Aircraft Batteries

[kobusf]

Is an aircraft battery a standard 12v battery (same as motorbikes etc) or a special type?

Regards

Kobus

[Stephan van Tonder]

Most use a dry cell so no not quite the same as a car as it has no liquid acid. They are also a lot smaller to save weight.

[kobusf]

Thanks Stephan

[Morph]

Yes you can use the same batteries, typically they are 12 to 17amp hour batteries. I would definately use a sealed battery. It all depends on the size of the battery holder

There are some folks who swear by the deep cycle batteries but newer engines' starter motors are light weight and quite happily operate on a standardd sealed lead acid.

the Panasonic LC-RD1217P 17 amp hour is perfect

Voltage: 12 V
AH: 17.0 AH
Length: 183mm
Width: 76mm
Height: 168mm
Weight: 6.8KG

[ZAZU]

Morph, 2 questions:
1: The Rotax 912 requires a 18A/h battery, this is just short of that, is this a problem?
2. The cost of this battery?

[Oupa-G]

Dear Morph and Zazu

The bat advised by Morph is excellent it is of the AGM Absorbed Glass Matt design . Its spongy lead plate design gives high amp abilities for starting. The amp capacity is not the alpha and omega it is the electricity supply ability during starting. The CTSW handles the starting of a 912S with a 7amp/h AGM battery
The bottom line is the more modern AGM design bat has a longer shelf life . It can absorb a tremendous charge rate so the charge rate of the alternator and a flat AGM bat must be matched. The old generator's can't handle flat AGM batteries. So do not get mixed up with cheap gel bat and the top class AGM Bat. The quality also reflects in the price but it eventually is cheaper because they last longer

Hope this helps a bit

Cheers Oupa-G

[Morph]

Morph, 2 questions:
1: The Rotax 912 requires a 18A/h battery, this is just short of that, is this a problem?
2. The cost of this battery?

I am using a 17a/h and it is more than enough for a 912. I flooded my engine once at Saldanha and it took quite a bit of cranking to eventually start her and the battery performed perfectly

I bought one recently from Aviation Engines for about R450 IIRC. Any battery supplier should be able to source these

[ZAZU]

Dankie Menere!!