Just when you thought you knew everything there is to know about proper maintenance of aircraft batteries, there may be something new you haven’t had to deal with: Parasitic loads.
Parasitic loads on aircraft are not uncommon, but they are getting more attention these days because many aircraft are spending more time on the ground and less time in the air. This operational change means more time for the parasitic load to drain the battery.
The deeper the battery is drained between flights, the greater impact it can have on the aircraft electrical system and on the battery itself. A partially discharged battery can make it harder to start the aircraft engine, especially turbine engines. Repetitive cycling of the battery due to parasitic drain can shorten its service life. In extreme cases, the battery may be completely drained by the parasitic load and the aircraft may have to be grounded until a replacement battery is installed.
What is a parasitic load?
A parasitic load is a small, continuous flow of DC current that takes power from the battery even when the aircraft master switch is turned off. Parasitic loads are present, to a greater or lesser degree, in almost all modern aircraft. Examples of parasitic loads are relays, clocks, radios, avionics equipment, and on-board computers. These loads are generally low amperage (typically under 100 milliamperes), but since they are continuously present they can deplete the battery’s capacity if the aircraft is inactive for an extended time. In some aircraft, the parasitic drain is so high that the battery becomes noticeably depleted within a few days.
The parasitic load slowly drains the battery capacity. In the case of lead acid batteries, this drain causes the plates to become sulfated. Sulfated plates make the battery harder to recharge and can lead to premature failure of the battery. A long-term, low drain rate can deeply discharge the battery, deeper than what can occur with normal aircraft loads. Repeated deep discharges of this nature will shorten the battery life substantially. A battery deeply discharged in this manner may not be recoverable with normal charging methods. If the parasitic drain is high, the battery will become completely discharged in a few days and render the aircraft inoperable.
Can the parasitic load be eliminated?
The items responsible for the parasitic load are generally imbedded in the aircraft electrical system and alteration may affect FAA certification. In some aircraft, modifications can be made to reduce or eliminate the parasitic drain. The aircraft manufacturer should be contacted for more information on this subject. Another option is to disconnect the battery plug from the battery, which stops all parasitic loads. This procedure is often referenced as part of the aircraft maintenance manual or pilots operating handbook. However, if not specifically referenced, the aircraft manufacturer should be contacted to verify acceptability of this practice.
How to measure the parasitic load
The parasitic drain of an aircraft battery can be directly measured with a digital multimeter (DMM) equipped with an ammeter function. Most DMM’s have separate jacks for low current (typically 200 mA maximum) and high current (typically 10A maximum) measurements. The ammeter jacks contain a fuse to prevent damaging of the internal electronics. It’s always best to start measurements using the high current jack, and then switch to the low current jack if the measured current does not exceed the low current jack’s rating. The low current jack will give a more accurate measurement of typical parasitic currents (generally 1-100 mA).
Concorde has recently developed a Parasitic Load Test Adapter (PLTA) that makes it very easy to measure the parasitic load of aircraft batteries equipped with an MS3509 Style quick disconnect receptacle. The PLTA is designed to connect between the battery receptacle and the aircraft’s mating plug, with separate test leads for connection to the DMM. The PLTA is rated for loads up to 10 amperes. Step-by-step instructions for the PLTA can be found in document number 5-0409 available on Concorde’s web site (www.concordebattery.com).
Protecting the battery from parasitic loads
To protect the battery from being depleted by the parasitic load, the following procedure is recommended:
Measure the parasitic load as described above. Determine how long it will take to deplete 10 percent of the battery capacity using the following formula:
Time (hours) = 0.10 x C1 x 1/Ip, where
C1 is the battery’s rated capacity in Ah, and Ip is the parasitic drain in amperes.
For example, if C1 = 28 Ah and Ip = 0.05 amperes (50 milliamperes), then
Time (hours) = 0.10 x 28/.05 = 56 hours = 2.3 days.
If the aircraft is inactive for more than the time calculated in step (2), either: Disconnect the battery plug (preferred) or connect a maintenance charger to the battery.
It should be noted that repetitive cycling of the battery by a parasitic load may shorten the battery service life. Therefore, the sooner the battery plug is disconnected or a maintenance charger is connected, the less impact it will have on the battery life. Also, if a maintenance charger is used, make sure the charger puts out the correct “float” voltage. Excessive float voltage may shorten the battery life even more than the parasitic load. For Concorde RG Series batteries, the correct float voltage is 13.3 volts for 12-volt batteries and 26.6 volts for 24-volt batteries.
Lessons learned
Over the past few years, Concorde engineers have had the opportunity to measure the parasitic load on a wide range of aircraft. Measured values have ranged from under 1 milliamp to as high as 1.29 amps (1,290 milliamps). For the majority of aircraft, the measured values have fallen between 1 and 100 milliamps.
One particular aircraft will be used as a case study, although the make and model will not be disclosed. Concorde’s RG-380E/44 battery is original equipment on this particular turboprop aircraft. From time to time, operators complained that the battery would not hold a charge between flights, causing engine start issues. The problem normally occurred on aircraft with low hours per month or when there was a long time between flights. It was suspected that a parasitic load was responsible and measurements on several different aircraft confirmed a drain rate of approximately 16 milliamps. At this rate, the battery capacity would be reduced by 25 percent in 28 days.
To remedy the issue, two options were recommended: a) disconnect the battery plug after each flight, or b) connect a maintenance charger when aircraft is to be inactive for more than a few days. Some operators have gone with option (a), others with option (b), and still others use a combination of both options. Recent feedback from operators has been very favorable and the occurrence of low battery conditions is no longer an issue.
Dr. Dave Vutetakis has a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the Ohio State University. After college, he spent 10 years at Battelle Memorial Institute working on advanced battery systems for military aircraft. From there, he went to work at Douglas Battery where he developed a full product line of valve-regulated lead-acid batteries for motive power and stationary applications. Since 2005, he has been employed by Concorde Battery Corporation as Director of Advanced Battery Technology. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at (626) 813-1234 Ext. 278.
