EarthX has STC for Piper PA-24's (and PA-12's, PA-18"s, PA-20's, PA-22's, PA-28's, PA-32's)

[EarthX Batteries]

Hello All,

EarthX has the 12V FAA STC approval for installation of the ETX900-TSO battery in your PA-24 aircraft! (We also have STC's for the PA-12's, PA-18"s, PA-20's, PA-22's, PA-28's, PA-32's). EarthX is passionate about bringing this upgraded technology to all that want it at an affordable price, (it is not just for those who have the newly release Cirrus G7 that comes with an EarthX battery). We offer the STC paperwork completely free of charge! The battery costs $699 and is a 5.4 pound battery with cold cranking amps of 390 and 800 cranking amps on a warm day! Rated for a 6 year life. The battery will never freeze, boil over, sulfate or corrode. Check out more here: https://earthxbatteries.com/lithium-battery-solutions-for-certified-aircrafts/

I have had a chance today to review some posts and thank you to those who have already adopted this upgraded option, and we understand those who are skeptical of it. In order to achieve a TSO approved lithium battery, below is a SAMPLING (not all inclusive) of the required tests we must perform and pass which takes us well over a year to complete and is very expensive. The TSO approval is nothing compared to the STC approval and why so many companies do not pursue the certified aircraft market with new products as the barrier to market is steep! However, we are driven to provide an option to the 170+ year old battery technology that has been the standard. (Imagine if we still all used 35mm cameras? Or typewriters?) New battery technology will revolutionize the aircraft market. Here the list of tests:

TSO CERTIFICATION TESTING



INSULATION RESISTANCE

HANDLE STRENGTH

RATED CAPACITY

CAPACITY TEST AT LOW AND HIGH TEMPERATURE

CONSTANT VOLTAGE DISCHARGE FOR HIGH RATE BATTERIES

CHARGE ACCEPTANCE

CHARGE RETENTION

CYCLE TEST FOR HIGH RATE BATTERIES

RAPID DISCHARGE AT SHORT TIME OPERATING HIGH TEMPERATURE

SHORT-CIRCUIT WITH PROTECTION ENABLED

OVERCHARGE TEST

ACCEPTANCE TEST PROCEDURE (ATP) (SECOND SET OF SAMPLES)

SHORT-CIRCUIT WITHOUT PROTECTION

OVERDISCHARGE TEST WITHOUT PROTECTION

SINGLE CELL THERMAL RUNAWAY CONTAINMENT TEST

EXPLOSION CONTAINMENT TEST

GROUND SURVIVAL LOW TEMPERATURE TEST AND OPERATING LOW TEMPERATURE TEST

GROUND SURVIVAL HIGH TEMPERATURE TEST AND SHORT-TIME HIGH TEMPERATURE TEST

OPERATING HIGH TEMPERATURE TEST

DECOMPRESSION TEST

OVERPRESSURE TEST

TEMPERATURE VARIATION TEST

HUMIDITY

SEVERE HUMIDITY TEST

OPERATIONAL SHOCKS AND CRASH SAFETY

OPERATIONAL SHOCK TEST

CRASH SAFETY

IMPULSE SAFETY TESTS

SUSTAINED SAFETY TESTS

STANDARD VIBRATION TEST

ROBUST VIBRATION TEST

HIGH LEVEL-SHORT DURATION VIBRATION TEST

HIGH LEVEL – SHORT DURATION VIBRATION TEST PROCEDURE

ROBUST VIBRATION TEST PROCEDURE-FIXED WING AIRCRAFT

VIBRATION TEST FOR HELICOPTERS

WATERPROOFNESS

SPRAY PROOF TEST

FLUID SUSCEPTIBILITY

SALT FOG

RIPPLE VOLTAGE (DC)

MOMENTARY POWER INTERRUPTIONS (DC)

NORMAL SURGE VOLTAGE (DC)

ENGINE STARTING UNDER VOLTAGE OPERATION (DC)

LOW VOLTAGE CONDITIONS (DC)

MOMENTARY UNDER VOLTAGE OPERATIONS (DC)

ABNORMAL SURGE VOLTAGE (DC)

