Sting/Sting Sport Owners: Batteries, Dirt Cheap!

[drdehave]

Fellow Sting & Sting Sport owners:

If you haven't already found out, you will: These TL Ultralight airplanes eat up engine batteries pretty darned fast. In mine, I'm lucky to get 200 hours and 6-8 months.

The first sign you get that the battery is going bye-bye is the "Low Battery" warning light coming on intermittently whilst taxiing (I used to mistake this for a "bad" regulator--or loose wires going into the regulator)--especially if taxiing with the Strobes on! Then, the intermittent warning becomes more consistent, when taxiing or after pulling power during landing.

I stopped fighting it and stopped hunting for other, more expensive, causes. Now, when I start getting consistent Low Battery warnings, I just take 10 minutes and drop in a new battery. This invariably solves the problem.

And a new battery doesn't "hurt" the pocket that much, since they are only $50-58 on Amazon. And they send them to your door, for FREE! (What I do not quite understand about Amazon, is why their prices can change in a heart-beat! I just ordered this battery for $53 with Free shipping; Five minutes later when I checked, the price was $58. Go Figure!)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000N5U5VG/ref ... 00_TE_item

Rich

[drseti]

Rich, is that Yuasa motorcycle battery the make and model specified in the Sting maintenance manual?

[ct4me]

Try Apex Battery... I see they have the same model replacement for about $41, minus the ever-present coupon code worth another 5-10 percent.

[drdehave]

"That battery OEM-Specified?"

Yes, that model battery IS in the Master Equipment List of 11/12--with two European manufacturers. I am working to get this USA manufacturer added.

And I have tried the cheaper versions of this battery model--and they did not last as long as the Yamaha.

Rich

[dstclair]

Rich -- SportAir approved an equivalent Interstate Battery as well. A bit more expensive but readily available. I've gone with the Odyssey PC-310 which seems to have a bit better cranking power. We'll see on durability.

[drseti]

I've gone with an Odyssey PC-680 on my SportStar. Great battery, more expensive, but lasts several years. Evektor was kind enough to issue me a Letter of Authorization for this. (Anyone interested can see the LoA at <http://AvSport.org/acft/SportStar/Sport ... attery.pdf>). Since this is a heavier battery, I had to modify my wt/bal records accordingly.

[dstclair]

For Sting folk, the PC-310 is essentially the same weight as the Yuasa compatible motorcycle batteries and fits into the existing battery cage, albeit a little tighter. The terminals are also reversed so you'll need to mount it backwards or move the terminal cables.