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  2. Progress report - Two sets forward, big steps backwards.

Re: Progress report - Two sets forward, big steps backwards.

Mike Dwyer
 

Wow, reading all this makes my head hurt.
There are experts that can help with radio stuff, all ya gotta do is ask.  I ask when I have a software or engine problem cause I'm no expert there.
So as an Electronic engineer and extra class ham, plus I run 1 Electroair ignition I could help but I've gotten very conflicting information from the emails so far.
1) Alternator or ignition noise is rarely ever heard in a transmission. So If the tower says your garbled or unreadable that's one thing.
2) If you are hearing a high frequency wine noise in your headset that's alternator noise if it speeds up and slows down with engine RPM.
3) If your hearing kind of a tick noise that speeds up and slows down with engine RPM that's ignition noise.

Ya gota know what your trying to fix first.

If your after 1) above, first thing I'd do is try a different microphone/headset.  I'd measure the voltage going into the radio and look for 13 volts.  I'd check the SWR of the antenna.  Then I'd be concerned about the intercom.  I'd put ferrite beads on the antenna coax at the antenna and around the power/wires going into the radio.

I use an Electroair with unshielded automotive resistive wires and aircraft plugs.  No issue there.

I have a MAG filter on the P-lead of my mag.  Nice and quiet.

Let us help!

Mike Q200 N3QP


On Sat, Aug 30, 2014 at 10:24 PM, 'jcrain2@...' jcrain2@... [Q-LIST] <Q-LIST@...> wrote:
 

Hi Rick,
I do have shielded ignition wires and resistor plugs for the mag.  I have an electronic ignition from "Electro-Air" and I did turn off both ignitions alternately and the noise is only slightly better in both instances.  I think that the mag, even when grounded to kill it, still must be making electricity to the capacitor but not letting it go to the plugs and wires.  Let me know if I am wrong.
I did pull the breaker to the alternator (in front of the firewall) and went and flew it on just the battery.  The tower said it was minimally better. Don't know how much better that actually was.  Still lots of "scratchy".
I believe that when the "Scratchy" noise is fixed the system will be improved from all the things that I have reworked and crafted.  When I find out what the problem actually is I will let the group know.
On a side note,  I talked with another friend/aviator Dr Camp and he told me he had a capacitor go bad in his C182.  He said he had "scratchy bad radio transmissions" until he had it fixed.  So I think I am slowly eliminating things that are not the problem.  Just takes time and "hanging In there" Baby!  ;o)
 
Brucie Baby


---------- Original Message ----------
From: "'Rick Hole' r.hole@... [Q-LIST]" <Q-LIST@...>
To: <Q-LIST@...>
Subject: RE: [Q-LIST] Progress report - Two sets forward, big steps backwards.
Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2014 21:13:03 -0400

 

Bruce, what are you using for ignition wires? Are they shielded?  I would suspect the wires before the magneto.  If you cannot have shielded wires, possibly resistor ignition wire and resistor plugs could help the noise.

 

The easiest way to determine if it is alternator noise is to simple turn off the field connection.  The alternator goes dead and cannot generate any noise at all.  So if noise starts and stops with field on and off, you have an alternator noise issue.  If it stays the same it is likely to be ignition.  You might learn something by comparing noise with right or left mag only.

Rick Hole

 

From: Q-LIST@... [mailto:Q-LIST@...]
Sent: Saturday, August 30, 2014 8:30 PM
To: Q-LIST@...
Subject: Re: [Q-LIST] Progress report - Two sets forward, big steps backwards.

 

 

The noise has gradually gotten worse.  I thought it was my old Valcom radio but I was wrong.  The new Garmin is still noisy.  So I have pulled the mag today to send it in for a check out and hopefully it will be the capacitor or points or something.  If the mag has nothing wrong with it I will pull the B and C alternator to have it checked out.

The radio works great until I fire  up the engine.  Then it gets "Scratchy" according to tower and 2 ship with my hanger mate.  In the past year I have reworked all of the grounds (pulled them all to the grounding buss by the battery).  Reworked the ground to the engine and firewall.  Periodically I have heard an arcing fazing noise in my headsets but it was intermittent.  I have tried pulling  breakers to isolate the cause but the radio still puts out noise.  I get a slight improvement when I turn off the mag but the noise is still there.  

With all that said it seems to be pointing to the mag.  I hope to get the mag back next weekend so I can remount the engine and test it.  Working long hours to try and make it to ORE. 

Will let  you know how it works out.

Bruce


---------- Original Message ----------
From: "Sam Hoskins sam.hoskins@... [Q-LIST]" <Q-LIST@...>
To: Quickie List <Q-LIST@...>
Subject: Re: [Q-LIST] Progress report - Two sets forward, big steps backwards.
Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2014 05:30:37 -0500

 

Is this radio noise new, or have you changed something? What's the background on the problem?

Sam

Sent via wireless gizmo.

On Aug 29, 2014 10:38 PM, "'jcrain2@...' jcrain2@... [Q-LIST]" <Q-LIST@...> wrote:

 

Sorry Sam,

It's no fun to take those steps backward. 

I am  fighting radio noise with transmission and receiving.  I am pulling the engine this weekend to have the mag "gone through" and also line the mag box with stainless foil shielding to perhaps help get rid of some of the radio noise.  I am working to make it to ORE the last of Sept.  I offered the right seat to Imraan so hopefully this problem will be gone by then.

Bruce

---------- Original Message ----------
From: "Sam Hoskins sam.hoskins@... [Q-LIST]" <Q-LIST@...>
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: [Q-LIST] Progress report - Two sets forward, big steps backwards.
Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 08:17:24 -0500

 

Murphy's Law again.

 

 

 

 

 



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