EarthX battery

[smithflys23]

What size wire is needed for the fault monitoring?
Ill be connecting it to a Skyview HDX.

[scrollF4]

Originally Posted by Tankerpilot75

Sid,
My 60 amp alternator usually fully recharges my ETX900 after starting within a few minutes (based on observed amperage drop).

Roger that, Jim, that's not a problem. I meant two things:
- It'll take a little longer to recharge the 900 with a 60 amp alternator, but I should have pointed out it takes only a minute or two longer. This is my setup, but the way.
- EarthX is pretty adamant about using a battery properly rated for the alternator. A 680 is too small for a 70 amp alternator.

Sorry for not being more clear.

I have an ETX900 on KELLI GIRL...WOW what quick starts.

[rv8ch]

Originally Posted by smithflys23

What size wire is needed for the fault monitoring?
Ill be connecting it to a Skyview HDX.

Earthx says anything bigger than a AWG#20 will work. Not a lot of current there, just enough to light a LED on the panel or tickle your EFIS.

[smithflys23]

Originally Posted by rv8ch

Earthx says anything bigger than a AWG#20 will work. Not a lot of current there, just enough to light a LED on the panel or tickle your EFIS.

Attachment 19234

Thank you!

[219PB]

The internals of the 680 and 680C are the same. The 680's case is a little larger so that it would be drop in replacement for the Odyssey 680 battery box. I installed dual 680Cs to take advantage of the smaller box. They turn over my 360 very well.

I have a 60 amp alternator on one of the batteries and a 30 amp on the other. It will take about 5 mins for the 30 amp alternator to charge the battery if I have had the avionics on doing updates, troubleshooting, etc. If not, I do not even notice a significant current draw, even after starting the engine.

[smithflys23]

What is the consensus on using the vented, or standard EarthX battery on an RV8 with the rear mounted battery?

[David Paule]

I think that it's a good idea to seal and vent any lithium battery whose fumes can get into the cockpit if it had a problem. I'm planning to put the 680C I'll be getting into the cowl cheek of my RV-3B project. I would not put a lithium battery on the engine side of the firewall.

I checked with EarthX back when I was planning a cockpit mount, and was given a max temperature for a runaway battery. Aluminum is sufficient for the case. You might check for yourself if that's a concern.

Dave

[airguy]

Originally Posted by smithflys23

What is the consensus on using the vented, or standard EarthX battery on an RV8 with the rear mounted battery?

Depends entirely on your level of risk aversion. Thermal runaway can occur with a lithium battery if they are overcharged - so if you are absolutely 100% certain that you will notice and stop an overcharge event if your alternator regulator goes Tango Uniform, then you may choose to do without the vent.

I have a full glass panel with no less than 4 individual devices that will alarm on high or low voltage - so I'm relatively sure I'll notice it and correct it - and I still put my ETX900 (behind the baggage compartment) in a sealed case and vented it through the belly. YMMV.

[rv6n6r]

Originally Posted by airguy

I still put my ETX900 (behind the baggage compartment) in a sealed case and vented it through the belly. YMMV.

I've been wondering how people vent these. Can you describe it? Pictures?

[Avanza]

I replaced my Concord with a Lithium battery (LiFE PO4).
It´s in the engine compartment. The new battery is smaller so I made an insulated box of glass fiber over it with a scat hose close to cylinder 3.
So the battery stays relatively cool.
I had a spare Lithium battery and one day a hangar friend put it on a diesel
generator. It worked fine for an hour or so and then it had a thermal run away.
It melted a bit in the corners and we had a lot of smoke in the hangar for about
20 min. Yes the battery was hot but there where no open flames.
This smoke is poisonous, I would definitely not put a Lithium battery aft of the firewall in an aircraft. If you have to, put it in a box vented to the outside.