Hi everyone,
Well, I just got a call from my parents saying that the AIR is having technical difficulties again. Surprise, surprise......... Anyway, they had good winds last night, and they went downstairs to shut the AIR off because it was keeping them from sleeping. The winds weren't much above 20 mph, and it wasn't hitting it's "super warp speed", but it was in the moderate noise range (I'd say around 7 amps output @ 24 volts). So they shut it off for the night, and this morning when they went to turn it back on, it acts like the stop switch is still on; the blades rotate very slowly. While on the phone with them, I had them check the fuse, and it was blown. I then told them to put in a new fuse, and it immediately blew. OK, something is shorted somewhere..... Next I told them to remove the incoming AIR wires from the brake switch, and see if it will start to spin, and then slow down. Still nothing. When the fuse is bypassed and power connected to the incoming AIR cables, the ammeter dives to a negative reading and a spark is given. Any ideas why this would be happening from shutting the machine off? Maybe something is shorted out on the tower.
The AIR has been repaired once already when something similar to this happened last summer. Only it happened that time, no negative readings on the ammeter were given when the fuse was bypassed. When I returned it I was told that one of the windings was shorted in the alternator. If I have to tear this thing down and send it to be repaired for the second time within only a year and a half of operation, I'm going to be totally pissed. I was given my repaired 303 alternator, a 403 regulator and body, and a set of 403 blades when I sent it back. If I have to send it back again, I should get a free spare machine for the next time this P.O.S. goes down. The AIR is one of the key players on this small system........
Corey Babcock
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