Sealed Battery Installation, ACA Service Letter 441

[Bartman]

ACA Service Letter 441 which also serves as an alternate method of compliance for AD 72-18-03.

Reading through the information it appears that the old red rubber battery "boxes" allowed battery acid to leak onto the elevator and rudder cables as well as frame members under the battery. The AD requires repetitive inspections but that requirement is suspended if you install a metal battery box that can drain battery acid away from those components mentioned in the AD. The ACA service letter recommends replacement of the rubber component with a metal box if switching to a sealed battery although it appears you can still use the old rubber one provided you continue to inspect for leakage and damage per the AD.

Here you go;

https://8b83cf90-c9d8-4b13-9a39-c702ce389ae9.filesusr.com/ugd/a61c16_c486f03f8c4444a586d7d9b66f158b13.pdf

It applies to the 7GCAA, 7GCBC, 7KCAB, and 8KCAB.

 

[Big Ed]

Mine had been upgraded to a Concorde sealed battery before I bought it. It was in a black rubber battery box without a lid.

I bought the metal box kit about 6 months ago, but just got around to installing it today. It's nice, definitely an improvement, but also a huge PITA to remove and replace the battery.



Next step is doing the rest of the electrical system upgrade. I have the full kit from ACA, but gonna wait til winter when the WX is cooler.

 

[Bartman]

ed, if you haven't zipped things back up could you please take a photo looking straight down on each end of the battery support? the battery tray I'm trying to use for a template looks like it's factory but it doesn't fit my frame very well. thanks

 

[Big Ed]

 

[Bartman]

thanks Ed! my battery tray is identical but the holes don't line up with the nut plates in the frame. i have the new battery box but no hold-down hardware so i'll have to wait to make the new tray until all of the pieces are here and just put the holes where they need to be.

what does ACA include in the conversion kit?