flyingwrenchbender
Active Member
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2017
- Messages
- 36
- Reaction score
- 6
Hello All,
I am in the process of troubleshooting an issue that I have had with my 1965 Cherokee 140 for about a year now. I have the standard Crysler Alternator (newly overhauled) and use the Zeftronics R15 VOL model. I am now replacing the third controller this year. (I know that they are warrantied, but not when certain tests are not completed during the installation, which unfortunately I didn't get to do this time around due to a newly overhauled engine installation.) Basically, the alternator shows 13.6 volts and everything works fine on the ground and for most of a flight. The time to failure has varied but seems to coincide with all of my systems (landing lights (3), strobes, beacon, pitot heat, avionics) being powered on; then the 5 amp field circuit breaker trips and cannot be reset. I discovered that this is because the alternator controller is being shorted out when the voltage demand is increased. I have checked for any areas of high resistance on the circuit as depicted in figure 11-16 in the maintenance manual and found nothing outside of normal. I have also checked grounds and switches for higher resistance. All of those checked good as well.
The last Alternator controller lasted for 38 minutes and was replaced recently with the alternator. The only component remaining is the battery, but it usually shows around 12 volts and seems to start the aircraft just fine. I am considering taking it to the shop for testing. I wanted to reach out to the community to see if there may be anything that I am not considering. Thanks for reading and any help you may be able to give.
Chris
I am in the process of troubleshooting an issue that I have had with my 1965 Cherokee 140 for about a year now. I have the standard Crysler Alternator (newly overhauled) and use the Zeftronics R15 VOL model. I am now replacing the third controller this year. (I know that they are warrantied, but not when certain tests are not completed during the installation, which unfortunately I didn't get to do this time around due to a newly overhauled engine installation.) Basically, the alternator shows 13.6 volts and everything works fine on the ground and for most of a flight. The time to failure has varied but seems to coincide with all of my systems (landing lights (3), strobes, beacon, pitot heat, avionics) being powered on; then the 5 amp field circuit breaker trips and cannot be reset. I discovered that this is because the alternator controller is being shorted out when the voltage demand is increased. I have checked for any areas of high resistance on the circuit as depicted in figure 11-16 in the maintenance manual and found nothing outside of normal. I have also checked grounds and switches for higher resistance. All of those checked good as well.
The last Alternator controller lasted for 38 minutes and was replaced recently with the alternator. The only component remaining is the battery, but it usually shows around 12 volts and seems to start the aircraft just fine. I am considering taking it to the shop for testing. I wanted to reach out to the community to see if there may be anything that I am not considering. Thanks for reading and any help you may be able to give.
Chris
