Page 13 of 27 FirstFirst 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627 LastLast
Results 121 to 130 of 261

Thread: Best Battery for our Carbon Cubs?

  1. #121
    Administrator Pete D's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Yakima, WA
    Posts
    1,157

    Default Re: Best Battery for our Carbon Cubs?

    Quote Originally Posted by seastar View Post
    Pete
    How much less current does the new starter draw? What does it cost?
    What does a new cowl cost? Can a cowl be field installed? I am almost 2000 miles from the factory.
    how much more does the combination weigh?
    Do you still need the seat base and larger battery with the new starter/cowl?
    Whats the bottom line for your suggestion?

    What is the cost of the new seat base?

    I just bought a new X2 battery for $112 and it works better than the two year old X2 but is still marginal.
    As a test I hooked the old battery in parallel with the new one and that spun the engine pretty well.
    Maybe a second battery bolted in the luggage area is the cheap answer for an ELSA.
    Bill
    Option #1: Starter/Cowling
    The new starter is $450 but requires the new cowling update as well. I don't have the current draw numbers but Hartzell advertises their X-Drive starters have the lowest inrush and operating current draw of any starter in the industry.

    New (2013 Production style) cowling and baffles are $9,000 for parts, paint, labor installed at CC. Field installation is possible but not recommended.

    Replacing the cowling/plenum and starter should lighten the airplane up by 4 pounds. (may vary a little depending on what paint scheme)

    You do NOT need the new seat base/battery to run the new starter and cowling. Customers and dealers are reporting excellent starting with just the new starter and original battery.

    Option #2: Seatbase/Big battery
    Stan tells me he charges $600 for the seat base, $150 for the big battery and $600 labor for the mod. Again, this will add about 5 pounds to the empty weight of the plane.


    Summary
    Two main paths here:

    Option #1: Cowling/plenum/starter will give you more cooling margin and a better cranking starter while lightening the airplane up by around 4 pounds. Also, it will update the look of the plane to be the same as current 2013 models.

    Option #2: Seatbase mod with PC680 will give more battery for cranking but ADD about 5 pounds to the airplane. Cheaper in the long run but doesn't have as many pluses.

    Bottom line, I would recommend the new cowling/starter.
    Last edited by randylervold; 12-11-2012 at 05:36 PM.
    Pete Dougherty
    Customer Support Manager
    Cub Crafters Inc

  2. #122
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Indianapolis
    Posts
    283

    Default Re: Best Battery for our Carbon Cubs?

    Thanks for the answers Pete.
    Are you saying that the seat base mod is factory only?
    I thought that mod was field capable.
    Bill

  3. #123
    Administrator Pete D's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Yakima, WA
    Posts
    1,157

    Default Re: Best Battery for our Carbon Cubs?

    Quote Originally Posted by seastar View Post
    Thanks for the answers Pete.
    Are you saying that the seat base mod is factory only?
    I thought that mod was field capable.
    Bill
    The seatbase will be field retrofitable when the aproval comes through from engineering. The new aircraft are shipping from the factory with the new seatbase, a standard battery and the new starter.
    Pete Dougherty
    Customer Support Manager
    Cub Crafters Inc

  4. #124
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Indianapolis, IN
    Posts
    18

    Default Re: Best Battery for our Carbon Cubs?

    Ok. I need a ride to Yakima 1/9/2013 for a return trip in N204KG, a 2013 CC. What do you think? Trade trips, Bill?

  5. #125
    Senior Member randylervold's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Yakima, WA
    Posts
    1,378

    Default Re: Best Battery for our Carbon Cubs?

    Quote Originally Posted by seastar View Post
    Thanks for the answers Pete.
    Are you saying that the seat base mod is factory only?
    I thought that mod was field capable.
    Bill
    Bill, the seat base (battery box) mod can be done in the field no problem, but the cowl/plenum upgrade would really best be done here at the factory.
    Randy Lervold

  6. #126
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Indianapolis
    Posts
    283

    Default Re: Best Battery for our Carbon Cubs?

    Kurt
    I think if I do anything it will be to field install the new seat base.
    I don't want to fly to Yakama and back.
    For now the new X2 battery is starting the engine OK.

    My current plans are to be in the Bahamas in January, fishing.

    I hope you have good times in your CC.Crossing the Rocky Mountains in January should be a Hoot!
    I really like flying my CC.
    Most fun of any of the 17 airplanes I've owned.

    What do you fly out of MQJ?
    I am based at UMP.
    Bill

  7. #127
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Indianapolis, IN
    Posts
    18

    Default Re: Best Battery for our Carbon Cubs?

    Unfortunately, I do not have a jet. I have a Mirage. More functional, less fun, than the 182 I just sold hence the CC tail-dragger. I met you and your jet pilot last summer @ your hangar.

  8. #128
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Indianapolis
    Posts
    283

    Default Re: Best Battery for our Carbon Cubs?

    A note to Pete and Randy-----
    I applaude your efforts to redesign the seat base and give owners a good starting engine.
    It is a real problem on the older airplanes.

    That having been said, I hope you don't abandon your efforts to find us "old airplane" owners a suitable lithium iron battery that will fit in the old seat base.
    Seems to me that would be a very cost effective solution. (Lighter too)
    i know you make money on the seat bases and they are not that expensive but changing them out, is for us, a real pain in the ass. Pun intended.
    Why don't you test an Aerolithium battery and tell us what you think.
    There are more than one LSA manufacturer using lithium iron as original equipment.
    Surely, that would not have any more liability than the motorcycle battery you use now?
    Bill

  9. #129
    Senior Member randylervold's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Yakima, WA
    Posts
    1,378

    Default Re: Best Battery for our Carbon Cubs?

    Quote Originally Posted by seastar View Post
    A note to Pete and Randy-----
    I applaude your efforts to redesign the seat base and give owners a good starting engine.
    It is a real problem on the older airplanes.

    That having been said, I hope you don't abandon your efforts to find us "old airplane" owners a suitable lithium iron battery that will fit in the old seat base.
    Seems to me that would be a very cost effective solution. (Lighter too)
    i know you make money on the seat bases and they are not that expensive but changing them out, is for us, a real pain in the ass. Pun intended.
    Why don't you test an Aerolithium battery and tell us what you think.
    There are more than one LSA manufacturer using lithium iron as original equipment.
    Surely, that would not have any more liability than the motorcycle battery you use now?
    Bill
    Bill,
    Hopefully by now you've sensed that we ALWAYS prefer the lighter weight solution which would be some sort of new-tech battery. So don't worry, we'll continue to monitor the technology and look for ways to incporporate it.
    Randy Lervold

  10. #130
    Member
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Mission Beach, Qld, Australia
    Posts
    39

    Default Re: Best Battery for our Carbon Cubs?

    Randy, I strongly second Bill's comments. Please keep up the good research you are doing. Paul.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •