does this sound like a bad alternator.... after run up or 10 minutes of flight...we hear in our headsets like small crackling noises...something like miniatures sparks...then right after that the alternator trips....reset the alternator and all looks good for few more ( 5-10) minutes...its a piper arrow....thx
is this alterntor issue or voltage reg? - thx folks
It is probably your over-voltage sensor. This can be from the regulator allowing too high a voltage, or it could be just the OV sensor is going bad. They are usually set to shut the system down at or near 16 volts. If you can get a voltage meter and connect it and then go fly. If it gets up to 16 (or high 15s) and quits, it is likely the voltage regulator. If it is under 15 and quits, I'd guess the OV sensor is bad. Many regulators now are actually dual purpose and have a built in OV sensor.
All the above is true so long as when you say "reset" the alternator you mean turning on and off the red switch. If you mean the breaker, you have bigger troubles.
I had a similar problem with my warrior we replaced the voltage regulator and cleaned all the terminals thinking we had an intermitent short. We thought since it would charge for a short amount of time that the alternator was OK. Finally we sent the altenator to a rebuild shop they said one of the brushes was bad and arcing we had it rebuilt and it fixed the problem.
