procharger Posted May 3, 2015 Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 Started plane today alt. light on full bright would not go out, shut down engine restarted light went out, any ideas checked all connections couple weeks ago. Kind of random when this happens ?? Roger nothing else is on during start up light is full bright and doesn't change ,go dim or anything even with more RPM I know light will come on sometimes with all the electrics on usually its very dim then goes out with RPM this is something different. CTSW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Lee Posted May 3, 2015 Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 This is usually because of low voltage, low fuel pressure or low oil pressure. I never start up under a load. No lights, no radio no nothing. Only my D120 comes up upon power. After the engine is on then give it 5-10 seconds to stabilise at about 2200-2300 rpm. This will give voltage, and pressures a chance to stabilise. Then start turning power on. See if this doesn't help. Too many people want to turn everything on and start up. Try it this way 2-3 times and let us know what happens. p.s. If you have the dual Dynon Skyviews in an LS you won't have a big choice there, but leave everything else off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WmInce Posted May 3, 2015 Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 If you have the dual Dynon Skyviews in an LS you won't have a big choice there, but leave everything else off. As a technique, before I start, I have my strobe light on and power up a single SkyView, to monitor the increase in oil pressure. The 2nd SkyView is not powered (via open circuit breaker) until the engine is started and stable. After powering the 2nd SkyView, the rest of the equipment is turned on. The idea is to avoid power spikes, especially with the radio and transponder. Never had a problem with this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Lee Posted May 3, 2015 Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 Hi Bill, I have always wondered why people turn their lights on before start? Other than someone said to do it this why what is the reasoning? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WmInce Posted May 3, 2015 Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 Hi Bill, I have always wondered why people turn their lights on before start? Other than someone said to do it this why what is the reasoning? It is the 7th item on the CTSW Before Start Checklist. The other reason I do it is in the interest of safety. For one reason or another, not all people heed the "CLEAR PROP" shout out. It is common practice (and part of the Before Start Checklist), military and commercial, that the anti-collision light be on, anytime an engine is operating. It is turned off only after shutdown of all engines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CT4ME Posted May 3, 2015 Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 I leave the tail blinker on all the time... 'saved me several times when walking away after parking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastEddieB Posted May 3, 2015 Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 I am still in the habit of turning my strobes, and now my landing light*, on right after engine start. Old habits die hard, and in past times a literal rotating beacon's current draw could make the difference between an engine barely starting and not starting at all. Modern strobes draw so much less current it's a much smaller, almost negligible factor. Anyway, AIM says: Prop and jet blast forces generated by large aircraft have overturned or damaged several smaller aircraft taxiing behind them. To avoid similar results, and in the interest of preventing upsets and injuries to ground personnel from such forces, the FAA recommends that air carriers and commercial operators turn on their rotating beacons anytime their aircraft engines are in operation. General aviation pilots using rotating beacon equipped aircraft are also encouraged to participate in this program which is designed to alert others to the potential hazard. Since this is a voluntary program, exercise caution and do not rely solely on the rotating beacon as an indication that aircraft engines are in operation. I do think having the strobes on before engine start is a good practice. Like shouting "CLEAR!" it may alert someone to a hazardous situation - another "red flag" that the plane is about to go "hot". As an aside, I know many pilots who simply never turn off their strobes in normal operations. Another side benefit is it can help prevent leaving the master on - a glance back at your plane and seeing the strobes still on might just remind you that you had forgotten something! (I just noticed a similar practice has save CT4ME in that manner). *I only started having the landing light on at all times after going to an LED landing light. Before that the draw of the 4509 incandescent was so much that 3i gave it a 5 minute limitation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbigs Posted May 3, 2015 Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 It is the 7th item on the CTSW Before Start Checklist. The other reason I do it is in the interest of safety. For one reason or another, not all people heed the "CLEAR PROP" shout out. It is common practice (and part of the Before Start Checklist), military and commercial, that the anti-collision light be on, anytime an engine is operating. It is turned off only after shutdown of all engines. Military? The only thing that needs to be one is the single Skyview in the CTLS so you can assess rpm at startup. Even the Aux Pump isn't required in the fuel injected system. And if the engine doesn't start after three turns of the prop. Something is amiss and should be checked before going any further. Here is the Engine Start portion of my checklist: ENGINE START Park Brake on Doors close-latch Circuit Breakers all in Avionics Master off All Switches off Fuel Shutoff open (up) Fuel Selector set ‘Both’ Batt+Gen on+on Aux Fuel on (opt) Prop Area ‘clear prop’ Ignition Key in/start Throttle 2000rpm EMS Oil Press green 55psi Aux Fuel off Avionics Master on Landing Lt on Pos+Beacon Lt on+on Intercom on Garmin GPS Tools-GetStatus-5Sats Hobbs note Radio get AWOS/ATIS Dynon set BAR Dynon set XPNDR ‘AUTO’ EMS Oil Temp 50°C (122 F) Throttle Up/Dn 2500rpm (AltB) Taxi Radio Taxi 1st Call Safety Harness tight Parking Brake off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
