Last Saturday, while taxiing, I noticed that the voltmeter was indicating no alternator boost. I went back to the hangar to check for loose connections. What I found is that there is (was) a harmonic filter attached to the alternator. The cable connecting lugs on the filter had stripped internally and could no longer be tightened. When I looked into the maintenance manual, I could find no reference in the wiring diagram to a harmonic filter. I spoke with my A&P about it, and after he looked through the manual, suggested we just remove the filter and wire the alternator direct as per the wiring diagram. It was his suspicion that the filter had been installed by the previous owner when diodes began to fail in the old alternator. The filter had been mounted through an unused threaded lug in the alternator with a smaller diameter thru bolt. That part didn't seem to be a factory installation, but the short section of wiring harness from the alternator to the filter matched the appearance of the original wiring from the alternator to what looks like a harmonic filter mounted on the firewall near the voltage regulator and over voltage relay, but again, I can't find a filter on the electrical diagram.
In any case, when wired directly, the alternator function was normal, and as an unexpected result, the radio static and whining that has to some degree persisted since I bought the plane, was completely gone.
I guess I'm posting this to make sure I haven't overlooked something in the maintenance manual, and the alternator mounted filter was supposed to be there. My serial number is 145.
Thanks
-Bob
In any case, when wired directly, the alternator function was normal, and as an unexpected result, the radio static and whining that has to some degree persisted since I bought the plane, was completely gone.
I guess I'm posting this to make sure I haven't overlooked something in the maintenance manual, and the alternator mounted filter was supposed to be there. My serial number is 145.
Thanks
-Bob