George:

Circuit breaker are rated to open after a specified current is applied over a specified amount of time. Putting AC current from the alternator into your electrical system may have caused damage to more than just a circuit breaker. That time can be as much as an hour, depending on the breaker. So a 20 amp breaker will require 20 amps to be applied for an hour. It may pop in less time but it is certified to pop within an hour. This might allow a pretty high load to be applied for a considerable time before it pops.

The system should be able to operate with the landing lights and so forth working at their designed amperages. I put LED lights in mine as I have tip tanks and I never wanted to remove a tip tank to change a light bulb. The reduced current draw is also nice.

The AC current may have, if it got past the regulator and the battery, done harm to a number of systems. This could cause trouble with the brushes in the motor, the solenoid contacts, and other such items. If the voltage to the system is low, the gear motor will pull more current, and this may also pop a breaker.

William

In an electrical system the battery starts the airplane and then ideally sits there getting a small charge for the rest of the flight. Obviously if you lose power then the battery is there to run things for a short time until you can get on the ground.

The battery does also function in one other way. If the power generated by an alternator or generator can’t keep up with the demand and the voltage goes to 12 volts, then the battery helps out. This is very common on Comanche’s since they usually have only a 35 to 55 amp generator. Even if you have upgraded to an alternator, the load can sometimes get to high for the alternator to keep up. Especially on landing, when you have all your lights on and then activate your gear. Pretty much everything in the airplane is one and your transmitting a good bit to take even more current draw.

So what to do? First make sure your battery is in good shape. A weak battery will not be there for the airplane when it needs it and that will cause all the current to be directed to the alternator. Pop goes the circuit breaker. As you mentioned, try lowering your overall draw by getting LED lights for things like the landing lights, strobe etc.

Hope this helps.

John Stark
Stark Avionics
N8029P