procharger Posted May 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 Roger when light came on nothing else was turned on yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastEddieB Posted May 3, 2015 Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 I know you recently checked connections, but I would take a VERY close look at the multi-pin connector going into the voltage regulator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anticept Posted May 3, 2015 Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 On all three of our CTs, the alternator light comes on the moment you turn on the alternator breaker if the engine isn't running. Once it gets up to speed, they go out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Lee Posted May 4, 2015 Report Share Posted May 4, 2015 Roger when light came on nothing else was turned on yet. Was it at low rpm or up around 2200-2400? What was the voltage, oil pressure and fuel pressure? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
procharger Posted May 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2015 All numbers are normal nothing any different that I can see, I will check reg.connections. No matter what I do light stays on until I shutdown and restart then everything is normal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ralarcon Posted May 5, 2015 Report Share Posted May 5, 2015 As a technique, before I start, I have my strobe light on and power up a single SkyView, to monitor the increase in oil pressure. The 2nd SkyView is not powered (via open circuit breaker) until the engine is started and stable. After powering the 2nd SkyView, the rest of the equipment is turned on. The idea is to avoid power spikes, especially with the radio and transponder. Never had a problem with this. Ditto . Except when the Ducati regulator went bad, replaced that , no problems following the same procedure, from the check list. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ralarcon Posted May 5, 2015 Report Share Posted May 5, 2015 Hi Bill, I have always wondered why people turn their lights on before start? Other than someone said to do it this why what is the reasoning? My reason, it is on the check list. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Lee Posted May 5, 2015 Report Share Posted May 5, 2015 You can always change the list order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ralarcon Posted May 5, 2015 Report Share Posted May 5, 2015 I guess I could, but I do not have a reason to. I'm liking the reasons given by Fasteddie. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastEddieB Posted May 5, 2015 Report Share Posted May 5, 2015 The only downside I can see is that strobes contain some modicum of electronic circuitry. I think the fear is that voltage variations or drops on engine starts could conceivably damage that circuitry. But it seems in real life that's kind of a non-issue, with modern circuits able to deal with a wide range of voltages. Far more complicated PFD's and MFD's are on at engine start, apparently to no ill effect. Unless someone has data showing that strobes can be damaged in this way, I'd put it pretty far down on my list of worries. edited to add: the first two Whelen power supplies I just looked at said they were OK from 10-30v. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Lee Posted May 5, 2015 Report Share Posted May 5, 2015 Our strobes won't damage the engine electrical. Shouldn't even have an impact on the start unless you sit there for a long time with a lot of electrical on and have a marginal battery to boot. Just a consideration. I power nothing up except the D120 until after engine start then start to turn other electric on. Just personal preference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anticept Posted May 5, 2015 Report Share Posted May 5, 2015 Electric motors are what are sensitive to lower than rated voltage. Electronics, in general, are sensitive to voltage spikes which are well above their rating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingMonkey Posted May 6, 2015 Report Share Posted May 6, 2015 My start sequence is: Master ON Beacon ON (to let folks know visually there might be an engine starting) Visually Check Prop Area Clear Call "CLEAR PROP" Ignition to START Check Oil Pressure All Switches Except Cockpit Light ON: Avionics Master, Position Lights, Intercom, Landing Light Transponder to STANDBY The beacon is way brighter than the position lights on a CTSW (I really want to add REAL strobes), so it's a better light to have on to warn folks before engine start . The landing light is the only decently bright light on the airplane, so I have it on all the time as my primary anti-collision light. I used to turn it on right before takeoff, but having forgotten it a couple of times I now just turn it on at start up and leave it on until shutdown. The Soraa LED is only 11.5W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted May 6, 2015 Report Share Posted May 6, 2015 I have started teaching students to turn the transponder on and not standby after start, because of the change in transponder usage in the AIM. http://right-rudder.blogspot.com/2012/09/when-to-turn-your-transponder-on.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WmInce Posted May 6, 2015 Report Share Posted May 6, 2015 I have started teaching students to turn the transponder on and not standby after start, because of the change in transponder usage in the AIM. http://right-rudder.blogspot.com/2012/09/when-to-turn-your-transponder-on.html Me too. Good technique Tom. Additionally, after climbing up, you may find ATC advising you they are not receiving your squawk (if you started out in the standby mode). Been there . . . done that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastEddieB Posted May 6, 2015 Report Share Posted May 6, 2015 My Garmin transponder is set to go to ALT from SBY at some predetermined groundspeed - 45kts? Good idea to just turn it on before taxi - they do want you to do that, especially at larger fields. Old habits do die hard, though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingMonkey Posted May 6, 2015 Report Share Posted May 6, 2015 Fair enough, I'll start turning it to ALT immediately. I also have a Garmin transponder... I guess the auto on feature will no longer get used! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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