i have not been too concerned with tending to the batteries. However I have a period of inactivity coming up and want to be ready. 

My plane is equipped with what the logs describe as: "Fabricated & installed 2-wire battery charger connection harness using MIL-W-22759/16 wire with 10A inline circuit protection fuse. Attached to battery relay and airframe ground with ring terminals. Terminated opposite end with Anderson SB50 plug with protective cover and mounted on provided aircraft rack. All work IAW AC43.13/1B. Verified continuity, polarity, tested with charger and for proper aircraft electrical system operation. No defects noted."

This kit has been ran two both batteries, and two SAE wire connectors were ran to the auxiliary power receptacle on the side of the aircraft (a hole was drilled through the housing of the piper style power connector to allow the two SAE plugs to be pulled through.

Does anyone have a similar setup? If so can you advise which battery minder would be adequate to use on this system with my Concorde batteries. Are any battery minders designed to charge/maintain two batteries at the same time?

Any input would be appreciated - cheers!

 

Update: looks like I may have answered my own question. This device seems to be the one I need. If anyone out there uses this with a Y connector - please advise. Thanks!

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/elpages/batteryminder11-14352.php

Edited November 9, 2021 by Flyphilly
Additional info

[Marauder]

Howdy - I have had my Ovation for a year - it flies about 3 hours per week so i have not been too concerned with tending to the batteries. However I have a period of inactivity coming up and want to be ready. 
My plane is equipped with what the logs describe as: "Fabricated & installed 2-wire battery charger connection harness using MIL-W-22759/16 wire with 10A inline circuit protection fuse. Attached to battery relay and airframe ground with ring terminals. Terminated opposite end with Anderson SB50 plug with protective cover and mounted on provided aircraft rack. All work IAW AC43.13/1B. Verified continuity, polarity, tested with charger and for proper aircraft electrical system operation. No defects noted."
This kit has been ran two both batteries, and two SAE wire connectors were ran to the auxiliary power receptacle on the side of the aircraft (a hole was drilled through the housing of the piper style power connector to allow the two SAE plugs to be pulled through.
Does anyone have a similar setup? If so can you advise which battery minder would be adequate to use on this system with my Concorde batteries. Are any battery minders designed to charge/maintain two batteries at the same time?
Any input would be appreciated - cheers!
 
Update: looks like I may have answered my own question. This device seems to be the one I need. If anyone out there uses this with a Y connector - please advise. Thanks!
https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/elpages/batteryminder11-14352.php

The CEC version you are showing is the current one they introduced in 2016. It has a few more features than the original S5.

I don’t have dual batteries but have the kit installed to do quick connects to the BatteryMinder. Works great.




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[aggiepilot04]

As it turns out, my "miracle" battery was dated 2014.


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[LANCECASPER]

On 11/10/2021 at 8:45 PM, aggiepilot04 said:

As it turns out, my "miracle" battery was dated 2014.


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I think I just found another "Miracle" battery. Battery #2 on the airplane I just bought over the weekend, which left the factory in July 2008 is an original Concorde (serial # 40230883). The airplane spent its life in New Jersey so it didn't see any hot weather, but had never been on a BatteryMinder. This 13.5 year old battery turns the airplane over, but I've already ordered a replacement Concorde.  

 

[GeeBee]

I had a friend with an M20S just order a new Concorde. Delivery next spring.....so if you think you are weak, better order now.

[aggiepilot04]

I had a friend with an M20S just order a new Concorde. Delivery next spring.....so if you think you are weak, better order now.

I'm sure it depends on the model, but mine arrived within a week.


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[LANCECASPER]

Mine (RG24-15) was shipped this afternoon. I'll have it next Monday.

[LANCECASPER]

53 minutes ago, bluehighwayflyer said:

So now we know.  Unless I had missed it before.  @LANCECASPER bought an Acclaim.  Cool!   Can’t wait to see it.  13.5 years on a battery is nothing to brag about, though, as @LANCECASPER obviously knows.  In the finest of MooneySpace traditions, post pictures soon or it isn’t real!  
 

Back on topic, the Concorde RG-35A that I ordered from Spruce two weeks ago finally shipped yesterday, from their other coast warehouse, unfortunately.  Via UPS ground.  After five years in service it is still working fine, but I figure it doesn’t owe me anything.  $350, which I know is still relatively cheap   But, damn. That is twice what I paid for my last one five years ago.

Jim

Thanks! At least the other battery is a newer Concorde.

I flew it back from NJ to TX on Saturday. I am working on getting it cleaned up.