Jeff R et al,
I too have been experiencing issues with my regulator (I am on my second
after 200 hours and the current one is acting up) and so whilst at Sun'n'Fun
I did some research by talking to Rotax distributors and also to Vans (in
view of the RV12 installation of the 912S).
Today at the Microlight Flyin at my local field, Popham, I also had the
chance to speak to our Rotax distributors and can advise the community of my
findings.
Firstly all the wise heads were advising that the issues with the regulator
seemed to be confined to Europas in the main, the issues being overheating
and pulling too much load. Neither of these conclusions have been
scientifically tested but the anecdotal evidence seems overwhelming towards
the first issue.
Vans have decided to provide an air duct to blow cool air onto the regulator
so they have decided that there must be a cooling issue. Bear in mind that
the RV12 is an LSA machine and therefore must be built according to the
manual - no modifications.
Jeff - your observations also point to this conclusion so thanks for the
input.
Our UK distributor (Conair) has talked to Rotax who say that there should
not be any issues and so are not willing to make any changes. However, the
UK agent has been concerned about the capacity of the regulator on well
equipped 914 Europas and therefore has been exploring the Schicke GR6 (a
German device already fitted by several UK owners). In conversations with
our Club Modifications Rep, Ian Rickard, it has been decided that we will
support Conair with investigating the Schicke in order to obtain an 'all of
type' modification within the rules of the UK Light Aircraft Association. As
I need to change my regulator I have offered to trial fit the regulator, but
I will move it to within the wheel well of my trigear in order to remove any
possibility of overheating influence.
Anyone who has already fitted a Schicke, could you please contact me off
forum so that we can obtain background and backing information towards this
modification.
I do not profess to be an expert on this topic merely an interested and out
of pocket installer.
The Europa club will keep the forum informed.
Regards
Steve Pitt
G-SMDH
PS Sorry we did not see you at Sun'n'Fun
----- Original Message -----
From: "JEFF ROBERTS" <jeff@rmmm.net>
Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2010 8:37 PM
Subject: Europa-List: Charging Problem Solved
>
> HI All,
> Several people have been asking so I sent this out the other day. For
> some reason the list did't except my e-mail address anymore so I had
> to sigh up again. On to the reason of this post.
>
> I believe there we're two different things causing my problem but
> anyway my problem has been resolved. Not only was there a bad
> connected ground... I believe when I quit cooling the regulator it may
> have taken it's tole on it as well. Just to clarify some time ago
> there was some discussion on making sure the regulator was not getting
> very hot so I took the precaution and ran a small scat tube up from
> the bottom NACA I wasn't using. About a few months back I didn't re-
> connect it thinking it wasn't necessary. Needless to say thats when I
> started noticing this problem. Coincidence? After fixing the ground I
> re-connected it as I was trying to cover everything. Put 2 or 3 hours
> on it last week before I left for a trip. I left it sit while I was
> traveling. Flew it some more when I got back. Just connected the
> tester to the battery and it's holding 12.7 amps and is at 90%. Before
> after a few flights it was down to about 30%. So there it is. Not sure
> if the cooler regulator had anything to do with it, but it was still
> not charging correctly after I fixed the bad ground. I will keep you
> all posted if you like but this time it really looks like I'm good to
> go.
>
> Thanks very much for all your help.
>
> Jeff R. N128LJ Gold Rush
>
>
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