Long-Time Electrical Challenge!
in 912 / 914 Technical Questions
8 years ago
I bought a beautiful 701 a year ago, but I knew there was one issue that I wanted to get fixed ASAP. After flying back home for 7 hours, my ears were ringing! A year later, the issue still isn't fixed (hate I'm finally just writing this), but I've concluded there is a deeper issue. I would appreciate any other ideas about figuring it out.
First, all of the symptoms:
- Sometimes, only faint electrical smell; definitely not mechanical, engine oil related
- Very sporadic...good bit of smoke comes from under panel; normally, my first response
has been to shut off Alternator switch
-- Sometimes the smoke and smell will go away; other times, I shut off master switch
-- Now, it is starting to continue with both master and alternator off until I reduce power
- The above items have progressively gotten worse since I purchased the plane a year ago
- Since purchase, the biggest nuisance has been a huge ringing of radio interference in the headset.
- The radio noise will stop when the regulator-rectifier kicks off to stop charging
- Most recently, the Regulator-Rectifier is coming on and turning off more often, about every 2-3 minutes
- Voltmeter reads exactly 14 when the rectifier is on; it will drop back near 12.5 or 13 when off
- Battery is staying consistently charged
- Connections to regulator/rectifier have been checked and I can’t find any wires showing burning signs
Other Concerns:
- I don’t want to buy parts until I determine what is causing this; however, if I need new connectors, would like
to order in advance of tearing apart engine
- Could the connections of wires and harness going to the rear of the alternator and stator be disconnecting and
cause this?
- Since this is sporadic, could it be a faulty regulator, stator of other part or would those parts stop working totally?
- Any other checks to determine what is causing these symptoms?
- I don’t want to cover up the radio interference before figuring out what would be causing such feedback!
--Currently, capacitor is not installed but I have it to install
Thanks in advance for any help, Art.
First, all of the symptoms:
- Sometimes, only faint electrical smell; definitely not mechanical, engine oil related
- Very sporadic...good bit of smoke comes from under panel; normally, my first response
has been to shut off Alternator switch
-- Sometimes the smoke and smell will go away; other times, I shut off master switch
-- Now, it is starting to continue with both master and alternator off until I reduce power
- The above items have progressively gotten worse since I purchased the plane a year ago
- Since purchase, the biggest nuisance has been a huge ringing of radio interference in the headset.
- The radio noise will stop when the regulator-rectifier kicks off to stop charging
- Most recently, the Regulator-Rectifier is coming on and turning off more often, about every 2-3 minutes
- Voltmeter reads exactly 14 when the rectifier is on; it will drop back near 12.5 or 13 when off
- Battery is staying consistently charged
- Connections to regulator/rectifier have been checked and I can’t find any wires showing burning signs
Other Concerns:
- I don’t want to buy parts until I determine what is causing this; however, if I need new connectors, would like
to order in advance of tearing apart engine
- Could the connections of wires and harness going to the rear of the alternator and stator be disconnecting and
cause this?
- Since this is sporadic, could it be a faulty regulator, stator of other part or would those parts stop working totally?
- Any other checks to determine what is causing these symptoms?
- I don’t want to cover up the radio interference before figuring out what would be causing such feedback!
--Currently, capacitor is not installed but I have it to install
Thanks in advance for any help, Art.
