This is just an FYI post to let you know that EarthX has new STC's for the use and installation of both 12V or 24V aircraft.

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

STC Approval for EarthX 12V Battery for Hawker Beechcraft, Luscombe, Rockwell Commander and Navion Aircraft

• Cessna 172N, 172P, 172Q, 172R, 172S models
• Hawker Beechcraft 19A, B19, 23, A23, A23A, A23-19, A23-24, B23, C23, A24R, B24R, C24R models
• Luscombe 8, 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E, 8F models
• Rockwell Commander 112TC, 112B, 112TCA, 114, 114A models
• Navion (Sierra Hotel) A, B, D, E, F, G, H models

https://earthxbatteries.com/lithium-battery-solutions-for-certified-aircrafts/

Fly Lightly,
Kathy Nicoson

EarthX Batteries wrote:STC's for the use and installation of both 12V…

Thanks Kathy.

Where’s the 170B???

The Cessna 170's are in process and should hopefully be approved soon. (But we have zero control over the FAA's timeline)

A huge advancement in the process of working with the FAA is the approval for the Cessna 24V STC where the location of the battery is installed on the firewall, (same as the 170's and many other airframes), so all of the tests and data have been approved and signed off for this type of installation moving forward. This has been 2.5+years in the making!

Bigrenna wrote:

EarthX Batteries wrote:STC's for the use and installation of both 12V…

Where’s the 170B???

My thoughts exactly!

I’m really hoping this carves a path towards 24v 206 approval. My mechanic has been trying to get a field approval for 6 months.

Looking forward to that Stinson 108 approval!

Ok, so may be a stupid question or not. How do these Earth X batteries perform in the cold? Im talking below 32f and colder. I know some of the late season fishing guys in the upper Midwest are having charging and performance issues when it’s below freezing. Am I missing something? My small Odyssey battery I put in my Husky gave great service over the years but I do have to say, I did not put it to the test of a Fairbanks winter though.

Kurt

I don't fly much when the temps are much below 0 degF, but my experience is the battery works great at minus 5 deg. Compare the specs and you can see the obvious increase in cranking power in moderate cold temps.

Odyssey SBSJ16 weighs 14.8 lbs with 220 CCA @ 0 degF. EarthX ETX900 weighs 5.4 lbs with 400 CCA @ 0 degF. Both have a nominal capacity of ~15 Ah.

So there is a weight savings of 9.4 lbs with almost double the Cold Cranking Amps at 0 degF with the EarthX and both have a similar nominal capacity.

Delete

I am going to move to the Earth X one day. I am just a little scared of having it mounted up near the firewall. Waiting for more time to pass and no reports of fires. Curious for those that are running Earth X north of the firewall. Have there been any heating problems. I have a friend running one in his 185. No issues so far. He also placed a vent tube on the battery to keep it cool.

I was flying my airplane in Southern California a few weeks ago in some hot temps. Actually had to open my cowl flaps in cruise for a change. Would love the weight savings but a melting battery scares me. Curious about PIREPs for those that fly in warm/hot climates with these batteries.


Josh

Dog is my Copilot wrote: I am going to move to the Earth X one day. I am just a little scared of having it mounted up near the firewall. Waiting for more time to pass and no reports of fires. Curious for those that are running Earth X north of the firewall. Have there been any heating problems? ....Would love the weight savings but a melting battery scares me. Curious about PIREPs for those that fly in warm/hot climates with these batteries. Josh

x2

I had the earthX on the firewall - the Odyssey would struggle in turning over the XP470 with DER approved 7.5:1 compression pistons (original IO520 ones), if it was anywhere close to 32 degrees - it was very dicey to get it started before draining the battery. The Odyssey looses cranking power quickly as it drains - where as the EarthX keeps full cranking power as it drains. The EarthX is so much more powerful then the Odyssey - it would spin up my XP470 in the cold with no problem.

As for the heating problem - I think everyone unconsciously hears Lithium and right away thinks of the exploding laptop batteries - those are not the same chemical makeup of a LiFePO4 battery - completely different chemical makeup. Also take a look at the date sheets - the Odyssey and the EarthX batteries have the same max temp range. Also - the EarthX has two other safety items - both are required for the installation. 1) it has a safety vent tube 2) it has a fault sensor that is required to be installed to a light on the panel (or to your Main Display). I flew in a lot of 100+ degree weather with a larger then stock displacement engine (more heat) and never had any problems at all - small sample size of that heat (2 summers) - and about 225 hours total with it. But I was very pleased with my EarthX. I did wrap my firewall mounted battery box with heat reflective tape - but that was just out of caution (and I did that when I had my original Odyssey battery) .

Just my 2 cents

I ran a dual Earth X setup on the firewall of a Backcountry Lycoming IO-390 Cub for 350 hours with zero issues. I did use the insulated mount for a measure of keeping some heat off the battery.

FWIW.

Joe

Has anyone had success in wiring the fault light into a flight display (e.g. G500Txi) rather than a dedicated light?

wagonflyer wrote:Has anyone had success in wiring the fault light into a flight display (e.g. G500Txi) rather than a dedicated light?

Mine was connected to my Dynon HDX - gave an audible and visual alert. Was pretty easy.

corefile wrote:I had the earthX on the firewall - the Odyssey would struggle in turning over the XP470 with DER approved 7.5:1 compression pistons (original IO520 ones), if it was anywhere close to 32 degrees - it was very dicey to get it started before draining the battery. The Odyssey looses cranking power quickly as it drains - where as the EarthX keeps full cranking power as it drains. The EarthX is so much more powerful then the Odyssey - it would spin up my XP470 in the cold with no problem.

As for the heating problem - I think everyone unconsciously hears Lithium and right away thinks of the exploding laptop batteries - those are not the same chemical makeup of a LiFePO4 battery - completely different chemical makeup. Also take a look at the date sheets - the Odyssey and the EarthX batteries have the same max temp range. Also - the EarthX has two other safety items - both are required for the installation. 1) it has a safety vent tube 2) it has a fault sensor that is required to be installed to a light on the panel (or to your Main Display). I flew in a lot of 100+ degree weather with a larger then stock displacement engine (more heat) and never had any problems at all - small sample size of that heat (2 summers) - and about 225 hours total with it. But I was very pleased with my EarthX. I did wrap my firewall mounted battery box with heat reflective tape - but that was just out of caution (and I did that when I had my original Odyssey battery) .

Just my 2 cents

Thanks Paul - that's good a good PIREP flying it on the those hot days in Baja. I have some of the problems starting using the Odyssey. When it's cold. I prime it and the pull the prop through a couple of times by hand. Prime it again. I turn the alternator, JPI, and my PFD off with circuit breakers. This gives me a little less drain on the battery. Still when it's cold - it can not start sometimes. Almost kept me on the ground late Spring in Idaho. Another friend runs one in his C185 and loves it. He had similar problems starting his IO550.


Josh

Anyone know if 14 volt Earthx is approved for 185? Will it fit directly into the Atlee Dodge firewall battery box where I currently have an Odyssey SJS 16.

Thanks in advance

JC

EarthX has an easy to use approved STC list on their website.

It looks like 185 A-F 14v models have STC approval and their list links to which STC bundle you need.

Thanks Peat.

I missed that when I looked.

Anybody have one on their 185 or big bore continental in general who would like to share any insight ?

JC

PilotPeat wrote:EarthX has an easy to use approved STC list on their website.
It looks like 185 A-F 14v models have STC approval and their list links to which STC bundle you need.

Can someone with the STC verify if Earth-X specifies mounting in original (aft) battery box,
or if it is approved on the STC to install on the firewall ala Odyssey?