only 3 amps in Skyview.

Elmer

I love flying!
Joined
Apr 13, 2012
Messages
98
Hi, I think I may have the Ammeter Shunt wired in the wrong place or something not wired right. In the Skyview, it only shows 3 amps. The way I have it wired up. Wire is coming from the alternator and goes to the BAT side of a 50 amp breaker and from the AUX side of the breaker to the Ammeter Shunt. From the other side of the Ammeter Shunt it goes to one side of the Master Soleniod then to the POS side of the Battery.
Could I need to switch the 24 wire and the 25 wire? Could I need to purge the alternator or could I have a bad alternator? Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks, Elmer :'(
 

Dynon

Dynon Staff
Staff member
Joined
Jan 14, 2013
Messages
14,232
Location
Woodinville, WA
Are you seeing any difference with the engine/alternator running vs just having things powered on on the ground with the engine stopped?
 

GalinHdz

Active Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2008
Messages
725
Location
KSGJ/TJBQ
What I think you are seeing is the current that is charging the battery not the full alternator load (battery & equipment). The SKYVIEW installation manual (Pg 7-45, Figure 40) shows 3 different methods of connecting the shunt. If you used position "A" then this current indication is normal.

With this kind of setup, after engine start, when you first turn on the alternator the current will be "high" then as the flight goes on it drops as the battery gets charged. Once charged the current should be well below 5A just to keep the battery fully charged for the next engine start. In my system the current normally runs between 1 - 2 Amps after about 30 minutes of flying.

:cool:
 

Elmer

I love flying!
Joined
Apr 13, 2012
Messages
98
Hi GalinHdz,
I thought I had the wire setup "B" but maybe I have "A" or "D". I can't remember ever seeing the Amps go above 3 amps but I alwayse start the Viking on a full charged battery. You say I could be hooked up to "A". What kind of reading would I be getting if hooked up to "B" or even "C"? I explained how I wired up the alternator and Ammeter Shunt in the first post. Would you say I'm hooked up with "A" or "B"? I did forget one thing. Where I ran the wire from the Ammeter Shunt to the master solenoid. At that point the wire goes to the starter also. So that master soleniod shuts off all current from the battery. One other thing, I always start the engine before I turn on the Skyview so I can't tell what the Amp reading is untill I get the Skyview on line.
Maybe all is but I'm not sure.
Thanks for the help. Elmer
 

GalinHdz

Active Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2008
Messages
725
Location
KSGJ/TJBQ
One thing you can do right now is, after a few minutes of having the alternator on while the engine is running, turn on all electrical equipment (especially landing/taxi lights if you have them) while looking at the ammeter. If you are connected as B or C you should see a change in the current flow. If connected as A, you won't see a big change in current flow.

Do you have a backup battery for the Skyview? If so you should power the Skyview up using the backup battery then start the engine after the Skyview is on line. Otherwise you can't monitor your engine and won't see if your oil pressure has come up on engine start.

The next step would be to make a drawing of how you actually have it connected especially the cables/wires from the battery, solenoid, alternator, starter and equipment electrical bus. Also, what equipment is connected to your main electrical bus?

:cool:
 

Elmer

I love flying!
Joined
Apr 13, 2012
Messages
98
So if I read you right. I could be connected with "A", if the Ammeter won't change from 3 amps. When the engine isn't running the amp read 1 amp. Here is how I have it wired.

Wire goes from the possitive side of the battery, to one side of the master soleniod. All the power wires are hooked to the other side of the master soleniod. That includes starter, fuel pumps, lights, ECU, and all the Shyview system. One of the wires that goes from the master soleniod, goes to the ammeter shunt. The wire from the other side of the shunt goes to the AUX side of the 50 amp breaker. Then from the BAT side of the 50 amp breaker goes to the alternator. Doesn't that look like connection "A"? Can anyone figure what I'm doing wrong? Thanks for any help,
Elmer
 

GalinHdz

Active Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2008
Messages
725
Location
KSGJ/TJBQ
So if I read you right. I could be connected with "A", if the Ammeter won't change from 3 amps. When the engine isn't running the amp read 1 amp. Here is how I have it wired.

Wire goes from the possitive side of the battery, to one side of the master soleniod. All the power wires are hooked to the other side of the master soleniod. That includes starter, fuel pumps, lights, ECU, and all the Shyview system. One of the wires that goes from the master soleniod, goes to the ammeter shunt. The wire from the other side of the shunt goes to the AUX side of the 50 amp breaker. Then from the BAT side of the 50 amp breaker goes to the alternator. Doesn't that look like connection "A"? Can anyone figure what I'm doing wrong? Thanks for any help,
Elmer

I sent you a PM so we can chat off line.

:cool:
 
Top