VOLTAGE SPIKE

AUDIO FREQUENCY CONDUCTED SUSCEPTIBILITY

DC Input Power Leads

INDUCED SIGNAL SUSCEPTIBILITY

SPIKES INDUCED INTO THE INTERCONNECTING CABLES

RF SUSCEPTIBILITY

CONDUCTED SUSCEPTIBILITY (CS) TEST – 10KHZ TO 400MHZ

RADIATED SUSCEPTIBILITY (RS) TEST – 100MHZ TO 18GHZ

EMISSION OF RF ENERGY

CONDUCTED RF EMISSION

RADIATED RF EMISSION

LIGHTNING INDUCED TRANSIENT SUSCEPTIBILITY

PIN INJECTION TESTS

ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE

Sincerely.
Kathy Nicoson- Sales Director
www.earthxbatteries.com

 

[flyer2160]

Does the Earthx battery require annual capacity testing

 

[SoundFlyer]

I have been researching your battery and am considering upgrading my PA-32. Any chance there will be a higher amp hour version soon available with a STC? Going from a 29 or 33ah Concord to 15.4ah ETX900 shortens my power reserve in a alternator failure scenario.

 

[EarthX Batteries]

Does the Earthx battery require annual capacity testing

Yes, after year 2, it is the exact same as a lead acid battery capacity test. Thank you for the question.

 

[EarthX Batteries]

I have been researching your battery and am considering upgrading my PA-32. Any chance there will be a higher amp hour version soon available with a STC? Going from a 29 or 33ah Concord to 15.4ah ETX900 shortens my power reserve in a alternator failure scenario.

 

[EarthX Batteries]

Thank you for the question.

Part of the STC process is to thoroughly test and provide data (proof) that the battery is equal or better than what came with the aircraft and meets all the battery requirements needed. The reason many aircraft came with such high capacity (Ah) lead acid batteries is because you need more capacity to achieve higher cranking, not because the capacity is needed. The ETX900-TSO has the same cranking amps as the 35 Ah lead acid battery with 15.6Ah, which not only provides the 30 minutes of required energy in an alternator out situation, but typically will provide over an hour worth of energy for the equipment that you would be operating in an emergency situation. We do not have any plans to make a higher amp version at this time as it would cost more, weight more, and technically has shown not to be needed. I am always happy to talk with you if you would like to call, my number is 970.674.8884 x2, or we will be at the Oshkosh show next week in Hangar C if you are attending, you can come talk to us in person.

However, if you are a pilot that flies over ocean or rough terrain and there are no options for landing over a period of an hour, then having a higher capacity battery would be important for you and this battery may not be the best choice for you.

 

[easyski]

I have been researching your battery and am considering upgrading my PA-32. Any chance there will be a higher amp hour version soon available with a STC? Going from a 29 or 33ah Concord to 15.4ah ETX900 shortens my power reserve in a alternator failure scenario.

Just curious what battery you are using from Concord? The battery in my pa32 is the RG24-15M which is only 13.6 amp hours and weighs 29.5 lbs, you have a 50+ lb battery in yours?

And unless Concord rates their batteries different, typically in lead acid batteries, only half the rated AH rating is usable (voltage drops too low) where as in lithium batteries, 100% of the AH rating is usable.

Possible the earthx account can confirm this? Thanks!

 

[EarthX Batteries]

Just curious what battery you are using from Concord? The battery in my pa32 is the RG24-15M which is only 13.6 amp hours and weighs 29.5 lbs, you have a 50+ lb battery in yours?

And unless Concord rates their batteries different, typically in lead acid batteries, only half the rated AH rating is usable (voltage drops too low) where as in lithium batteries, 100% of the AH rating is usable.

Possible the earthx account can confirm this? Thanks!

Hello Easyski,

You have a 24V aircraft, the STC is for 12V aircraft. So sorry for any confusion there and I should have been more specific on that!!! I will see if I can edit the title to specify 12V only at this time.


Fly Lightly,
Kathy Nicoson
EarthX

 

[easyski]

Hello Easyski,

You have a 24V aircraft, the STC is for 12V aircraft. So sorry for any confusion there and I should have been more specific on that!!! I will see if I can edit the title to specify 12V only at this time.


Fly Lightly,
Kathy Nicoson
EarthX

Are the 24v battery stcs in the works?

Thanks!

 

[EarthX Batteries]

Yes, the 24V STC projects have been in "process" with the FAA for just over 2 years now. The only 24V aircraft at this time with FAA approval is the Cirrus SR22 G7 aircraft but we are hopeful that this "process" will soon result in the STC's being issued. However, we have no control of the FAA and their timelines so we do not even try and guess when this might actually happen.