beechcraft baron

[orchestra_nl 953]

5 minutes ago, pennymoor said:

Update:

John Blanchfield has suggested turnng back the ignition switch one notch after engines started:don't know why yet, but it works! At last I can go flying .....

I'll find out why later.

Many thanks in the meantime.

 

Perhaps the ignition switch on the honeycomb doesnt have a spring that returns the switch to the "both" position. With the starter activated continuously the batteries might be drained even when the alternators are on.

[Glenn Fitzpatrick 3,799]

Pretty sure the Honeycomb only sends a single pulse when you first turn it to "Start".

[AJZip 251]

9 hours ago, Glenn Fitzpatrick said:

Pretty sure the Honeycomb only sends a single pulse when you first turn it to "Start".

No - that's not the case.  The starter will be running for as long as it is switched to 'Start'.  As the physical Honeycomb rotary isn't spring loaded, you have to remember to turn the knob back to 'Both' as soon as the engine fires. 

Presumably, the effect of that depends on the specific aircraft modelling in terms of whether the alternators are generating more power than the starter is draining it but, in many cases it will run the battery down.  Also, maybe some aircraft are modelled to have the starter motor process itself self-cancelling - but, whatever, the starter command from the honeycomb is 'ON' for as long as the switch is switched to Start.  

 

[AJZip 251]

15 hours ago, orchestra_nl said:

Perhaps the ignition switch on the honeycomb doesnt have a spring that returns the switch to the "both" position. With the starter activated continuously the batteries might be drained even when the alternators are on.

Correct - the starter switch on the Honeycomb Alpha yoke is a simple 5 position rotary switch (Off ; R; L; Both; Start).  The Start position isn't spring loaded and will stay on until you turn it back to one of the other four positions.

It would be nice if it was spring loaded...when @pennymoor updated the post, I realised I've 'been there, done that!'

Edited July 3, 2023 by AJZip

[ShawnG 1,823]

The new alpha xpc has a spring loaded starter switch, the old one doesn’t.

[AJZip 251]

6 hours ago, ShawnG said:

The new alpha xpc has a spring loaded starter switch, the old one doesn’t.

That's excellent!