Need King KT76 TSO

[BDPetersen]

Transponder check today. Failed. Looking for a simple fix. KT76 TSO. Not KT76A or C. Could use A or C, but they aren’t a slide-in and would require installation. Seem to be a lot on eBay, but prefer one that works. Let me know if you have a good one to sell.

To make life even more interesting, on the way back a whining in the headset (it wasn’t me) made me monitor the alternator output. It was low and directly followed engine rpm. Plane Power. Unless I find a loose connection, I’m assuming a diode problem. As I recall, you don’t fix the Plane Power but replace. Am I right?

Wonder what the third thing will be.

[PT20J]

I have  KT-76A  with tray if you can't find a KT-76

[carusoam]

Had the same problem…  but it was a KT76A…

Same day I was with @Alan Fox…

Slid out the old… and slid in something newer (C)….. with complete wire for wire compatibility…

ADSB out rules came after my experience….

See what Alan has on the shelf…

The older analog X-ponders had a tube (?) in them that is prone to wear… until they stop functioning…

Best regards,

-a-

[BDPetersen]

Dilemma is to find a 76 or if unable convert to a 76A or C. That involves more installation time than one would expect, but make future replacements a bit easier as both are interchangeable. Or just bite a bigger bullet and go with something new. My 1980-ish navcom stack doesn’t demand better. Spent a few decades flying behind glass and I don’t mind the nostalgic trip down memory lane when I fly my old stuff.

[LANCECASPER]

1 hour ago, BDPetersen said:

Dilemma is to find a 76 or if unable convert to a 76A or C. That involves more installation time than one would expect, but make future replacements a bit easier as both are interchangeable. Or just bite a bigger bullet and go with something new. My 1980-ish navcom stack doesn’t demand better. Spent a few decades flying behind glass and I don’t mind the nostalgic trip down memory lane when I fly my old stuff.

I realize that sliding in a KT76 and paying a couple hundred dollars to have a transponder check would be the easiest. 

Definitely not what you want to hear . . . but I still wouldn't do that. You're just kicking the can down the road. I believe that the last KT76 (not A or C) was made over 40 years ago. As @carusoam mentioned, the old transponders have a cavity tube, and all of them eventually fail, so you want a solid state transponder. If this was me I would bite the bullet and get the Garmin GTX345. It does everything you'll ever want to do with a transponder: ADS-B in and out,  it will output via bluetooth ADS-B to tablets or phones and it will output to virtually anything else you'll ever have in the panel. If the shop knows what they are doing and they level your airplane when they set it up, it has an excellent AHRS output for Foreflight or Garmin Pilot. If you're using a Skybeacon for ads-b out now, you can still get much of what you paid for it when you sell it. If you're going to do it, do it once and do it right.

[BDPetersen]

Good advice, I’m sure. At my activity level throwing another $50 transponder at the problem is attractive. I suppose there is some market for my skybeacon adsb. 

[KSMooniac]

I could not find a KT76 many years ago when mine failed. There just aren't many to choose from, much less in good condition. I bit the bullet and got a 330ES as that was the only ADSB choice at the time and I didn't want to do something else in the future. Now there are multiple good choices... I would suggest the upgrade to modern and even pick up some extra functionality with one of the good choices.

Edit: even a used 330ES might be a reasonable choice, and sell the skybeacon.

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[LANCECASPER]

28 minutes ago, KSMooniac said:

I could not find a KT76 many years ago when mine failed. There just aren't many to choose from, much less in good condition. I bit the bullet and got a 330ES as that was the only ADSB choice at the time and I didn't want to do something else in the future. Now there are multiple good choices... I would suggest the upgrade to modern and even pick up some extra functionality with one of the good choices.

Edit: even a used 330ES might be a reasonable choice, and sell the skybeacon.

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The GTX-330ES is a very inexpensive and good choice, now since people are taking them out and putting in the 345.

However to report ADS-B position on 1090 (ES) it has to be hooked up to a certified WAAS GPS. The internal WAAS version of the GTX-345 does not need that. 

[KSMooniac]

Good point, Lance. I already had WAAS back then so it wasn't a concern for me, but it might be for others. (Every Mooney should have a WAAS navigator IMO!)

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[KSMooniac]

There is or was a KT76 for sale on Beechtalk earlier today.