Alert Dear CubCrafters - please provide an upgrade for backup ignition batteries

[Neal]

Dear CubCrafters,

Many of us do not trust the PowerSonic 12V AGM battery as a viable solution for the ignition backup battery that comes standard from the factory or in kits for the EX-3/FX-3. There is a better option which I believe is used in the newer X/NX Cubs - the TCW IBBS LiFePO4 solution. A slim design that fits perfect in the space where the existing PowerSonic battery is installed.

As the TCW IBBS is not a trivial drop-in replacement I ask that CubCrafters provide a service bulletin or some instruction for those that may want to upgrade this battery to a better solution which CubCrafters already knows how to wire in as the ignition backup solution. You could sell a kit that includes the battery and new mount required to go in the place of the PowerSonic setup and instructions for what needs to be changed in the G3X config for the battery type change to LiFePO4.

The TCW IBBS 3AH is a perfect fit but another consideration would be the 6AH option that supplies power to both Light Speed ignition modules, if possible.

Upgrading to the TCW IBBS also eliminates the need for owners to remove the right forward panel at each condition inspection to replace the PowerSonic battery which only has a one year lifespan and some have found batteries failing at only two months after replacement. We cannot afford with our insurance to lose a plane over this, much less a life. You can do better, we can do better.

Please help us, your customers, be safer with more modern solutions for backup power.

 

[TailwindsJJ]

Neil hi
Does that IBBS 3AH battery act as a plug and play in terms of fit and wiring in place of the TCW lead acid original supplied by cub crafters.
It’s rather absurd that they shipped my kit with that lead acid battery that then sat for 3 years during my build and was dead by the second year.
Thanks

 

[TailwindsJJ]

Meant to say power sonic not TCW

 

[Neal]

Does that IBBS 3AH battery act as a plug and play in terms of fit and wiring in place of the TCW lead acid original supplied by cub crafters.

No, it is not a drop-in replacement which is why I'm asking CubCrafters to provide a service bulletin on how to replace the PowerSonic AGM option with a TCW IBBS LiFePO4 solution.

My advice to kit builders such as the EX-3:

-The PowerSonic battery should be charged and only used for testing. When the time comes such as the Airworthiness inspection (DAR) replace with new.

-The starter battery should be charged and stored per the vendor's instructions

-TCW outlines storage (non use) of the IBBS battery. You will need a charge solution, I suggest just buying theirs. I bet most kit builders don't know this and leave their IBBS uncharged and unused for years. Not good. Follow the vendor's guidance for all batteries

-If installing the Garmin G5, it has its own backup battery. I don't know the vendor instructions for storage and care of this battery.

 

[Neal]

Someone needs to come up with a charge solution for the PowerSonic AGM battery and should charge the battery prior to installing at the annual condition inspection. You don't know the state of the battery when receiving a new one and if you need to rely on it for backup ignition you are probably out of luck for the first flight or several flights after replacing. It's just a 12V battery so a NOCO would work, you just need to create an adapter which shouldn't be hard to do with the terminals below as the PowerSonic uses a narrower spade type:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4H54KPS

 

[TailwindsJJ]

No, it is not a drop-in replacement which is why I'm asking CubCrafters to provide a service bulletin on how to replace the PowerSonic AGM option with a TCW IBBS LiFePO4 solution.

My advice to kit builders such as the EX-3:

-The PowerSonic battery should be charged and only used for testing. When the time comes such as the Airworthiness inspection (DAR) replace with new.

-The starter battery should be charged and stored per the vendor's instructions

-TCW outlines storage (non use) of the IBBS battery. You will need a charge solution, I suggest just buying theirs. I bet most kit builders don't know this and leave their IBBS uncharged and unused for years. Not good. Follow the vendor's guidance for all batteries

-If installing the Garmin G5, it has its own backup battery. I don't know the vendor instructions for storage and care of this battery.

Neil - Thanks
I did ask Earth X if they had a drop in replacement and I am going to check with them again.
I will post if I have any good news
Regards

 

[Neal]

They do not. This is covered on the forum recently in various threads related to the backup ignition battery. You can review my MOD where I used the EarthX ETX-104 which *is* a drop-in replacement, however, the ETX-104 is being discontinued. Their EBBS is their solution which is a larger version of the TCW IBBS.