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Battery Replacement for PA 24-250

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Battery Replacement for PA 24-250

Postby Randy Johnson » Thu Feb 07, 2013 3:18 pm

Concord or Gill or another brand? I think the OEM replacement is a Gill 35. Does that sound right? Any thoughts are appreciated. Im in Florida so cold is not nearly an issue as heat (fluid evaporation)...

 

Looks like the Gill currently installed lasted 3 years.

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Re: Battery Replacement for PA 24-250

Postby 9089P » Thu Feb 07, 2013 3:46 pm

Personally I would only buy a gel type ie Concord battery. It solves the boil over problem. Mine have lasted twice as long as the wet batteries because they can't be boiled over. No more acid, no more acid damage, and no more acid clean up.

 

Good luck, Don

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Re: Battery Replacement for PA 24-250

Postby N3322G » Thu Feb 07, 2013 3:54 pm

Our concord batterers have been getting a solid 4 years and then we replace them just because. We do fly most every week though in TX.
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Re: Battery Replacement for PA 24-250

Postby Randy Johnson » Fri Feb 08, 2013 2:12 am

Great advice. Thanks to you both.
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Re: Battery Replacement for PA 24-250

Postby Randy Johnson » Fri Feb 08, 2013 2:14 am

Great advice. Thanks to you both.
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Re: Battery Replacement for PA 24-250

Postby Joseph Munoz » Sun Feb 10, 2013 8:42 pm

I recently installed a Gill G35-S. Its a sealed battery and you dont have to worry about acid spill either. I installed the Battery Minder designed for the Gill batteries and so far no problems with either item
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Re: Battery Replacement for PA 24-250

Postby Randy Johnson » Tue Feb 12, 2013 5:34 pm

I wonder if my Gill needs to be replaced yet. After completely charging the battery its resting voltage is 12.6

 

Is it time yet?

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Re: Battery Replacement for PA 24-250

Postby 9089P » Tue Feb 12, 2013 10:48 pm

Well, 12.6 is pretty normal voltage for the battery just sitting there. But it could be a surface charge. Best to have it load tested (O'Reillys) to be sure.

 

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Re: Battery Replacement for PA 24-250

Postby Randy Johnson » Thu Feb 14, 2013 11:02 pm

Will do. Thanks!
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Re: Battery Replacement for PA 24-250

Postby Andreas Riedel » Mon Feb 25, 2013 5:11 pm

Had problems with Gill batteries and changed to Concord. No problems anymore. Never looked back.
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Re: Battery Replacement for PA 24-250

Postby Randy Johnson » Tue Feb 26, 2013 10:59 pm

Thanks Andreas. Sounds like good advice. Very little difference in price between the two brands (sealed versions)...so I think I will try a Concord to see if I can get an extra annual or two out if it.

 

I must say my Gill has lasted two and a half years and it just had to be recharged after a two month no fly period. It charged right up and is still working fine after two flights. 12.6 volts after load.

Thanks to all for the great discussion and advice.

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Re: Battery Replacement for PA 24-250

Postby JIMICS2452 » Wed Feb 27, 2013 1:38 pm

With the Concord check the charging voltage that the battery gets. Be sure the regulator is in the range that Concord spec for the temperatures. In South FL I set mine to 13.8V because of the heat. Results 6+ years on 2 batteries. In colder climes the voltage will be higher. Concord's tech support can help with a recommendation.

 

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Re: Battery Replacement for PA 24-250

Postby Randy Johnson » Tue Mar 26, 2013 4:49 pm

Interesting. Thanks Jim.
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Re: Battery Replacement for PA 24-250

Postby Ron Davis » Sun Apr 07, 2013 12:04 am

Just replaced my 5 year old Concord just because. No acid damage to airplane and PMA Spruce delivered to Fl $237.
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Re: Battery Replacement for PA 24-250

Postby Randy Johnson » Mon Aug 05, 2013 3:48 pm

Finally replaced with the concord...huge difference in start up. Also used the new tempest plugs. Cant believe the difference.

 

Does the old battery core have any value?

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Re: Battery Replacement for PA 24-250

Postby David Callon » Sat Aug 10, 2013 3:57 am

I just replaced my 10 year old concord because, we'll I just thought it was time. Had a gill in a Cessna 150 go bad after a year. Called them and they said because I just bought the plane the warranty does not extend to me.
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Re: Battery Replacement for PA 24-250

Postby Steve Marcozzi » Sat Aug 10, 2013 1:42 pm

No core value that I've ever found. You can usually get rid of them at an auto parts place where they collect them for recycling.

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Re: Battery Replacement for PA 24-250

Postby Randy Johnson » Mon Dec 08, 2014 9:08 pm

And a year later the concord battery won't hold a charge. Will see if aircraft spruce will honor warranty...
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Re: Battery Replacement for PA 24-250

Postby N3322G » Tue Dec 09, 2014 2:32 am

Wow - hasn't happened to me or anyone I know. Is there something unique to your aircraft?
Last edited by N3322G on Tue Mar 24, 2015 7:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Battery Replacement for PA 24-250

Postby BobPicker » Tue Mar 10, 2015 6:27 am

I replaced my previous Gill with a Concorde sealed Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) type battery about 3 years ago. Battery box is clean and starting is a breeze. I did find out a slight issue with the change over. That is the battery box needed a slight mod to get the cable spacing correct for the Concorde. I had to make a patch over one of the holes that needed to be moved due to the battery configuration of the Concorde as compared to a Gill. I then re-drilled the hole, made and riveted two new phenolic resin insulators to the box for both the positive and negative cables. All mods to the battery box were inspected and approved by our IA.

As part of the change, I reworked the ground (negative) cable termination to the airframe that was somewhat flaky with resistance that was on the high side due to the bolting arrangement, dirt and corrosion. This cable termination is just adjacent to the battery box. Another area to make sure is properly connected are the grounding straps from the engine to the engine mount and airframe. With the long run of cables in a Comanche a poor ground connection at any point can negate any gains from a new battery.

Now, the Sky-Tec starter turns the engine over like there is no compression and starts occur in about 2-3 blades. Can't say enough positive about the Concord battery and making sure you have a great ground connection to the airframe. :P

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Re: Battery Replacement for PA 24-250

Postby Randy Johnson » Tue Mar 24, 2015 7:05 pm

Only thing I can think of is a very cold New England winter without a trickle charger or regular use. Snow was so high I couldn't get to my hangar for months.

Did get a refund of a whole $85 from Concorde...clearly only a fraction of the cost.

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