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Thread: What Battery Do You Use?

  1. #11

    Join Date
    May 2022
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    Talahassee FL
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    Default Re: What Battery Do You Use?

    agreed, I'll be using Aerolithium for the same reasons except for the ' certified ' part which I dont care about and they are a little less costly.

  2. #12
    Senior Member Delta Whisky's Avatar
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    Dec 2017
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    Amissville, VA
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    637

    Default Re: What Battery Do You Use?

    PC-680. Long shelf life and if needed, almost any battery charger will work. Readily available.

  3. #13
    Senior Member Eric Page's Avatar
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    Jun 2020
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    Toledo, WA
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    Default Re: What Battery Do You Use?

    Quote Originally Posted by Andy Battman View Post
    7Ah capacity is all thats needed apparently.
    As Jim suggested above, there’s more to choosing a battery than its cranking ability and price tag. Consider a few questions:

    • Are you using an engine with one alternator, or two?
    • Is your engine self-sustaining, or does it require electricity to run?
    • How do you plan to use the airplane (VFR or IFR, back-country, cross country or local)?
    • What is your ship’s running airframe electrical load?
    • What are you willing to turn off to shed electrical load if all power generators fail?
    • How much battery-only endurance do you want to achieve?
    • How hyper-focused are you on minimizing empty weight?

    Your battery capacity and chemistry preferences will be different depending on how you answer those questions.

    For a Rotax engine, check the electrical section (chapter 24) of the engine installation manual. For all of the 900-series engines Rotax recommends a battery with at least 16Ah capacity and 350CCA, but the capacity will obviously be more critical for an electrically dependent engine like the 912iS or 915iS, for which a dead battery = no thrust. The same consideration would apply to any automotive conversion with high pressure fuel pumps, electronic ignition and an ECU.

    As an example, I’m using a 912iS in a plane that will be used for day/night VFR and some back-country flying. I plan to use an EarthX ETX-900 (15.6Ah, 400CCA). My plane will be configured to aggressively load shed if I lose both alternators and have to run the engine on battery only. The entire Dynon suite, transponder, ADS-B and most lights will be shut off. I’ll finish the flight using a standby instrument (combined altimeter, airspeed and VSI), comm radio, landing and cabin lights (only as needed) and pitch trim. All of that adds up to a few hundred miiliamps of average load. Finally, I’ll test the battery at least annually to verify its capacity.
    Eric Page
    Building: Kitfox 5 Safari | Rotax 912iS | Dynon HDX
    Member: EAA Lifetime, AOPA, ALPA
    ATP: AMEL | Comm: ASEL, Glider | ATCS: CTO
    Map of Landings

  4. #14
    Senior Member 109JB's Avatar
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    Mar 2019
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    Morris, IL
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    484

    Default Re: What Battery Do You Use?

    I respect everyone's own decision but want to put in my reasoning for going with a powersport lithium battery rather than EarthX. Obviously the big one is cost. I spent $160 from Amazon for the NOCO battery I chose versus $380 for the EarthX. The EarthX is certainly a proven option, but having used lithium powersport batteries in motorcycles for a few years I had some experience with them. Eric brough up some points about the EarthX that I compared to what you get with a powersport lithium battery below. Everyone has to weigh the pros and cons of every selection on building an airplane. For me the cost, the fact that the Kitfox is a VFR airplane, and my previous experience led me to save the $200+ and I don't regret it. For others the differences may be such that you feel more comfortable with the EarthX and that is fine. Just giving my view.



    • Fully built-in, proven cell balancing and safety circuitry.(All lithium batteries require some kind of BMS. At least the NOCO I have and the antigravity do have BMS with over-discharge, over-charge, thermal protection and cell balancing.)
    • Now certified for use in certified aircraft.(EarthX has the corner on this but homebuilts don't need certified products.)
    • Lithium-Iron technology-safer than Lithium-Poly. (Virtually all powersport batteries are Lithium iron phosphate, not Lithium polymer so I don't see how this is a factor)
    • 10# weight savings compared to AGM.(You get this with powersport lithium batteries too)
    • Great cranking power. (Same with powersport lithium batteries)
    • No need for trickle charger. (Haven't needed one on my 582 powered Kitfox with powersport lithium battery either and the 582 has a weak charging system compared to even a 912UL.)
    • Panel mounted fault light. (The powersport batteries don't have this, but then again a standard battery doesn't either. For a vfr airplane I don't see this as a huge deal.)
    John Brannen
    Morris, IL
    Sonerai IIL (Single Seat)
    Kitfox 3/4 1050 - Rotax 582 (Back Flying and sold)
    Kitfox IV 1050 - Rotax 582 (sold)
    Kitfox IV 1200 Speedster - Rotax 912 UL (project)
    Piper Twin Comanche (Sold)
    Glasair 1 FT (Waiting to start)

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