12V/12V regulator for light aircraft

[hairybadger]

Hi,
My father-in-law has what in French is called an ULM, essentially a light aircraft. Under French regulations it's limited to 450kg loaded weight. Recently the transponder blew - we sent it off to Germany to get it fixed and it came back with a note saying that it should be wired up behind a 12V/12V convertor to protect it from power surges (probably what blew it before....).

I'm having trouble sourcing a suitable device - I'm also not entirely sure what I need. My father-in-law wants to put various other bits of low-draw kit behind the regulator, for example the radio. Could anyone give me some pointers? Sorry if I'm not being clear. I figured that there are so many electronic specialists here that somebody may have a clue what I'm talking about

 

[Channel Hopper]

Voltage Regulators from Aircraft Spruce

 

[2cvbloke]

An electronics friend of mine suggests checking and/or replacing the alternator if the power's spiking a lot, and possibly the transponder with something with better internal power suppression to better deal with unexpected power disruption...

 

[hairybadger]

An electronics friend of mine suggests checking and/or replacing the alternator if the power's spiking a lot, and possibly the transponder with something with better internal power suppression to better deal with unexpected power disruption...

Is already pretty decent (as far as I can tell) - Funke Avionics. However - my father-in-law says that the aircraft blows fuses quite often, so yes you're probably right about the alternator

 

[Terryl]

Try looking for something like this.

Fully isolated 12V/12V 8A DC/DC regulator switchmode dc converter, 100 Watts continuous

 

[hairybadger]

Try looking for something like this.

Fully isolated 12V/12V 8A DC/DC regulator switchmode dc converter, 100 Watts continuous

OK - something like that may well be a winner. Thanks very much

 

[2cvbloke]

Just remember, if the power system onboard is faulty, that'll blow too...

 

[hairybadger]

Just remember, if the power system onboard is faulty, that'll blow too...

it glides pretty well

 

[2cvbloke]

it glides pretty well

I'm sure it does, but, an unidentified aircraft (no transponder or radio) with no power in an age where authorities are getting twitchy with their triggers might result in it turning into a moving target for a jet pilot's guns if the stuff going on with Turkey versus Russia's anything to go by wouldn't want your FiL being shot down...

 

[hairybadger]

I'm sure it does, but, an unidentified aircraft (no transponder or radio) with no power in an age where authorities are getting twitchy with their triggers might result in it turning into a moving target for a jet pilot's guns if the stuff going on with Turkey versus Russia's anything to go by wouldn't want your FiL being shot down...

Fortunately the French/Swiss border region isn't really a flashpoint Plus the radar cross-section is tiny, cruising speed is 195km/h and max altitude is only a few thousand metres. I don't think anyone is afraid of being attacked by something smaller and slower than a Sopwith Camel.

 

[2cvbloke]

Better to be safe than smithereens...

 

[Channel Hopper]

Fortunately the French/Swiss border region isn't really a flashpoint Plus the radar cross-section is tiny, cruising speed is 195km/h and max altitude is only a few thousand metres. I don't think anyone is afraid of being attacked by something smaller and slower than a Sopwith Camel.

Not sure about that, plus they have blunderbusses over there .