First post in a while...been busy. But now I have one for the group.

When I first got 5CE in 2002, I had AC installed. Carl Gull told me that there was a known issue with the AC, that the second alternator which runs it would go off line when full power was applied, as at takeoff, and that recycling the alternator fixed the problem. This was usually only necessary one time.

After a few weeks of ownership it started happening constantly. We actually replaced the alternator and then the belt, but eventually found that it was merely that the belt was too loose. Did not see the issue again--until now.

With the warm weather I have now tried using the AC in the air for the first time since my STC. Everything works just fine on the ground. But once I apply power--anything over about 35 bhp--the alternator goes off and its light comes on. Recycling it restores it only for a moment before the same thing happened. My mechanic tightened the belt, but said that the primary alternator's belt was loose, not the secondary. Anyway, no improvement after that attempt. As I said, at low power it is fine. Running the fan only it is fine also. It is only when using the compressor at anything over very low bhp that the problem occurs.

One additional symptom--don't know if this is a clue or not. I have always had an alternator whine when the Ryan TCAD is running and the AC is on. We tried extensively to shield and to stop it back in 2002 but eventually gave up. It was always a steady whine. Now, it is different--not steady anymore, but oscillating in synchrony with the engine vibration.

As I said, last time the problem was very similar and was eventually resolved simply by tightening things up. Other than trying to make things tighter yet, any thoughts on what else might cause this?

Thanks.

Jeff Schweitzer
N115CE


Jeff Schweitzer
N115CE