"jan olieslagers" wrote in message
...
How does one charge the battery in a twin?
The logical idea seems to have the battery connected to the bus, and both
alternators supplying current (and thus power) to the bus. However
alternators have a regulator, mostly built-in, that regulates the field so
as to produce a constant voltage even if load and rpm vary. But it would
be impossible to have both alternators controlled to produce exactly the
same voltage; and as soon as there is a difference, the greater part of
curent will come from one alternator, causing higher load and premature
wear.
Is this a theoretical concern only? Does one need to install TWO
batteries, with buses normally separated, as apparently is done in (at
least some) biz-jets?
Sorry if the point is moot, or the question silly, I was just wondering.
Not that I'll be be building a twin anywhere soon...

The light twins that I've seen, as well as the King Air, use one
battery--even tough is is sometimes a pair of 12 volt batteries stacked in
series to make a single 24 volt battery.

I've been away from that field too long and no longer recall whether you
could find sufficient information in a POH to understand the method used; or
whether you would require a service manual.

Perhaps one of the A&Es on the forum will shed some light.

Peter