07 Dec 2025, 20:36 [ UTC - 5; DST ]
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Post subject: starting question for C425 owners  Posted: 04 Feb 2017, 22:16 |
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Joined: 05/31/13
Posts: 1360
Post Likes: +725
Company: Docking Drawer
Location: KCCR
Aircraft: C425
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I have a C425 and I started it with my mechanic on board and he said my battery was getting weak because the voltage drops to 10-12 VDC right when the starter is engaged. Ng stabilizes at around 18% on a battery start, start temps are low, and the last battery capacity check was 86%. Can anyone else with a PT6-112 powered 425 tell me what voltage they see right when the starter is engaged?
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Post subject: Re: starting question for C425 owners Posted: 04 Feb 2017, 23:32 |
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Joined: 01/31/09
Posts: 5193
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Location: Northern NJ
Aircraft: SR22;CJ2+;C510
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How old is your battery?
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Allen
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Post subject: Re: starting question for C425 owners Posted: 04 Feb 2017, 23:36 |
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Joined: 03/17/08
Posts: 6610
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Location: KMCW
Aircraft: B55 PII,F-1,L-2,OTW,
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IMHO, If you can make 18% I would say you have a pretty good battery...
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Tailwinds,
Doug Rozendaal
MCW
Be Nice, Kind, I don't care, be something, just don't be a jerk ;-)
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Post subject: Re: starting question for C425 owners Posted: 05 Feb 2017, 02:09 |
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Joined: 05/31/13
Posts: 1360
Post Likes: +725
Company: Docking Drawer
Location: KCCR
Aircraft: C425
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OK I appreciate the feedback and I will keep an eye on it. I'm not looking forward to $2500 on a new battery if I don't have to.
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http://www.dockingdrawer.com
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Post subject: Re: starting question for C425 owners Posted: 05 Feb 2017, 07:46 |
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Joined: 02/13/10
Posts: 20375
Post Likes: +25516
Location: Castle Rock, Colorado
Aircraft: Prior C310,BE33,SR22
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Username Protected wrote: $2500 on a new battery...... What the....! 
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Arlen
Get your motor runnin'
Head out on the highway - Mars Bonfire
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Post subject: Re: starting question for C425 owners Posted: 05 Feb 2017, 13:09 |
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Joined: 05/31/13
Posts: 1360
Post Likes: +725
Company: Docking Drawer
Location: KCCR
Aircraft: C425
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I know. I was in the shop last week looking at a 441 and thinking "at least I don't have two batteries"
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Post subject: Re: starting question for C425 owners Posted: 05 Feb 2017, 13:14 |
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Joined: 05/31/13
Posts: 1360
Post Likes: +725
Company: Docking Drawer
Location: KCCR
Aircraft: C425
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When I was researching batteries I noticed there is a RG380/46 which appears to be the exact same size as the 44 but it has slightly higher capacity (46 A-h rather than 44 and higher cranking amps). It weighs 3 lbs more. Could that be used as a legal replacement for a RG380/44? They are about the same price so it might be good to get as much capacity as possible.
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Post subject: Re: starting question for C425 owners Posted: 17 Feb 2017, 20:42 |
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Joined: 09/11/09
Posts: 320
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Aircraft: PC24,PC12,BE30,LR60
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Just ordered a replacement batt for our new to us 425. Ours has an almost 4 year old Gill 6381E which was a shocker when I looked up the install date. Paid $1560 through Aircraft Spruce.
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Post subject: Re: starting question for C425 owners Posted: 17 Feb 2017, 23:01 |
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Joined: 06/09/09
Posts: 4438
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Aircraft: C182P, Merlin IIIC
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Username Protected wrote: OK I appreciate the feedback and I will keep an eye on it. I'm not looking forward to $2500 on a new battery if I don't have to. Batteries are about the cheapest thing on a turbine. Bad batteries can end up costing you the amount of a medium sized house.
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Post subject: Re: starting question for C425 owners Posted: 18 Feb 2017, 01:17 |
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Joined: 12/03/14
Posts: 20806
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Company: Ciholas, Inc
Location: KEHR
Aircraft: C560V
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Username Protected wrote: Ours has an almost 4 year old Gill 6381E Could be a record for one of those. I never got more than 2 years out of the 6381E. Switched to Concorde AGM and have been much happier even considering the higher price. Battery Minders work, mine are on them 24/7 when at home base. Mike C.
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Post subject: Re: starting question for C425 owners Posted: 18 Feb 2017, 01:20 |
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Joined: 12/03/14
Posts: 20806
Post Likes: +26310
Company: Ciholas, Inc
Location: KEHR
Aircraft: C560V
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Username Protected wrote: Bad batteries can end up costing you the amount of a medium sized house. Only if you aren't paying attention to the temp gauge during the start sequence. One hand on the lever at all times... Mike C.
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Post subject: Re: starting question for C425 owners Posted: 18 Feb 2017, 02:40 |
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Joined: 05/31/13
Posts: 1360
Post Likes: +725
Company: Docking Drawer
Location: KCCR
Aircraft: C425
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Finally replaced the Concorde RG380E/42. According to the logs it was 12 years old. My mechanic just laughed and said he'd never heard of a turbine battery going that long. But the new battery is a RG380E/46 and instead of 16-18% Ng when I introduce fuel it's 22%. It starts as the same ITT temperature as on a power cart. $2700, but I've beaten with the turbine stick for months now and it doesn't even sound that expensive anymore...
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Post subject: Re: starting question for C425 owners Posted: 18 Feb 2017, 11:24 |
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Joined: 12/03/14
Posts: 20806
Post Likes: +26310
Company: Ciholas, Inc
Location: KEHR
Aircraft: C560V
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Username Protected wrote: Finally replaced the Concorde RG380E/42. According to the logs it was 12 years old. Did you check the date code on the battery itself? Sounds like a battery changed occurred that wasn't logged. 12 years in a turbine is defying reason. How many starts would that have been? Quote: But the new battery is a RG380E/46 and instead of 16-18% Ng when I introduce fuel it's 22%. That's probably more new versus old than the slight increase in capacity of the new model. Mike C.
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