I returned to the airport this morning after I saw low voltage on all my indicators. Here are the facts:
1. Shortly after startup I turned on pitot heat (potential for light ice through a cloud layer)
2. This increased my load to about 34 amps (my normal load is about 15-17 amps)
3. After lift off when I retracted the gear, the load went to 59 amps momentarily (I didn't know this number until I looked at my engine data and saw this is the moment the voltage dropped)
4. During climb out is when I saw the low voltage (11.5-12 volts. Normally 14-14.2 volts)
5 No circuit breakers popped.
6. Reset the ALT switch (I have the split kind) and the voltage would go to normal for about 5 seconds. Tried this a few times.
7. As I told ATC I was returning the autopilot kicked off and wouldn't come back on. Also radios became weak, but they could hear me OK. Shed as much electrical as I could.
8. When I got back to the hangar, I ran the engine up, reset the ALT again and voltage went to normal. As soon as I applied more than a 15 amp load, voltage dropped.
Could I have damaged the Regulator? I have a Zeptronics R1510L that was installed 19 years ago.
I'll start investigating on Thursday, but appreciate any input.
Thanks
Lon
PA32R-301T
TIO-540-S1AD
1. Shortly after startup I turned on pitot heat (potential for light ice through a cloud layer)
2. This increased my load to about 34 amps (my normal load is about 15-17 amps)
3. After lift off when I retracted the gear, the load went to 59 amps momentarily (I didn't know this number until I looked at my engine data and saw this is the moment the voltage dropped)
4. During climb out is when I saw the low voltage (11.5-12 volts. Normally 14-14.2 volts)
5 No circuit breakers popped.
6. Reset the ALT switch (I have the split kind) and the voltage would go to normal for about 5 seconds. Tried this a few times.
7. As I told ATC I was returning the autopilot kicked off and wouldn't come back on. Also radios became weak, but they could hear me OK. Shed as much electrical as I could.
8. When I got back to the hangar, I ran the engine up, reset the ALT again and voltage went to normal. As soon as I applied more than a 15 amp load, voltage dropped.
Could I have damaged the Regulator? I have a Zeptronics R1510L that was installed 19 years ago.
I'll start investigating on Thursday, but appreciate any input.
Thanks
Lon
PA32R-301T
TIO-540-S1AD
