[Stolly]

I figure some of you in this larger engine section would have some easy input for me. I have recently upgraded to a gas (US41) engine which came with a plane I bought. I have a serious problem with hand starting and really dislike the spring starter system with the engine. I guess I value my hands and fingers too much. My 12V starter does not start the motor but a 24V easily turns it over and nicely starts it. I would however like to have a 24V power panel. Does anyone know of one or should I just rig up my own? I would think that hooking up a regular pwr panel to 24V source would mess up the rest of the outlets so I can't see that being an option. Many Thanks.
Dan.

[Vulcan1]

Dan,
Before I made a new starter for my gas I had it rigged up for 24v. You need 2 bat. wired in series and have one battery wired to the panel for 12 volts. The panel does not draw very much from the single battery. Pump and Glow plug. It is a pain in the butt with 2 but as you found out it is easier to get running with the 24. Also charge your batteries separately as from past experiance I have found if you lose a cell on one you are going to boil the other. This happens all the time on heavy equipment.
John

[Noin]

John,

Following your instructions you would need to wire the starter directly to the 2 batteries and not use the starter jacks on the power panel...correct?

[Stolly]

Ted:

Yeah that's what I think he means also. Which kind of renders the power panel useless the way it is. I have drawn out a sketch to make my own panel (not quite as rich in options mind you) which will have dual12V charge jacks for each batt. (which could also be 12V source) and a 24V set of jacks to start the plane. I was just hoping to find an OEM sort of power panel that would support 24V input therefore have a 24V starting output. He is right about the seperate charging ports so this panel should have that option built in. I can't possibly be the first to want something like this...it must be out there somewhere?

[Noin]

I was just thinking that Radio Shack, now called The Source probably has banana jack recepticles. You could install these next to your original power panel and wire them to both batteries giving you a 24 volt source.

[Stolly]

I have actually already bought a bunch as well as a switch to seperate the two batteries as they are hooked in series. This was in anticipation of building my own panel as I described. If I two batteries to just those jacks and one of those to the usual panel I will backfeed 24V to the panel also as batteries hooked in series. Unless I have some one way current device in there somehow. Like I say somewhere someone must build a 24V panel. May have to go oversees??

[Robw]

Just came across this link. Converts any input voltage up to 28 v to output of 2.5-24 volts

http://www.zebrahobby.ca/cgi-bin/cp-...ME:electronics

[Stolly]

Cool;

something that could almost be built into a high end power panel.

Thanks for that.

[Vulcan1]

If you notice on the front of my panel there is a hobbico charger and also a power panel. The other conections which I now changed top right are 2-3/8" bolts marked + and - for my starter. I purchased a cheap set of battery jumper cables and wired them to my starter. Found when on 24v the standard plugs where ready to go up in smoke. You can also wire your batteries in parallel for 12 volts and series for the 24. The switch in the centre was wired for series-parallel. As I mentioned it is not worth it as the panels draw very little. Just watch you don't get a big spark.
The dc to dc panel on the other site looks nice but check your ratings. Looks like 2 amps which is not very much especially if you want to charge from it. Be like the other post in electrics. Lots of smoke.
This is my box and also my new starter. I made a starter also for Brian and it was a 12 volt motor with a gear reduction. Came off a piece of farm equip. he found.
John

[Stolly]

Thanks to all of you for your input thus far. I think I'm on the right track. I guess your right about the regular plugs. I may have to use something other than the everday banana plug.