The International Cessna^® 170 Association

I've been running a Concorde RG25-XC for about three years now. I got the XC to help the old Delco-Remy "beast" starter swing the prop. Now that I have a B&C starter, I don't need the extra output and would be better off with the standard RG25. With the XC, I have indeed experienced problems with the generator (35 amp) fuse blowing, or getting so hot as to melt the solder from the inside of the end caps. Has only happend two or three times, but now I know that the RG25-XC may indeed be unsuitable for the 35A generator...even one with the Zeftronics regulator as mine has. Don't think the RG batteries don't boil over either....mine has done so two times. I played around with the top cap and found that you can indeed pull the top cover strip off, and you have six caps that thread off just like a regular flooded cell battery. When I looked inside, I found that all the acid was not "absorbed" into a mat as I had thought would be the case. The cells looked like a conventional flooded cell....only two of them were dry. Topped up the dry ones and put the battery on a desulfator/charger for a few days and all was well. Even with the RG battery that "doesn't leak" I have installed battery acid neutralizer mats in the bottom of my battery box. I see the homebuilders have gone to the neat little gel cells....I think that will be the next evolutionary step for me.

i bought the gill-25
it is sitting in my garage
on the battery tender.
so..i propped my plane yesterday
and flew 1.3hr!!
dave

Without a battery installed?

no, i left the old one in.
dave

Ya'll sure leave a fellar with a lot of decipherin to do. Anyone have any updated experience to add?
Lead Acid, Dry Charged, With or Without Acid, Sealed or Not Sealed, Electrolytes
These prices / pictures are from Aircraft Spruce 1/06/2008


G-25, with Acid, 21 lbs, 11-01833, $125.95
G-25, W/O Acid, 21 lbs, 11-01673, $101.95



G-25S, Sealed, 25 lbs, 11-013116, $142.95



CB-25-VP, with Acid, 22 lbs, 11-05873, $198.95
CB-25-VP, W/O Acid, 22 lbs, 11-03775, $208.25



RG-25 Sealed Lead Acid, 22.75 lbs, 11-03879, $172.95
RG-25XC Sealed, 23.5 lbs, 11-03880, $199.95



PC-680, Dry Cell, 15 lbs, 11-02233, $119.52
PC-SBSJ16, 15 lbs, 11-01945, $179.95

Power Sonic PS 12280

I'm a fan of the Concorde RG batteries. I've used one in the 172 for about three years and have never had a problem.
I have the XC version but don't feel that it is necessary unless your battery is in the back. The supplier didn't have the standard version when I needed one so that's why i got the XC.
I like the idea of preserving my battery box as they are getting expensive and good ones are hard to find (as is true for just about everything).
The one thing I don't understand is why battery prices seem to have skyrocketed in the last couple of years. Maybe I'm just getting old

AR Dave-
Good suggestion to find other's experiences.

Gill G-25 (not sealed);
Good economy battery, have used them for 30+ years with good service. Usually last 3-5 years. Have had them boil over in flight on occasion, dumping acid in box and down belly of the plane (maybe plane's fault, not battery?). My last choice these days because of vent and acid spill potential.

Odessey SBSJ16;
Works good in firewall application on a C-195. Has plenty of cranking power for a 300hp Jacobs but kinda low on reserve amps if alternator fails. Completely sealed with no vent, can be mounted upside down. PMA approved for installation on PA-18, 337 F.A. required for Cessnas.


Odessey PC680;
Have used PC680 for years mounted on the firewall in a C-180 with 270hp O-520 Continental. Completely sealed, no vent. These batteries will last 3-5 years with enough cranking power for the 520 but a little low on reserve amps if alternator fails. When they get weak, put them in your lawn tractor for another 2-3 years. 337 F.A. required for Cessna installations.

Concorde RG-25XC Recombinant Gas;
Currently installed in my C-170. Only have 1-1/2 year experience so far but no problems. Completely sealed, no vent.

I'm not familiar with the Concorde RG25-XC, but with conventional batteries, it they boil over, or the fuse gets too hot, it's a problem with the charging/electrical system, not the battery (unless there's a shorted cell in the battery). The regulator should control the charge rate to prevent these things.
As for the fuse getting too hot, that sounds like a poor connection in the fuse holder. The spring could be weak, the contacts corroded, or the result of using a AG3 fuse in a AG4 holder. My 170 main fuse holder is the original for AG4 fuses. An AG3 is smaller and does not make as good a contact. I still have a few AG4's left. Hope they'll last as long as I can fly.
Just IHMO.

The correct size fuses are available and affordable from cessnaparts.com

Thanks, George. I'll check them out.

I'd like to move my battery in my 170B, (180HP Avcon conversion) aft behind the cargo compartment. Does anyone out there know if there's an existing STC tto do that for the 170B? If anyone knows who has such an STC, please repond to rkay9086@msn.com. Thanks
Bob

Harry Dellicker
Del-Air
2121 S. Wildcat Way
Porterville CA 93257
United States

(559) 784-9440