Baggage Light Killed My Battery

[exM20K]

After finishing up an interesting annual, I found a dead battery.  Replacement was installed, and I noted the baggage light was on.  The switch is spring-loaded, and it’s supposed to time out.  Timer failure?

The bulb is out, and TBH, my give-a-poop meter isn’t even quivering off the bottom peg considering how often I need a baggage light.

-dan

[LANCECASPER]

@exM20K I went through this back in 2021 as soon as I got the Acclaim. I needed a circuit board in my timer box. My findings are in this thread. 

 

[midlifeflyer]

Seen this in an Ovation I fly. We couldn’t figure out why the battery kept going dead. Then one evening …

[Fritz1]

there are two failure modes, failed timer board, found the whole timer box used on ebay, think our Don Muncy sells the timer board, spring loaded switch fails to spring back and turn off, $7 standard item, is it all worth the trouble or is it just easier to take out the bulb? depends how much fly at night, coming home and turning on the baggage light and finding stuff in the trunk is nice, timer runs about 5 min, on the downside battery is expensive, when in doubt take the bulb out until you are sure baggage light is tuning off reliably

[exM20K]

2 minutes ago, Fritz1 said:

there are two failure modes, failed timer board, found the whole timer box used on ebay, think our Don Muncy sells the timer board, spring loaded switch fails to spring back and turn off, $7 standard item, is it all worth the trouble or is it just easier to take out the bulb? depends how much fly at night, coming home and turning on the baggage light and finding stuff in the trunk is nice, timer runs about 5 min, on the downside battery is expensive, when in doubt take the bulb out until you are sure baggage light is tuning off reliably

Yeah, the number of times I’ve needed that light is very small.  I never trusted it to go off on its own, so I would have to linger in the hangar to see. In a world of LED flashlights and headlamps, I’m disinclined to spend a lot on this.

-dan

[Pinecone]

I carry an LED headlamp in my flight bag.

 

[jetdriven]

I just installed the Whelen LED baggage light and Don Muncy’s timer and it’s awesome. Push the momentary on switch and you get 20 mins of light. Thanks @Donmuncy for such a great idea ! 

[Rsmithref]

I’m having the same problem with interior light draining battery while door is open in the hangar while cleaning or working around the plane. I cannot figure out which breaker would disable temporarily. Any body have any ideas?  Thanks for the help

[DonMuncy]

You need one of my timers. If you have (leave) the cabin light on and then turn off the master switch, the light will stay on for 10 to 12 minutes and turn off automatically.

[jetdriven]

I ran a wire from the battery solenoid to the baggage door light momentary switch and then it goes through Don's magic box and then it goes to the Whelen LED. And it gets about 22 minutes and then it turns off.

[cliffy]

7 hours ago, Rsmithref said:

I’m having the same problem with interior light draining battery while door is open in the hangar while cleaning or working around the plane. I cannot figure out which breaker would disable temporarily. Any body have any ideas?  Thanks for the help

DID you try puling and resetting each breaker one by one to see when the light goes out?

[PeteMc]

The light may not be on a breaker, it may be connected directly to the battery with an in-line fuse.  

But does your light go on when you open the Baggage Door?   There is no switch?  Early on I drained my battery when I pulled a larger bag out in the daytime and didn't realize I had hit the switch.  I ALWAYS checked the switch after that and when I had the interior done I had them put a guard around the switch so I wouldn't hit it by mistake.

But if your light just turns on every time you open the Baggage Door, then I'd definitely look into one of @DonMuncy's timers.

 

[Rsmithref]

Thanks to each of you for your comments 

1.  Yes I pull each breaker that was labeled for any kind of lighting, Nothing

2. Yes the light comes on when I open the baggage door, just like with main cabin door.  There is a push switch on both.

[Fly Boomer]

6 hours ago, Rsmithref said:

Thanks to each of you for your comments 

1.  Yes I pull each breaker that was labeled for any kind of lighting, Nothing

2. Yes the light comes on when I open the baggage door, just like with main cabin door.  There is a push switch on both.

Not sure about your J but the airplane I am familiar with has the front and rear cabin lights wired directly to the battery.  I can run the battery down with the master off.

[Slick Nick]

15 hours ago, Fly Boomer said:

Not sure about your J but the airplane I am familiar with has the front and rear cabin lights wired directly to the battery.  I can run the battery down with the master off.

In the POH for my J it says the cabin and baggage lighting are always hot and not connected to the master switch.