Thread: Electrical Failure

Received this note from the co-owner of N293CT, who started a western trip from NC yesterday. We bought this bird in December of 2006, and we're bumping up against 800 hours on the Hobbs meter.

"Electrical power failed about Greensboro - radio out landing at Shiloh. I looked at everything, and decided most likely problem was the voltage regulator connections. Pulled the plug and cleaned & adjusted all the contacts - and the battery charges again. Actually ran 13.5 volts, which is much better than it had been doing, so control connections have been dirty for some time."

Is this something that can be checked/cleaned/serviced from time to time?

I shared this story with our mechanic, and he said that he had the exact same situation with his CT trainer yesterday.

I had this too when my bird was brand new. Intermittent generator light, then it "stranded" me a 6.5 hour rental car drive from home. I paid my mechanic to fly over, find the problem, etc. Live and learn! WF

Wlfpckrs, I gather that your reference to "Pulled the plug and cleaned & adjusted all the contacts" means that you pulled the connector to the regulator and cleaned the contacts on this?

What do you think runtoeat about carrying an extra/spare regulator/rectifier along? They're 170 dollars. And a spare tube, spark plugs and tools for long xcountry hauls.....which i havent done yet...but want to....? How about spare parts??

Hi Bugbuster. I defer to our forum friends who do the long haul X-country - like N89WD. He has his Jamaica trip posted. I'd be curious to hear what members like him take along? Might even be a thread here on the Forum with this info? If I were going on a long trip, I might take along a spare regulator and multi-meter for trouble shooting electrical. If I were traveling somewhere into the back country, I might even consider taking a spare battery. Our Odyssey PC310's can take a dump at the most inopportune time and isn't it like Murphy's Law that one would do so on a lonely airstrip? Might be worth it to trade a gallon of fuel for the added battery.

Battery, Check!