My RV6 very slow build in New Zealand is almost ready for engine runs.
The engine is a Lycoming O-320-D1A, and I have replaced the RH Slick Magneto with a Light Speed Engineering Plasma II+ Electronic Ignition (EI) unit.
The wiring instructions state that the EI must be fed direct from the Battery (ie via its own CB), and the braided power wire must bridge the CB.
During wiring continuity & voltage checks I have discovered that this earthing arrangement results in me always having 12 V at the "upstream" terminal of the Master Switch, even with the EI CB is pulled, and the battery earthing strap disconnected.
I don't understand why this happens but can well imagine that it should not surprise me. The "continuous" braided earth wire seems to be the cause.
Proof of this is that if I disconnect the main earthing strap but leave the EI earth connected directly to the battery, and pull the EI CB, the 12V at the master switch remains.
On its own this seems a harmless arrangement, but it could be a trap for maintainers who wish to disconnect the battery as they would have to disconnect two wires to entirely disconnect the battery.
I have inquired with LSE re this matter, but they have not replied.
My question is what LSE mean by requiring the EI power to be earthed DIRECTLY to the battery. i.e. Can I ground this circuit at the firewall end of the earthing strap instead so that disconnecting this strap will always completely remove all power??
Sorry to bother you & I would be grateful for any feedback.
Maybe also my experience might be useful to others.
It would be very helpful if anybody with this system could do a voltage check at the Master switch input with all CB's pulled.
Or have I completely missed some more subtle cause?
Kind Regards.
Graham Murphy
New Zealand. (Winter is just starting here).
The engine is a Lycoming O-320-D1A, and I have replaced the RH Slick Magneto with a Light Speed Engineering Plasma II+ Electronic Ignition (EI) unit.
The wiring instructions state that the EI must be fed direct from the Battery (ie via its own CB), and the braided power wire must bridge the CB.
During wiring continuity & voltage checks I have discovered that this earthing arrangement results in me always having 12 V at the "upstream" terminal of the Master Switch, even with the EI CB is pulled, and the battery earthing strap disconnected.
I don't understand why this happens but can well imagine that it should not surprise me. The "continuous" braided earth wire seems to be the cause.
Proof of this is that if I disconnect the main earthing strap but leave the EI earth connected directly to the battery, and pull the EI CB, the 12V at the master switch remains.
On its own this seems a harmless arrangement, but it could be a trap for maintainers who wish to disconnect the battery as they would have to disconnect two wires to entirely disconnect the battery.
I have inquired with LSE re this matter, but they have not replied.
My question is what LSE mean by requiring the EI power to be earthed DIRECTLY to the battery. i.e. Can I ground this circuit at the firewall end of the earthing strap instead so that disconnecting this strap will always completely remove all power??
Sorry to bother you & I would be grateful for any feedback.
Maybe also my experience might be useful to others.
It would be very helpful if anybody with this system could do a voltage check at the Master switch input with all CB's pulled.
Or have I completely missed some more subtle cause?
Kind Regards.
Graham Murphy
New Zealand. (Winter is just starting here).