Alt rebuild or standby alt?

[skyking1]

Any thoughts on overhauling an alt on my eagle with 1000 hrs or standby alt install? Alt works great now. Thanks

[danb35]

Is it showing any signs of trouble?  I woudn't think that overhauling something that's working fine would be a particularly good way to spend my money, FWIW.

[jetdriven]

Your gps makes a good standby altimeter.  No need to install a second one 

[skyking1]

Thanks for the post. I should have spelled out alternator

[Cris]

The Eagle has two battery's like the Ovation. There is more than enough juice to keep you flying for a couple of hours to a safe landing. Do a search on this site & you will find various threads on expected life of the battery when not charging. With that said I have the 20 amp backup alternator in my Eagle typical of the belt & suspenders approach to flight.   

[skyking1]

Thanks. How much was the cost of the standby alternator? I also like the belt and suspenders approach to flying!

[RJBrown]

The Garmin "Street Pilot" GPS in my Toyota Sequoia has a trip feature that records Time/Mileage. Using the time moving (excluding time stopped and idling) figure I average 30 MPH. That means with 97500 miles on my truck there are about 3250 hours on my alternator.  Using hours as the criteria most automotive alternators last 3000 to 6000 hours. I don't know if the aircraft products are so poorly built that 1000 is a reasonable number but I doubt it. I believe the alternator on your plane comes as part of the engine. To replace the alternator before engine TBO seems excessive to me.

But heck I fix cars for a living. I am always amazed at how poorly certified parts last in comparison to the Cars I work on.

 Brings up a question in my mind.

Does certification guarantee WORSE quality in our airplanes?

I believe the current system create a More expensive Lower quality product.

Our legal system already excessively punishes poor manufacturers. If they build poor products that harm people the courts make them pay. Certification does not protect a manufacturer from being sued does it. What certification does is set a minimum that is so costly to achieve that excellence is never attempted.

If planes could be built in the same regulatory environment as cars they would be better and much less costly. Look at the market for $200,000 to $700,000 cars. Small production, handmade, high tech. Everything we are told that cant be done for airplanes.

Remember the FAA's job is not the best interest of the public but the best interest of the FAA.

ANY GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY'S FIRST JOB IS TO PROLONG ITS OWN EXISTENCE, to increase next years budget. 

[jetdriven]

Under the "Instructions for Continued Airworthiness" for the Plane Power AL12P70 alternator, it says:

(Note, this is not legallly required unless contained in an "airworthiness limitations" section)

Instructions For Continued Airworthiness

Annual / 100 hour inspections:

1. Remove drive belt and turn alternator rotor to check condition of bearings for abnormal noise or roughness.

5 year or 1,000 hour intervals:

1. Repeat: Annual / 100 hour inspection.
2. Remove field brush assembly and inspect brushes for excess wear. Replace brush assembly if brushes extend less than .250” from edge of brush holder case.

 

 

[Cris]

Quote: skyking1

Thanks. How much was the cost of the standby alternator? I also like the belt and suspenders approach to flying!

[KSMooniac]

With 2 batteries, I would run it to failure as getting any new or overhauled unit is a crap-shoot, especially for Continental engines IMO.  Plane Power makes a great product, but I don't think they have one for the TCM engines but I could be mistaken.  Your only choice might be a Kelly unit, which I wouldn't take under any circumstance if you have one on the plane that is functioning fine. 

[skyking1]

Thanks for the info