Cobalt wrote:
So between a reputational problem with its launch aircraft, conservative pilots and Cessna, it didn’t make it,
Cobalt nailed it.
Where did you get that ? I have NEVER seen a dedicated back-up battery for the TKS system.
DA42 but you’re right it’s not dedicated battery. Switching ALTERNATE at TKS panel connects pump to RH bus – I believe in case of alternator failure it will be supplied from battery. Correct me if I’m wrong.
Correct. ALTERNATE is a direct link between MAIN PUMP 2 and the RH BUS.
TKS will always run from the aircraft battery, if the alternator fails.
Thermawing will stop working the instant that its dedicated alternator fails.
The Columbia/Corvalis has a cross-tie so you need both alternators to fail to be out of luck.
Correct, but this makes no difference to the Thermawing system.
The control box is powered from the avionics bus (which is powered in turn from both main buses via diodes, no cross-tie required), but the power for the Thermawing system it controls is taken from a dedicated third alternator.
I also seem to remember that the voltage used for the Thermawing system is higher – 80 Volt or thereabouts – probably to keep the currents lower than if using 28V.
Cobalt wrote:
I also seem to remember that the voltage used for the Thermawing system is higher – 80 Volt or thereabouts – probably to keep the currents lower than if using 28V.
Correct.
Alternator failure may be a risk, but falling out of the sky because of nonexistent deicing may be a bigger risk. Depends on individual risk assessment.
So what’s the actual status of thermawing – not available, avaible only for Cessna, or available and STCable for other aircraft ?