Avidyne Homepage
Forum Home Forum Home > Avidyne General > IFD 5 Series & IFD 4 Series Touch Screen GPS/NAV/COM
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Backup Power
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

Backup Power

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
jwjenks View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie
Avatar

Joined: 28 Aug 2013
Location: N14 New Jersey
Status: Offline
Points: 50
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jwjenks Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Backup Power
    Posted: 28 Aug 2013 at 1:45pm
Just a newbe here;
Will the 540 have any ability to use portable backup power?
For example a jack on the front that allows 14v input to the unit and simultaneously disconnects it to the buss would be a great option that allows the nav/com feature unit to remain operational.
Yes, there is the issue of audio panel power and associated switch gear but when the alternator craps out, being able to navigate and communicate is essential.  I have a portable ICOM but it's kind a sad having a $15000 GPS/Com unusable because of lack of power in the age of readily available battery power.  You can get a 5Ah, 2 lb, NiMH pack for $60.
I'm guessing it's much too late in the process for this to be an add-on.
But does Avidyne make a unit that allows for portable power to selected instruments?
Some sort of electric switch gear?
JWJ
Back to Top
phkmn View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie
Avatar

Joined: 06 Feb 2013
Location: Chicago
Status: Offline
Points: 78
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote phkmn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Aug 2013 at 4:06pm
Why not just install the B&C backup alternator?  That will power the entire suite.
PH
Back to Top
AviJake View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group


Joined: 26 Mar 2009
Location: Lincoln MA
Status: Offline
Points: 2815
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AviJake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Aug 2013 at 7:26pm
Hi JWJ,

No, the IFD540 does not have any ability to support some portable backup power.  We also don't make that kind of product that allows for this kind of power supply.

The principal reason the IFD540 doesn't support this is that we designed it to be plug and play with the existing 530 trays and we optimized the power supply for that design.
Steve Jacobson
sjacobson@avidyne.com
Back to Top
jwjenks View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie
Avatar

Joined: 28 Aug 2013
Location: N14 New Jersey
Status: Offline
Points: 50
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jwjenks Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Aug 2013 at 8:52pm
Let's see... $60 for a 5Ah battery or $2,200 + installation for a standby generator.  That's a tough choice.
I'm in Apollo 13 (Cessna 172) and I need to keep essential Nav/Com operational. 
Turn off all lights, autopilot, radios, except IFD 540 and maybe the Xpond.   If I plug in a battery to the 10Amp fused cigarette lighter then just my clock, two electric gyros, and the IFD 540 will have power.
How much current will the IFD 540 take?
JWJ
Back to Top
Paul View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 17 Aug 2012
Location: Massachusetts
Status: Offline
Points: 285
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Aug 2013 at 9:44pm
Doesn't your 172 already have a battery?

If you lost the alternator in IMC I'd expect you to use the IFD-540 to find the nearest airport with a usable approach and the frequency to use to declare an emergency.

Maybe Steve or someone else from Avidyne can describe the procedure for quickly finding such an airport.
Back to Top
tony View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 06 Dec 2011
Location: Atlanta
Status: Offline
Points: 466
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tony Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Aug 2013 at 10:52pm
JWJ,  If you desire that type of functionality, why don't you just handle it with the installation by putting in a DPDT relay and wiring it accordingly? 
Back to Top
MysticCobra View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 29 Jan 2013
Status: Offline
Points: 648
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MysticCobra Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Aug 2013 at 6:06am
Originally posted by Paul Paul wrote:

Doesn't your 172 already have a battery?

+1.

There are also other solutions in-between $60 and $2000, like any of a number of portable GPS units that are available.  No, those aren't going to give you all the capabilities of the IFD, including the ability to fly IFR approaches in hard IMC, but that's what thousands of pilots do today to back up their current panel-mounted GPS.
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.01
Copyright ©2001-2018 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.098 seconds.