Product Tip of the Month January 2000

Product Tip of the Month

January 2000

All Analyzers

Battery and/or Battery Chargers

Have you heard the one about the mechanic that taxis the aircraft out to do a performance run and/or a balance job? He gets the aircraft in place, all the equipment connected, turns the Analyzer on, lights the engine, begins the throttle up, and then the Analyzer goes dead--in the dark of night, with no lights available. After a few explicit adjectives, as he runs the mental troubleshooting checklist he is thinking; Analyzer power "on", battery power, connections--what’s the problem?

The key to this unfortunate event is prevention. To prevent this from happening to you, try the following procedures.

First, do a complete system test of the analyzer (including the battery) and accessories before leaving the shop to do the job. If you find a problem contact ACES Systems Support immediately for assistance.

Second, if you suspect the battery is not taking or holding a charge, do a voltage check. To do a voltage check on the Battery and Charger do the following:

-Check the internal battery charge using the built-in test system and/or by connecting a voltmeter to the "Batt Chg" port on the exterior of the equipment. The output voltage reading at the "Batt Chg" port should match the equipment internal battery test system reading (+ / - 2 volts) and be 12 volts when fully charged.

-Next, check the Battery Charger output voltage by connecting the Battery Charger to a 110-volt power source and a voltmeter to the two pins at the MS connector. Voltage output should read 12 (+/- 1.5) volts. If the capability exists, a load/capacitance test on the battery is also recommended.

Third, make sure that any time the Charger is connected to your equipment, it is also connected to an electrical outlet. If the Charger is connected to the equipment but not to an electrical outlet, the charger could be drawing the battery down. The best practice is to disconnect the Charger from both the electrical outlet and the equipment charge port when not in use. This will extend the life of both the Charger and Battery.

These preventative measures should keep you out of the dark and fully charged. However, for future reference, if any of your ACES Systems equipment or accessories are not performing to standard, contact your ACES Systems representative for immediate assistance.

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