Best Battery for our Carbon Cubs?

[Pete D]

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.

[seastar]

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

[Pete D]

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.

[Kurt.KMQJ]

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?

[randylervold]

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.

[seastar]

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

[Kurt.KMQJ]

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.

[seastar]

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

[randylervold]

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.

[pwill435]

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