Aliant Lithium Batteries

[grantopperman]

I'm reading back through the "winter battery charging" threads about those who are using Aliant Lithium batteries instead of the SLA Odysseys. I didn't see a battery model number, though. Can anyone who is running Aliant post the exact model they have? Also, did that fit the existing battery box without modification? I'm P2008T.

Thanks!

[ash31mi]

I'm ready for a new battery for my Astore, and would also be interested to know the Aliant battery model others are using.

[grantopperman]

Hi Ash31mi:

I just ordered a battery from EarthX. They work with a lot of the experimental / LSA companies and have experience with Rotax. So, they were pretty knowledgeable when I called. They're also a US company, as opposed to Aliant, which is Italian. Easier shipping and customer service!

You should call to discuss if you want, but for the record I bought an ETX 900 model. It's not cheap at $449, but I have hope it's going to definitely solve my problem! Here's the link: earthxbatteries.com/shop/etx900

I'll post a report once I install and fly it some. Good luck!

[ash31mi]

Thanks for the pointer, Grant, I'll check out the EarthX battery.

[Glenn]

Jan 28, 2020 23:45:10 GMT grantopperman said:

Hi Ash31mi:

I just ordered a battery from EarthX. They work with a lot of the experimental / LSA companies and have experience with Rotax. So, they were pretty knowledgeable when I called. They're also a US company, as opposed to Aliant, which is Italian. Easier shipping and customer service!

You should call to discuss if you want, but for the record I bought an ETX 900 model. It's not cheap at $449, but I have hope it's going to definitely solve my problem! Here's the link: earthxbatteries.com/shop/etx900

I'll post a report once I install and fly it some. Good luck!

Are the weight and dimensions the same as the Odyssey battery?

[cole505]

Hi Grant,

Thanks for sharing your info! Very much appreciated 😊 I hand an Aliant battery in my last P-2008 it worked flawlessly 5 years...... I like the fact that earthX is here in the USA a little pricey, but I am sure it will be worth it....... And I hope it solves
Your issues....

Ray & Lucy ✅✈️😎🇺🇸😊👍🏻

[grantopperman]

Jan 29, 2020 22:21:32 GMT cole505 said:

Hi Grant,

Thanks for sharing your info! Very much appreciated 😊 I hand an Aliante battery in my last P-2008 it worked flawlessly 5 years...... I like the fact that earthX is here in the USA a little pricey, but I am sure it will be worth it....... And I hope it solves
Your issues....

Ray & Lucy ✅✈️😎🇺🇸😊👍🏻

Good to hear the positive report on Aliant, too. I think there are several out there that have worked well!

[Flocker]

Jan 28, 2020 23:45:10 GMT grantopperman said:

It's not cheap at $449, but I have hope it's going to definitely solve my problem! 

Refresh my memory - what was your problem?

[grantopperman]

Two dead batteries in two years. Despite being just one year old, the latest one is not reviving well.

Early on, I had a problem with some phantom power draws (a bad LED in the off position), which Tecnam helped to diagnose and fix. But the latest battery was perfect through the summer and then went bad once cold(ish) weather began.

Notes:

- My current battery, as well as the previous one installed when I bought the plane, is a Hawker / Enersys SBS J-16, which is traditional lead acid.

- I have a Schauer JAC2512 GPU, which I have used as a charger / maintainer especially since I started having problems.

[Glenn]

Grant,

2 batteries in 2 years?  If I went thru batteries like that, I'd start looking for reasons.  I think we're all getting 4-5 years (or more) from our batteries.  

[ash31mi]

The EarthX is 6 5/8” high, which is about 2” higher than the original Italian Spark battery installed in my Astore. I’m going back to measure more accurately for available extra height in the battery location, but I might have to go with the Odyssey PC 545 which has a similar height to the Spark. I can’t find a good (US) source for the Aliant; any suggestions?

[grantopperman]

Feb 2, 2020 16:00:56 GMT ash31mi said:

The EarthX is 6 5/8” high, which is about 2” higher than the original Italian Spark battery installed in my Astore. I’m going back to measure more accurately for available extra height in the battery location, but I might have to go with the Odyssey PC 545 which has a similar height to the Spark. I can’t find a good (US) source for the Aliant; any suggestions?

There seem to be a lot of different “original” batteries out there. My plane had the SBS-J16, which is pretty close dimensionally. But that was inside a standard (I think 'C' size battery case with foam to fill the slack. My battery case just had a strap across the top so it would have been pretty easy to deal with height differential. I’ll post a picture if I can figure out how.

[grantopperman]

Shoot. Not really LOLling. Just trying to find the photo upload button!

[ash31mi]

Here's the Spark: in a tray attached to upper left firewall with a metal strap. Height appears to be the limiting factor; I'll measure more accurately and a better photo tomorrow out at the airport.




Grant: I agree the photo insertion isn't obvious; the way I do it (in Chrome) is to click Reply, then simply drag the photo file over the text entry box, at which point the text box goes gray and shows the text 'drop files here to upload', then click the big 'X' button top right corner which then shows the file uploading. I haven't figured out why it forces the preview image into landscape format but not the larger version.

[grantopperman]

Hey, what do you know! Your insert method works. So, thanks for that.

Below is the current (original) installation. I'll post the new one once I make that swap.