regulator wire connectors. 912 ULS

Re: regulator wire connectors. 912 ULS

by Richard DeHaven » 13 years ago

Richard DeHaven

2 26 23

I believe part of the issue on some LSAs, including my Sting Sport, is the use of too small of wire diameters by manufacturers. This leads to heat build-up and substantial expansion and contraction of the spade connections. Over time, this loosens them. Once they become loose, they can start "arching" (I've seen it on one of mine) and/or lose sound connection, shutting down battery charging. Such loosening, exacerbated by that weak little retainer tab that can't withstand many "bends," are the root of problems. In my opinion, a much better system would involve wires attached to the regulator posts with screws, with some type of plastic protective cover fitted over that. You can search for related ("battery not charging") threads on various LSA-related forums and quickly ascertain that the current application is less than optimal. Unfortunately, most of us are stuck with this sub-optimal piece of hardware.:(

Re: regulator wire connectors. 912 ULS

by Richard DeHaven » 13 years ago

Richard DeHaven

2 26 23

...and therefore, it behooves us to all have Ducati-regulator-101-charging-issues training, such as we get right here and on other forums. And I would submit that is evidence enough there is a problem with this piece of hardware.

Re: regulator wire connectors. 912 ULS

by ian foster » 13 years ago

ian foster

3 18 0

Good well meaning suggestions and support will always be welcome.

Re: regulator wire connectors. 912 ULS

by Richard DeHaven » 13 years ago

Richard DeHaven

2 26 23

...Another little Ducati-Regulator-101 piece of trivia:

How many owners know that if you have to flatten that little retainer tab to remove a wire for repairs in the field (or your hangar, for that matter), you'll need a flat, eye-glass-sized screw driver to do it? Even the smallest standard flat screw driver is too large; most "picks" won't work, either!

...I apologize for starting to "go-off" over all this. It's just that, in my airplane at least, this is all a very sub-optimal design, in my opinion. And it has cost me a lot of misery and lost flying time over 1,000 hours behind the stick of my Sting.

Re: regulator wire connectors. 912 ULS

by MARK JACKSON » 13 years ago

MARK JACKSON

12 332 11

Hi Richard

It seems that your gripe, as with most people, is with the aircraft manufactures design and not with Rotax that just supply the parts.

The parts and design, which is really a bog standard motorcycle regulator, is perfectly ok and fool proof, but when it is mounted in an awkward position or the wires are not routed correctly it is down to who ever built the aircraft.

I also don't think that the spade connectors expand and contract with heat. If they are getting even slightly warm you have a bad connection and it needs sorting. If the wire was too small for the load, the wire would become warm, not the spade connector.

Mark