G5 sitting idle for a long time

[PeytonM]

My airplane is going to sit for 6 months while I recover from rotator cuff surgery. I understand that the battery in the G5 could discharge to the point of being un-rechargeable. What can I do?

[jetdriven]

turn on the avionics master and master swtch for 20 mins every 3 months.

[IvanP]

If the battery is charged and the device is off, the battery should last 6 months. I do not think that G5 draws any current when off. I had two G-5s in my old plane that had to sit for a while and the batteries survived without any issues. You could also take the battery out and rig a charger to keep it charged while in storage and  then reinstall it before resuming flight activity. I do not have G5 any more and do not remember the deatils, but I think it is a Li-Ion battery pack that could be charged by a modified phone charger or similar device. 

[PT20J]

It’s probably fine. I left my G5 on somehow and ran the battery down to 0 and it recharged fine in about 2 hrs. I don’t notice that the battery discharges much when left for a week or two, so I don’t think there is much current draw when the G5 is off ( there has to be some so that it can wake up on battery when you press the power button.)  If you are worried about it you can do as Byron suggests.

[dzeleski]

Make sure you have the latest software installed. There is a known bug where they don’t turn off all the way and drain quickly.

Other than that it shouldn’t really be a big problem.

[PT20J]

I believe there was also a hardware problem with some units, but those should have been replaced on warranty by now and they were running batteries down pretty quickly so if you had one of those you’d know it. 

[Jim Peace]

On 2/23/2025 at 9:08 AM, dzeleski said:

Make sure you have the latest software installed. There is a known bug where they don’t turn off all the way and drain quickly.

Other than that it shouldn’t really be a big problem.

I have the new software and it can still be trick fcuked into staying on with the master off.  Happens when you turn off the airplane master and for some reason turn it on then back off. I do this sometimes when I forget to get my tach time on the JPI... So from now on my procedure is to turn the master off and say outloud countdown started....not a checklist thing just into my wrote memory now....

Edited February 25, 2025 by Jim Peace

[dzeleski]

1 hour ago, Jim Peace said:

I have the new software and it can still be trick fcuked into staying on with the master off.  Happens when you turn off the airplane master and for some reason turn it on then back off. I do this sometimes when I forget to get my tach time on the JPI... So from now on my procedure is to turn the master off and say outloud countdown started....not a checklist thing just into my wrote memory now....

Contact your installer. You probably have an older unit that needs to be replaced. I had the same problem.

[N201MKTurbo]

Just remove the battery and put it in your fridge.

[Jim Peace]

1 hour ago, dzeleski said:

Contact your installer. 

My installer is banned from touching my plane....long story....

[N201MKTurbo]

2 hours ago, dzeleski said:

Contact your installer. You probably have an older unit that needs to be replaced. I had the same problem.

Why did you give me a laughing emoji? The battery is easily removed. Putting it in a cool place like a fridge will slow its self discharge. 

[dzeleski]

9 minutes ago, N201MKTurbo said:

Why did you give me a laughing emoji? The battery is easily removed. Putting it in a cool place like a fridge will slow its self discharge. 

I just thought it was funny. Its a known issue with the G5s though, Garmin will only replace units that are actively doing it and now allowing proactive swaps. Pulling the battery off the back while isnt hard it is quite tedious.

[N201MKTurbo]

On 2/22/2025 at 10:04 AM, PeytonM said:

My airplane is going to sit for 6 months while I recover from rotator cuff surgery. I understand that the battery in the G5 could discharge to the point of being un-rechargeable. What can I do?

I’m having my rotator cuff partially disassembled tomorrow. I was hoping the recovery would be less than six months. 
 

I hope we both get back in the air soon.

[PeytonM]

I was out of the airplane for 5 months last time. You don’t want to have to re-do; success goes down the dumper. Be careful. 

[OR75]

remove the G5 , take it home and make a D-sub connector to turn it on and charge it once in a while

of course , you may need a pitot static leak check after that  

[IvanP]

1 hour ago, OR75 said:

remove the G5 , take it home and make a D-sub connector to turn it on and charge it once in a while

of course , you may need a pitot static leak check after that  

No need to remove the G5. The battery can be easily removed without disturbing installation of the intrument. 

[OR75]

44 minutes ago, IvanP said:

No need to remove the G5. The battery can be easily removed without disturbing installation of the intrument. 

not sure the battery connection has a standard connector you can find at Home Depot to charge it 

[IvanP]

11 minutes ago, OR75 said:

not sure the battery connection has a standard connector you can find at Home Depot to charge it 

No, the aviation department of HD will not have this connector. It woudl have to be rigged at home.

[PeytonM]

Update: after sitting idle for 3 months in a 50° hangar, I turned on the Master. G5 battery was showing 1%!!  Why so much drain? Is this normal? If I turn the Master on for a couple hours will it recover, or is the battery toast?

Btw, my iPad is showing 99% after the same length of time.

[IvanP]

1 hour ago, PeytonM said:

Update: after sitting idle for 3 months in a 50° hangar, I turned on the Master. G5 battery was showing 1%!!  Why so much drain? Is this normal? If I turn the Master on for a couple hours will it recover, or is the battery toast?

Btw, my iPad is showing 99% after the same length of time.

Definitely not normal to have the battery self-discharge from fully charged state to 1% in 3 months if the instrument was off. How old is the battery? I had 2 G5s in my previous plane that was sometimes siting for 2-3 months due to weather and work schedule. When returning the pane back to service after 2-3 months, I never saw less than 50% charge on the G5 batteries on start up. Few hours of flying and batteies were back to full charge.

Turning the master on for couple of hours is probably not going to hurt anything. Just pull CBs on everything else in the plane that may be on with master so you do not run down you main battery (battrery minder helps if you have one). 

[PeytonM]

Couple years old. 

[IvanP]

2 hours ago, PeytonM said:

Couple years old. 

Should not be happening with 2 year old battery. Try to charge it with teh G5 off and see what happens, but the battery may be gone. They are not cheap. I recall that some G5s had an issue with power down. The unit looked like it was off, but it was not (close look at the display in a dark hangar revealed that the unit did not completely shit down - different "shade" of black on the display). Holding down the power button for 3 secs turned it off if I recall correctly. I do not have G5 any more, so my recollection may be a bit off here. 

[N201MKTurbo]

I just tested my G5 battery. It is from 2017. It said it had 6.5 hours left in it.

FWIW. I got my second class yesterday. I just finished all the inspections and the plane is legal. I’m going to fly it tomorrow. 3 months after my shoulder replacement. 

[PeytonM]

I’m not sure what’s up w/ my battery/G5!

[M20F]

Mine sat for 6 months in annual and 9 months on an overhaul.  No issues.