Thorp Air Command - T18.net

I'm a new Thorp owner, Bought it in a few pieces
Not an electrician, your experience would be appreciated
1. New alternator has voltage regulator, should I remove the separate existing voltage regulator?
2. There is also an existing OVERvoltage regulator as well, does that stay?
Thanks John

Does your new alternator have an internal regulator? Is it a one wire alternator? Is it an aircraft alternator?
I suggest you have only one external regulator and do not rely on any internal one. They are notoriously poor. Your new alternator with an external regulator should have built in voltage protection.
The way over voltage protection works is that it senses an over volt condition and kills power to the field wire in a two wire set up. If that is not what you have, it won’t work.
Cubes

I bought a copy of Bob Knuckolls book called Aeroelectric. He walks you through it all. I was able to wire my entire plane based off his book and wiring diagrams in the back of the book.

I think the internally regulated alternators are more temperature sensitive than externally regulated and they sit really close to the standard Lycoming crossover exhaust system. I have been running an internally regulated Plane Power alternator with dedicated cooling air directed at it for 3 years now without any issues. As with anything else on the aircraft, that may change on the next flight.

_________________
Thorp T18
O-320-B3B (160 HP)
68x74 Sterba Propeller

"The joke in aviation is, 'If you want to make a million, you'd better start with £10m.' " -Bruce Dickinson

I also endorse the Plane Power alternator. Over a thousand hours with no problems. I did add a field switch to cut it off if it acts up.

_________________
Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

Yeah, I don’t like to run an alternator without a way to kill the field. I installed a circuit breaker/switch in the Thorp.

_________________
Thorp T18
O-320-B3B (160 HP)
68x74 Sterba Propeller

"The joke in aviation is, 'If you want to make a million, you'd better start with £10m.' " -Bruce Dickinson

PLANE POWER ! "Takes a licking and keeps on ticking !"

RB