STC Approval for EarthX 24V Battery for Cessna 172N, 172P, 172Q, 172R, 172S

[earthxbatteries]

EarthX Lithium Batteries is Excited to Announce FAA STC Approval for Cessna 172N, 172P, 172Q, 172R, 172S Aircraft!

Upgrade now!


Why make the switch?

1. The weight savings is phenomenal; if you’re replacing the RG24-11, you go from a 26.5-pound battery to a 7.2-pound battery. This weight savings can increase your useful load, save fuel costs, increase climb rate, and have shorter take off roll.
2. The capacity of the lead acid battery was 11Ah, the EarthX is 11.7Ah, a slight increase.
3. The cold cranking of the lead acid battery was 160, the EarthX is 400, more than double the cranking.
4. The life span of an EarthX battery is rated to be double that of a lead acid battery.
5. The EarthX cannot freeze, boil over, lose electrolyte, corrode, or sulfate. Zero caustic acid.
6. On average, this battery is only $100 more than the lead acid battery it is replacing.
7. But one of the most exciting features, that lead acid battery cannot provide as there is no way to implement a battery management system inside the unit (acid does not play well with others), is digital communications directly to the pilot, from state of charge, capacity, temperature of the battery itself, to a fault condition so there is no guess work of wondering how “good” or “not” your battery is. This provides useful information not only for the pilot, but also your mechanic, to make the best-informed decisions.

FAQs

Q: Do I need to change anything to my alternator/regulator in my plane?

A: NO, our battery has the same charging profile as a lead acid battery.



Q: Is it a problem if my Amp Hour is less than it used to be with a lead acid battery?

A: NO. Lead acid batteries need more amps to achieve cranking power vs. our battery needs less amp hours to achieve the necessary cranking power while still adhering to safety requirements.



Q: Do I need to perform a new weight and balance?

A: YES, the FAA requires that any STC requires weight and balance.



Q: Do you charge for STC paperwork?

A: NO.


Q: What is my initial investment for this switch?

A: $1,194 includes the battery and installation kit.


For more information:
https://earthxbatteries.com/lithium-battery-solutions-for-certified-aircrafts/
[email protected]
970.674.8884

 

[greentips]

I am intrigued, but have winter flying concerns. We often run in cold weather in the cold paradise of northern Minnesota, Michigan and Ontario. Sustained overnight temps can sit at -35F for weeks at a time. How will this work in those conditions compared to a lead acid battery, which can be jumped with a car if necessary (12V system.) Another concern is the space aft of the baggage bay is unheated and gets cold in winter at altitude. Would this be an enroute problem when the temps are even colder?

 

[earthxbatteries]

Hi Greentips,

The EarthX battery (ETX680-24-TSO) has slightly better cold cranking amps than the lead acid battery this STC replaces (Concorde RG24-11) when comparing the IPP rating on both. 400CCA vs. 350CCA. However, any cold soaked battery will have starting issues in an aircraft that has been cold soaked for weeks at -35F. The battery will be only one of your issues of getting your plane started and going under these conditions.

The battery in this aircraft (Cessna 172's) is for a 28V system so jumping it from a 12V car battery is not an option, but you certainly could use a 24V jump pack.( I don’t want this to sound like an ad for one of our products, but we do offer a 12V or 24V jump pack and it weighs 4 pounds and I personally don’t leave home without it). https://earthxbatteries.com/product/etx-jmp12-24/

And as far as being the baggage bay, there is no need for concern for a lead acid battery or a lithium battery while enroute as both are operating as part of the charging system and the current flowing through them keep them operating and warm. We do have some fact sheets on cold weather starting you might find interesting:https://earthxbatteries.com/earthx-...phosphate-battery-cold-temperature-operation/

Thanks for your questions, and you are always welcome to call if you prefer at 970.674.8884.

 

[midsouthps]

Does this battery require a special tender or can I use my existing one?

 

[earthxbatteries]

Hi Midsouthps,

Thanks for the question. If your existing charger has a desulphating mode, it cannot be used, but if it doesn't, it is fine to use. Here are all the details about battery charging for you: https://earthxbatteries.com/our-batteries/battery-charging/

 

[Raymo]

I’ve been using an EarthX battery for about 3 years and am extremely happy with its starting power and improved hot starts. Saving about 12 lbs over my PC680 is another big bonus.

 

[earthxbatteries]

I’ve been using an EarthX battery for about 3 years and am extremely happy with its starting power and improved hot starts. Saving about 12 lbs over my PC680 is another big bonus.

Thanks Raymo! We are very happy you are so pleased.

 

[david hillberg]

I would love to purchase two 12 volts but they're not approved yet.

 

[Raymo]

Thanks Raymo! We are very happy you are so pleased.

I've been too busy working on aircraft or weather did not cooperate to fly since 1 June. I was planning to fly this past weekend but my 2019 purchased EarthX 680C battery was dead. I hooked up an approved charger and it didn't work. I connected an external battery and the charger started working but I then noted that the EarthX battery was swollen and the failure light was lit.

I already ordered a new one but was wondering if the folks at EarthX would be interested in me sending the battery to them for analysis of the failure. I probably had around 200 hours on the battery and less than 50 hours over the past two years.

 

[earthxbatteries]

I've been too busy working on aircraft or weather did not cooperate to fly since 1 June. I was planning to fly this past weekend but my 2019 purchased EarthX 680C battery was dead. I hooked up an approved charger and it didn't work. I connected an external battery and the charger started working but I then noted that the EarthX battery was swollen and the failure light was lit.

I already ordered a new one but was wondering if the folks at EarthX would be interested in me sending the battery to them for analysis of the failure. I probably had around 200 hours on the battery and less than 50 hours over the past two years.

Hi Raymo,

Thank you for your repeat business! Once the EarthX battery is drained below 8V internally, it will not recharge as it is programmed this way to avoid using a possibly damaged battery.

From our FAQ page, we have this on swollen appearing batteries you might find helpful:
My battery seems to be swollen. Is it ok to use?
As a battery ages, gas is building up inside the sealed cell causing it to expand (swell). Gas generation in lithium-ion batteries is a normal process; throughout the life of a lithium battery gas is generated through a process called electrolyte decomposition. Is a swollen battery a safety issue? Our batteries are very safe, even as a swollen battery, but a swollen battery is an indication that it is at the end of its life and should be replaced. Many things can cause a puffy or swollen looking battery; age or usage: being exposed to extreme temperatures; deeply discharging; or overcharging of the battery. Again, this is a good indicator that it is time for a new battery.

We appreciate the offer to send it back for analysis, but based on the age of 5 years, the battery has simply lived out its life and it was time to replace it.