Keep up the weight savings program you have going, Carl! You have knocked off almost 90 lbs with your MT prop, carbon fiber cowl and now the battery too!
Unfortunately I put in a new Concord less than two years ago.
Don't really need the drain line, if your battery box is in good shape. Vents drain into box, box is vented overboard. Kinda just extra effort adding a vent line to bypass a vent lineI changed it out two weeks ago at annual, and did the work myself. The wire is a pain, but it’s manageable. The tubing is stiff and awkward, but it works. The install manual is already out of date; the hole size for the light is wrong, the wire goes with the bundle along the starboard center console, and the spacer is different. But the 26.6 pounds of weight is remarkable. The engine start is so easy. If your battery is getting tired, it’s well worth the effort. My previous battery was never logged, and unknown age.
Pulled out 65 pounds of carpet and 26 pounds of battery. Feels like progress.
Cheers.
I agree. Good to have on hand. I have to say though, as the first to install the EarthX, it'll be 6 years in December, except during gear swings at annual, I've NEVER, connected it to a battery charger/maintainer.Item of interest for those making the switch,...
Doesn't hurt to carry the special EarthX recommended charger in your baggage compartment just in case you end up someplace needing maintenance or end up with an accidentally discharged batt. (they come in both 12V and 24V versions) It will give you the ability to use it instead of whatever the maint shop has on hand to charge batts. Completely automatic charging functions and a unit that may be left plugged in overnight.
I didn't know it was a problem? I've started mine below 32f. I suppose there are those that fly well below that, but that brings with it a lot of other challenges, so not sure the battery would be your first concernHas there been any improvement in cold weather performance with the new one's?
Yes, I agree. The cold does have a negative affect on the performance of lithium batteries, but I figure most would do as you do and pre heat their planes. If not, lead acid is still an option.When I'm up in Show Low the temperatures will drop below zero. I have a setup that preheats both the cabin and the engine but I always wondered about switching to lithium in those conditions.
Yeah, the IA and I talked it over as to easiest method to comply with the instructions. So we decided to simply push into the existing drain as the teflon tube slid right in. Then I cut the C spacer down the middle to give a chanel for the tubing and some trimming on the ends for the side tubing. Simple enough. I don't know if my battery box was original or newer. The drain was centrally located, and the instructions showed it at one of the corners. the battery was touching the tubing, but not pressing on it with the spacer installed, so seemed fine.Don't really need the drain line, if your battery box is in good shape. Vents drain into box, box is vented overboard. Kinda just extra effort adding a vent line to bypass a vent line
They probably couldn't figure out how to do a logbook entry for a battery that wasn't specifically approved for your plane.
To avoid kinks in the teflon tubing, I ended up buying some stainless 1/4" U-couplers, drilled a hole through the EarthX foam spacer, and was able to route the line down to the drain where I have it held into place with some silicone adhesive.Yeah, the IA and I talked it over as to easiest method to comply with the instructions. So we decided to simply push into the existing drain as the teflon tube slid right in. Then I cut the C spacer down the middle to give a chanel for the tubing and some trimming on the ends for the side tubing. Simple enough. I don't know if my battery box was original or newer. The drain was centrally located, and the instructions showed it at one of the corners. the battery was touching the tubing, but not pressing on it with the spacer installed, so seemed fine.