REFLECTOR: ENGINE OUT MYSTERY SOLVED

[Scott Derrick]

Dave,

this sounds like Bob Knukolls recommendation.

Got a wiring diagram?

Scott


> In all the cases where I had dual electronic ignition I installed an extra
> battery that could maintain the ignition for a good 1/2 hr.  Just through
> a
> single swt.  The blocking diode kept it from getting to the main buss. I
> had
> to use it twice when I lost the alternator.  Saw the big draw and turned
> on
> the standby and turned off the main till close to home and then used the
> main battery to talk to the tower to land and had plenty left to run the
> engine.  Once on the ground shut one system down. I could have done it in
> flight but didn't think of it either time.  I kept the small 7Ahr battery
> charged with a blocking diode off the main buss.
> I now use this method for my standby power to the EFIS. This difference is
> that I leave the standby power on all the time and the EFIS take care of
> the
> management of it.  I wouldn't know that it even come on unless the EFIS
> told
> me I lost my No.1 power source.  KISS.
> Dave
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tom Martino" <tmartino at troubleshooter.com>
> To: "Velocity List" <reflector at tvbf.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2007 4:02 PM
> Subject: REFLECTOR: ENGINE OUT MYSTERY SOLVED
>
>
>> After close inspection ... I found the problem.
>>
>> First the good news ... the engine on my Velocity is perfect!  It cranks
>> and
>> fires up with fuel and oil pressures where they should be.
>>
>> The prop governor did not fail.
>>
>> And the is minimal airframe damage.
>>
>> So what went wrong?
>>
>> The power source for the electronic ignition went bad.
>>
>> I had a primary battery and secondary battery and used Wayne Lanza's
>> "Power
>> Guard" ... To quote his website ... "The Fail safe secondary power
>> control".
>>
>> Well, this fail safe module failed and caused power interruptions to my
>> ignition modules.
>>
>> As it turns out ... I would've been better off NOT to use a secondary
>> power
>> source and not to use Lanza's controller.  The chances of the alternator
>> and
>> battery going out at the same time are remote.  Even if the alternator
>> failed ... The battery could keep the engine running for quite some
>> time.
>> And if you wanted a backup battery for extended power ... Simply put one
>> in
>> with a mechanical switch.
>>
>> The thing that puzzles me is that the electronic ignition is critical
>> ...
>> And the very unit that was supposed to preserve my spark, ended up
>> interrupting it.
>>
>> I am in the process of having it diagnosed to find out where the unit
>> failed.  But FAILED it did.
>>
>> Gee ... I lost almost $200,000 on this ... Think I can get my $100 back
>> on
>> it?
>>
>> Tom Martino
>>
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>
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