Cross Alternator Start

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VickersPilot
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Cross Alternator Start

Post by VickersPilot »

Typically, I start the second engine after the amp draw decreases <30amps, with the L engine on idle. In other aircraft, often the AFM calls for power above idle on the operating engine for a cross start. Does everyone start engine #2 with engine #1 at idle? Any benefit to raising this to 10-20% to reduce the load on the battery?
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jast
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Re: Cross Alternator Start

Post by jast »

I start the right engine with left at idle and I think there is a good reason to do this and not raise the power to 20% on the left engine:

Imagine the battery would broken and barely manages to start the left engine and it would alone not be able to start the right engine you would hide a potential problem if you increase the engine power left. You rather want it to fail then and not during a power fluctuation (eg gear up) in air.

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Jan
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Boatguy
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Re: Cross Alternator Start

Post by Boatguy »

The DA62 AFM and checklist specify that the LH engine is at idle before starting the RH.
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