Mind snapping a few pics when you get a chance and sharing the part number of the airframe connector you're using?

Which battery minder model do you MU2 guys use? I've heard concord batteries last much longer than gills. Just switched last annual so don't know yet. That's for the next owner of my Baron to discover.

BatteryMinder IS the product brand name.

Concorde version
Gill version

The key to my BM setup is that all it takes is to plug in one connector to the plane that connects to the two batteries. No panels to open, nothing to disconnect, no buttons to push.

Mike C.[/quote]

Mike
How did you set this up. I tried to get CTS to install mine and they refused.

BatteryMinder IS the product brand name.

Concorde version
Gill version

Uses two BMs. Built them both into one Pelican case. It runs lid closed, just shown here open so you can see inside.

Below the plate is an AC splitter that powers both BMs and a small fan to circulate air just to be sure the BMs won't overheat (I think this was not really needed). The space above the plate is where I can store the AC input cord and the aircraft feeder cable.

Cable connectors are Amphenol AC4MJ:

http://www.mouser.com/search/ProductDet ... alkeyAC4MJ

4 pins, two pins for each battery (can't be tied together).

Aircraft side is two parts, a socket Amphenol AC4FDZ:

http://www.mouser.com/search/ProductDet ... lkeyAC4FDZ

And a spring loaded protective cover:

http://www.mouser.com/search/ProductDet ... lkeySCCD-W

They are mounted in a wheel well (where both my batteries are).

The aircraft socket is wired to each battery connector directly. Inside each battery connector is a small fuse on EACH line (four fuses in all), just to be safe.

Wire is heavy 4 conductor trailer wire.

I also made a warning sign to put by the nose to help reduce the chance someone tows with the cable attached. I tried to make a system that would unplug when tugged, but that turn out to be not practical. If someone does tow without unplugging, the Pelican case gets dragged without breaking the cable, and that's a pretty strong indicator something is wrong.

Mike C.

My mechanic did it.


They obviously don't understand the meaning of "minor alteration".

Mike C.

Uses two BMs. Built them both into one Pelican case. It runs lid closed, just shown here open so you can see inside.
<More great info snipped.>

Looks an awful lot like a clock.

Careful the Jeffs may shut this tread down for politics. Or if we keep talking the Mu2 up maybe they will lock it for religion.

My mechanic did it.


They obviously don't understand the meaning of "minor alteration".

Mike C.

I don't quite know the details on this since mine has both in the wheel well, but I believe there are two big cables that run back from the nose into the vicinity of the wheel well and then into the electrical system. I am not certain, but it could be that those two big cables connect to something in the wheel well via a couple of big lugs. This would be a good place to hook a minder connector.

Mine are both in the wheel wells, so I just have a couple small leads to each battery connected into the battery connectors (inline-fused appropriately) and a connector attached to the battery bracket on the pilot's side. Very handy and simple to plug/unplug.

The Concorde batteries are AGM (absorbed glass mat) style and sealed. The Gills are regular flooded lead acid cells. The charging voltage is supposed to be slightly higher on an AGM battery. Most new cars use AGM batteries. They are much more robust and last a lot longer. Way better technology. I use 2 Concorde AGM's for my 441, with a battery minder I hook up the Battery minder if there is more than a week or two between usage. I have a start cart in the hangar but never use it. Worst thing to a lead acid battery is a low charge condition as it builds sulfate on the battery cells/plates. I do not know if a high current draw is damaging or not. Maybe it is good since a heavy current draw and high recharge current might help desulfate the battery?

Nose battery goes through a disconnect relay. The cables to the back are not powered with the plane is off, so the BM can't connect there.

You would need to run a new wire (or two if the nose battery is #2, negative not grounded) to where the BM connector will be. Or have two connectors.

Mike C.

Is having batteries in wheel well the aft battery mod and if so, is that just an stc?