Radios turn off due to alternator not charging

[EricFlight]

Relived one of my real world flights with the 152 Beta 3 today. When going to land after cruise at 2400RPM for about an hour and a half the radios and transponder went dead until after taxiing off and the RPMs revving up and the radios and transponder went on. This is no realistic as it should have been charging for the entire cruise.

This was with Beta 3
SU5 update with the hotfix that was released after it

The speeds on this plane are fantastic. I know you just had another person say it was sluggish but honestly it was perfect with ground speeds and everything. It flies like the real 152 from my real world experience (which is the majority of my flying time)

[N95JPL]

We've had a couple of people mention this!
There seems to be a voltage discrepancy when the system is ever so slightly overloaded!
We've managed to replicate it whilst having both Taxi & Landing lights on, or the Pitot Heat!
For now, try to limit the usage of the Pitot Heater for now, I also turn off my Landing Lights whilst airborne once away from busy airspace in good weather (UK rules not sure about how the US etc work)
This helps greatly!
I will review the electrical loads and see what can be adjusted!
Keep an eye on that Ammeter!

[EricFlight]

In the US, landing lights are encouraged to be on when under 10,000 ft and should be on at all times when flying at night. Eric

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On Fri, Aug 6, 2021, 7:02 PM N95JPL ***@***.***> wrote: We've had a couple of people mention this! There seems to be a voltage discrepancy when the system is ever so slightly overloaded! We've managed to replicate it whilst having both Taxi & Landing lights on, or the Pitot Heat! For now, try to limit the usage of the Pitot Heater for now, I also turn off my Landing Lights whilst airborne once away from busy airspace in good weather (UK rules not sure about how the US etc work) This helps greatly! I will review the electrical loads and see what can be adjusted! Keep an eye on that Ammeter! — You are receiving this because you authored the thread. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#126 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AQ4TJPFNYXI7HWG46ZTJGW3T3RSXHANCNFSM5BUZ7QTA> . Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS <https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1477376905?ct=notification-email&mt=8&pt=524675> or Android <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.github.android&utm_campaign=notification-email> .

[N95JPL]

Pretty similar to the UK then, encouraged but not mandatory below 10'000ft or during night operations!
I also turn them on for Landing/Busy area/non-nominal visibility etc but any time out of that I'll save some bulb hours 😉

[EricFlight]

I rent so it's always on for more visibility Eric

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On Fri, Aug 6, 2021, 7:05 PM N95JPL ***@***.***> wrote: Pretty similar to the UK then, encouraged but not mandatory below 10'000ft or during night operations! I also turn them on for Landing/Busy area/non-nominal visibility etc but any time out of that I'll save some bulb hours 😉 — You are receiving this because you authored the thread. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#126 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AQ4TJPAGXGTZ7HQ7XXUHEF3T3RTE7ANCNFSM5BUZ7QTA> . Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS <https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1477376905?ct=notification-email&mt=8&pt=524675> or Android <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.github.android&utm_campaign=notification-email> .

[EricFlight]

on beta 6 I'm noticing the low voltage light going on around 1000RPM (not realistic) as 1000RPM is what we usually idle at to keep the mags from fouling and the alternator charging. The alternator shows it is charging slightly at 1000RPM but the low voltage light should not be on

[N95JPL]

The documents we have read show that the alternator kicks in at around 1000RPM, lower than that it's not being spun fast enough to generate anything useful!
The light should extinguish around 1000RPM which is where I leave it idling too

I'll cross check my numbers are right

[andreas-paul]

It seems to definitely be an issue. Did a flight and in the middle of it I get a low battery warning in the JPLogistics DMEV1.0 unit. Alternator was definitely on, but so was everything else. Don't think it should discharge this easily, no?

[N95JPL]

Even with the alternator on, IRL the aircraft can't maintain charge for prolonged periods when everything is turned on!
The main culprits are Pitot Heat, Flaps, Landing/Taxi Lights!

[EricFlight]

I've never run down the battery IRL and I've flown it the exact same way so....

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On Sat, Aug 21, 2021, 1:51 PM N95JPL ***@***.***> wrote: Even with the alternator on, IRL the aircraft can't maintain charge for prolonged periods when *everything* is turned on! The main culprits are Pitot Heat, Flaps, Landing/Taxi Lights! — You are receiving this because you authored the thread. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#126 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AQ4TJPCFKNOCYFSHTQVO76LT57RSXANCNFSM5BUZ7QTA> . Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS <https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1477376905?ct=notification-email&mt=8&pt=524675> or Android <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.github.android&utm_campaign=notification-email> .

[N95JPL]

I've reviewed the power usage of most items and they match the real world counterparts, I do need to swap some values for LED based ones though..
I will take another look and see what is the most reasonable thing to reduce to help keeping it from depleting

[cprgolds]

I have seen similar behavior with the Honeycomb Alpha Yoke when the mag switch is left in the start position.

[N95JPL]

The mag switch/key should never be left in the start position?
That's purely to start the engine, then turn it back to both otherwise the starter motor is running constantly!

[cprgolds]

I am fully aware of that. I was just suggesting that was something for the OP to check.

[N95JPL]

Ahh sorry! I thought you meant you were leaving it there, my bad!

[EricFlight]

I don't use the Honeycomb Alpha for any controls so it's not that Eric

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On Sat, Aug 21, 2021, 3:58 PM N95JPL ***@***.***> wrote: Ahh sorry! I thought you meant you were leaving it there, my bad! — You are receiving this because you authored the thread. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#126 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AQ4TJPC5UZSWE2FNTOKV2BLT6AAPRANCNFSM5BUZ7QTA> . Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS <https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1477376905?ct=notification-email&mt=8&pt=524675> or Android <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.github.android&utm_campaign=notification-email> .